Presentation and Formatting

Asterisks are commonly used to refer you to additional information, disclaimers, or fine print at the bottom of a page.  The asterisk is the tiny star (*) icon that shares its home with the number 8 on a standard keyboard’s number row. You must press… continue reading

In the business world, the font you choose can significantly impact the readability and professionalism of your communications. Here are some top font recommendations for business communications: Sans-serif Fonts: With the rise of electronic communication, it’s been observed that sans-serif fonts are generally easier to… continue reading

When we communicate in written form, we can be poignant, expressive, and creative. However, what we can sometimes lose is the clarity of our message, something that can be avoided in an in-person conversation by simply asking for clarification in case something is not understood.… continue reading

In order to properly format a business letter, we need to consider its various parts, as well as format and font.   Let’s begin with the structure of the letter. Parts of a Business Letter This article is organized in the correct order for writing… continue reading

Putting together a presentation can be fun, be it a PowerPoint presentation or any other platform, but if you are doing a business presentation, then everything changes. It becomes less about enjoying yourself and more about coming off as professional and stirring an audience’s emotional… continue reading

A paragraph should be comprised of six to seven sentences. No wait, it should actually be no more than three sentences long. Actually, what really constitutes a paragraph is a topic sentence, a few supporting ones and possibly a concluding sentence! Sigh. Can this paragraph… continue reading

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… continue reading

Everyone wants credit for a job well done. And in business writing and communication—from emails to company-wide internal memos to detailed reports—you want to receive due credit for your writing skills. But if you choose to “borrow” ideas, quotes, or data from another author, it’s… continue reading

Chelsea, a reader of my monthly e-newsletter, Better Writing at Work, asked me to write about indenting paragraphs in business letters. She wrote, “When writing letters, what is the ‘proper’ protocol on indenting?” There are several proper ways to format a traditional business letter. Only one… continue reading