We published several articles about writing condolences and thank you notes. This post combines the two: how to write a thank you for a condolence message. “Thank you letter for condolence message” is a definite topic of interest around the world, so we hope this… continue reading
Can You Start a Sentence with “And” or “But”?
In our business writing classes, people often want an answer to this burning question: Is it acceptable to begin a sentence with the word and or but? The answer is yes. It is perfectly acceptable to start sentences with the conjunctions and and but. However,… continue reading
How to Write a Thank You
Writing a thank you is one of the easiest tasks in business writing. It’s a short, happy message that makes both writer and reader feel great. Some recipients even post thank you notes on their bulletin boards and in scrap books, so the good feelings… continue reading
Principal vs Principle
Here’s a test. Which forms of the word pair principal/principle fit in these examples? This dollar figure covers just interest–not interest plus ______. The ______ reason for our visit is to meet the new director. Which ______ did you follow to solve this problem? Easy?… continue reading
Spaces After Punctuation
How many spaces should be included after end punctuation such as a period (full stop), exclamation point, and question mark? One. It’s true. Believe me. Despite what your teachers taught and typewriters required in decades past, the number of spaces after end punctuation–and after a… continue reading
Writing Condolences After a Death
In early September I posted a blog on writing condolences, inspired by the need to send messages to people affected by Hurricane Katrina. Since then I have been amazed at the number of people who have visited this blog in search of examples of condolence… continue reading
Sending Condolences: Hurricanes and Natural Disasters
Although all Americans and many people throughout the world have been touched by various disasters, some have been touched more deeply. These are people who have lost or been separated from loved ones, whose homes or businesses have been destroyed, or whose future has been… continue reading
Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks?
The proper placement of questions marks inside and outside of quotation marks can be confusing to many writers. This question also applies for all other punctuation, such as colons, semicolons, commas, and more. Let’s take a look at how and when you should use question… continue reading