Feb 13, 2013 | Effective Writing
Good writing is created in steps, and the most important one often is neglected because hurried writers want to make the first draft the final draft. The writing process involves organizing ideas, drafting, revising, and editing, and it is in the revising phase that...
Feb 8, 2013 | Effective Writing
A sentence can be unclear for numerous reasons. Here are four common mistakes: Word choice – This could mean using technical language or trendy buzzwords, but many times writers use everyday words and still provide a blurry picture: a virtual knowledge transfer...
Feb 8, 2013 | Effective Writing
When you say pronounce some terms, they sound as if they are one word, and some are but others are not. Some are two words and some are two words with a hyphen, Why the variation? It is how words naturally evolve. The English language allows for what is called free...
Feb 7, 2013 | Effective Writing
When a manager wants to motivate an employee to reach her goals, it isn’t enough to simply encourage her. Instead, ask her to explain how she intends to do it. Prodding someone to explain how they intend to follow through is good for converting intentions into...
Jan 29, 2013 | Effective Writing, Persuasion
It pays to act thoughtfully and generously if you want to persuade, because the beneficiaries of your kindness are likely to reciprocate, even if you are not aware of it. The principle of reciprocity, a key to being persuasive, says that when someone performs a kind...
Nov 27, 2012 | Effective Writing
People are familiar with using quotation marks around a person’s actual spoken words, but that isn’t the only time we need them. And when people encounter those other situations, they often are uncertain. Here are a few guidelines on when quotation marks...