Archive: Effective Writing
Clear Writing: Giving Readers Immediate Understanding
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...Evolution of Words: One and One Can Make One
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...Influencing Your Audience: Ask People for their Plan
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...Persuasion: People Will Reciprocate Favors, Even if You Won’t See Them
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...Quotation Marks: for Unfamiliar Terms and for Common Terms in an Unusual Context
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...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
Persuasion: Make Your Expertise Known
If you are trying to persuade someone on a topic that you are knowledgeable about, convey your expertise up front. …