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Advice and tips
Posted by: Jacob Funnell
14 / 09 / 16
Like it or not, we all end up getting thrown into arguments about whether something we’ve written is ‘correct’. This could be a colleague picking you up on your apostrophes. Or it might be a subtle point of style that your manager crosses out with angry red pen. It may just be a snide Facebook […]
Posted by: Rob Ashton
16 / 08 / 16
A colleague gives you a report (or letter or proposal …), asking for your feedback. It’s now suddenly on you to make their document great. Maybe you’re a team leader, who has final sign-off on everything your colleague writes. Or you might just be asked by a friend at work who’s stuck and desperately needs […]
Posted by: Catie Holdridge
11 / 08 / 16
The active voice gets a hero’s welcome from most writing guides, which tend to demonise the passive voice as the root of all grammatical evil. Yet the passive voice does have its defenders, who accuse the first group of oversimplifying matters. Generally, the active voice is the way to go. But Team Passive do have […]
04 / 08 / 16
Look through your inbox or an online forum, and it won’t be long until you hit someone making a request and concluding with ‘thanks in advance’. But they’re probably making a big mistake. What’s more, they may have no idea about the hornets’ nest of irritation they’re poking just by using a few short words. […]
19 / 07 / 16
Do you ever feel like you’re always in a face-off with your word processor – and losing? If so, you won’t be surprised to hear that one of the biggest problems nearly everyone faces when they have something to write is getting started. Call it writer’s block. Call it finding your muse. Call it spending […]
Posted by: Stan Carey
15 / 07 / 16
We’re often advised to avoid long words in our writing when shorter words will do. Like many simple style tips, it’s useful but not something you should obey blindly. Writing guides generally agree that short words are preferable. Many take their cue from traditional authorities such as the Fowler brothers, who on page one of […]
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