Writing Techniques Archives

How to Email a Therapist for the First Time

The services of a therapist can prove invaluable for those suffering from depression, anxiety, or other mental health and emotional disorders. In recent years, an increased focus on mental wellness has given many the courage to reach out to licensed therapists for help and support. … continue reading

Graphic with a definition of Nomalizations: turning nouns and adjectives into verbs

From Verb to Noun and Back: Nominalizations

In this post we will discuss nominalization, or the process of turning verbs and adjectives into nouns, through the prism of two distinct styles that literate, communicating adults encounter every day. I refer to the difference between the Impersonal (or I) style and the Personal (or… continue reading

A picture of books, stacked. The caption reads Form Contact & Use

What Are Form And Content & How Can You Use Them In Your Writing?

You may have heard the term “form” or “form content” thrown around in professional and business writing. What is the simple meaning of this term? And how can you use form content to your advantage? What Are Form And Content? “Content” is an idea that is usually… continue reading

another way to say sorry caption over a graphic of a tennis ball with a facial expression of remorse

Another Way To Say “Sorry” In An Email

No one likes making a mistake. It can be frustrating, demoralizing, and even embarrassing when you need to apologize. And sometimes, saying “Sorry” just doesn’t feel like it hits the right mark. If you need a new way to apologize, try on one of these… continue reading

Does Punctuation Go Inside Parenthesis?

Updated September 8, 2022 – Does punctuation go inside parentheses? Using parentheses and periods is very common and integral to forming basic English sentences. Generally, periods act to fully end a sentence with a punctual stop, whereas parentheses allows you to add tangents and notes… continue reading

A picture of a computer with a window open and the words: A conclusion paragraph.

How To Write A Great Conclusion Paragraph

A well-crafted conclusion is a perfect way to end almost any piece of writing. Conclusions can easily change a reader’s mind or solidify what they already know and believe. In any sense, how can you write killer conclusions that leave your reader wanting more? Why… continue reading

How To Write A Rough Draft

Regardless of what you are writing, outlining and organizing your thoughts into a rough draft can allow you to visualize your writing as a whole. Keep reading to learn more about why rough drafts can help you and how you can make amazing rough drafts! … continue reading

Graphic showing an old parchment with a pen, a stamp and the words "faithfully yours"

Yours Faithfully, Should I Use It?

When finishing an email or snail-mail letter, the closing provides various opportunities. Should you use “Sincerely” or the two-word variant “Sincerely yours?” What about “Yours truly,” where does that feature? Maybe a simple “Thank you” will be sufficient or should you should express your “Warmest… continue reading

First, Firstly, At First – What To Use And When.

First and firstly are both ordinal adverbs, or ordering adverbs, that English writers or speakers use to itemize related points (e.g., first…second…third… or firstly…secondly…thirdly…). Because first, second, and third work quite well as both adjectives and adverbs, some people find that adding -ly is redundant… continue reading

Parallelism in Writing

Parallel sentence elements in grammar are like parallel lines in geometry: they go the same direction but never meet. More accurately, in grammar, it’s less about meeting and more about the balance. In grammar, Parallelism is defined as two or more phrases or clauses in the… continue reading