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Persuasion success demands good writing
Aristotle said that two things a communicator must have to be persuasive is credibility and a strong argument, both of which are affected by the quality of writing, whether the persuasive message is written or spoken.
read moreEditing: a three-step process
Effective editing requires more than one reading, and each one focuses on different aspects of writing. Most people try to accomplish too much in one reading.
read moreReducing the anxiety around grammar
Mastering the key elements of grammar does not need to make your skin crawl. Do a better job with five principles, both your writing and your credibility will improve.
read morePut real information in the subject line
Readers in business are looking for reasons not to read more messages, so be as specific as possible in a subject line to ensure that you snag the reader’s attention.
read moreCapitalization: Determining What is Proper is a Common Problem
Capitalizing things that clearly should not be in upper case is distracting to readers and sometimes makes them wince. Granted, the English language has a lot of nuances when it comes to grammar, punctuation, and mechanics (capitalization and the use of numbers), and...
read moreBe careful about fashionable new words
Resist the temptation to grab onto new words that seem to be catching on in the language. Instead, be original and specific. Using certain new words might seem trendy, but it can be a sign of lazy writing or speaking and can leave the audience wondering what you mean.
read moreA Stylebook can Save Embarrassment
A writing stylebook is an essential reference for business professionals. It answers questions about word usage and punctuation, helps to ensure consistency within a company, and can save considerable embarrassment.
read moreThe Inverted Pyramid: a Great Format for Web Pages
Effective Web writing is about packaging information. This includes using the inverted pyramid newspaper format, in which information appears in a most-to-least important structure, and it means keeping most pages self-contained, so that people don’t need to keep clicking “next.”
read moreBy Ken O’Quinn
As a contributing author in this book on leadership, Ken offers insights and tips for managing difficult conversations, providing effective feedback, and being authentic. Order here.
Perfect Phrases for Business Letters (McGraw-Hill)
Provides the right words and phrases for any situation - quickly. The book was reprinted in Japanese because of high-volume sales there.
TD at Work — Business Writing for Managers
The Association for Talent Development invited Ken to write this 22-page booklet for the TD at Work series.
Current Blog Post
For Emphasis, Save Strong Words for the End
Simple and direct is the reliable go-to sentence structure of English, but if you edit closely and notice that certain …