Based on what I have heard in business writing classes over the past couple of days, I am inspired to share tips on how to assign a task in email–and how not to. Listen in on what people told me (with details disguised): I got… continue reading
Today I received an email from a stranger. The entire message said this: When sending a letter to a Judge and his wife I believe the address should read The Honorable John and Mrs. Smith. What is the correct salutation?Thank you. The message included no… continue reading
Julie, a marketing and communications manager from Atlanta, Georgia, asked me about the formatting I used for commands, menus, and other items in my post Make Microsoft Find Passives. Many of us use technical terms in our writing–especially procedure writing–and I'm glad to provide tips.… continue reading
In a recent Better Business Writing class, an accounts payable professional was working on several procedures she had brought to class to revise. They included these sentences: Batches should be entered by 10 a.m.The batch can then be given to the coordinator. Ensure that all… continue reading
Let’s discuss telephone number etiquette and try to answer the question “how to format phone numbers.” Some use periods (dots) between the parts of a telephone number while others use parentheses and hyphens. Which style or format is correct? As usual, style guides differ. The… continue reading
For some lucky employees, December is the time of year when their company rewards them with an annual bonus. If they have met or exceeded their goals for the year, they receive a bonus–sometimes a percentage of their salary and sometimes a fixed amount. Bonuses… continue reading
Update on December 27, 2011: For current new year's greetings, see this post. Akiko from Orange, California, wrote to ask about holiday greeting cards for business contacts. Her message reminded me that it is time to share ideas for communicating during the Christmas and New… continue reading
UPDATED 02 NOVEMBER 2022 Do you look for opportunities to thank your customers? If you have U.S. customers, November 24, Thanksgiving Day, is one of those occasions. Since it is a national holiday not allied with a particular group or religion, Thanksgiving is an excellent… continue reading
The other day I received an email from a company representative who was selling a "training management solution." I don’t believe I have a problem that matches that solution, but I decided to read the email anyway, since I am interested in effective writing. I… continue reading
A client company that generates plenty of proposals asked me for tips on how to keep templates fresh. It’s a great question. When we use templates well, our readers believe every word was written just for them. When we use them badly, our readers see… continue reading
