Archive: Editing
Think Like a Writer AND an Editor
The writing craft requires that you think like both a writer and an editor because at the end of the drafting process, the two tasks are intertwined. Writing has three phases: drafting, revising, where you make changes and rewrite, and then editing. Many people think...Be Careful when Removing “That”
The word “that” is often unnecessary, but not always. Be sure you don’t cause readers to stumble. “Get rid of ‘that’; you don’t need it” is common advice, but as is often true with nuggets of wisdom about writing, it...Being an Effective Editor: Collaborate with the Writer
Being an effective editor means that you encourage a writer by working collaboratively. One way to do that is to let the writer have a voice. It is a familiar scene: A writer walks into the manager’s office to discuss a draft that the manager has edited, and the...Structure Sentences for Variety and Emphasis
We are familiar with the subject-verb-object sentence structure, but a series of consecutive sentences constructed that way is boring to read. Add a little variety to make the writing more lively and more emphatic. Part of what distinguishes good writing is that...Where Clear Writing Comes From: Words, Sentence Structure, Punctuation
Clarity is always the preeminent concern when writing, and the most important factors that determine a clear sentence are word choice, sentence structure, and punctuation. People often associate clarity with sentence length, but a 55-word sentence can be immediately...By Ken O’Quinn
Focus on Them
Perfect Phrases for Business Letters (McGraw-Hill)
TD at Work — Business Writing for Managers
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
Add Punch to Your Writing with Sentence Variety, Rhythm, and Emphasis
Jobs become boring when the daily routine is repetitive, and so does writing when you read short, choppy sentences with …