How To _

Full Sentence Direct Quote - Capitalize The First Word: When considering capitalization in quotes, the first rule to remember is - when quoting a complete sentence, you should capitalize the first word, no matter where the quote is placed within the larger sentence.  For example: John said, "If these trends continue, we'll...

We recently published an extensive article on how to professionally end an email. Here, we are going to take another look at the topic, concentrating on the sign-off specifically.  You've crafted your email to be clear and well-constructed. You've edited it carefully. The body of the email may be absolutely perfect,...

Sic can mean several things: An adverb indicating that something is being quoted exactly as is, including any possible errors. Another way to say such in Scottish A verb meaning “to strike” or “to pounce.” As in sic 'em! Sic is that strange little word that tends to lurk within brackets or parentheses and can...

It's hard to pick a title. In fact, choosing a title is one of the most challenging parts of a writing project. You may be lucky enough to come up with a new title in a second, while other times, you will need a deep brainstorm to find the...

A sentence should be long enough to reach its end, however, you still have to maintain the aesthetic of your writing, as well as balance. Your sentence can be one single word, or it can be extremely long, but what will best engage the reader and retain attention? In most...

The correct way to fully write out dates using commas, according to the American format, is to write the weekday separate from the month and date, which in turn will be separated from the year using a comma—for example, Friday, April 29, 1993. This is one of the most popular...

Simple and effective formatting is a powerful tool in your writer’s toolbox. It can help to transform a lengthy, redundant, and boring (gasp!) business document into a concise and visually-appealing presentation. Learn how to do so correctly and watch your writing skills dramatically improve. Why the Need to Format Your task...

It's no secret -- some of the best deals and decisions are made across the conference room table. But is it possible to switch to a conference call without interrupting your workflow or negotiations? Having face-to-face meetings is, unquestionably, one of the most effective ways to get the results you want,...

Persuasive content writing—website pages, blogs, marketing campaigns, newsletters, and digital ad copy—all have one thing in common. They demand the perfect call to action. If you need more subscribers, sales, or a jumpstart to your leads-to-conversion rates, then it’s time to use a great call to action! And learning...

Emails and the business world are in a serious, committed relationship. They honestly can’t live without each other. Depending on the type of work you do, you may read or send a few emails a day—or a hundred. Solid business writing will require you to write professional-level emails. And...