Tag Archives: Style

MS Word: How to Create Vertical Text

In MS Word, you can add vertical text inside a text box, shape, callout, or table. If you want to create vertical text in MS Word, follow these steps: Right-click on the table cell that contains the text you want to change. On the Format menu, click Text Direction. Select the orientation you want. MS Word: […]

How to Fix Corrupt MS Word Files

If your MS Word document becomes corrupt, follow these steps to fix it. Open the document in Microsoft Word. Cut and paste the images to a new file. WARNING: DON’T SAVE THE FILE YET! In Word, select File, Save As HTML.Name the file with an HTML extension, e.g. Proposal.html and then Exit Word. Re-open Word. […]

How to Overcome Business Writer’s Block

Business Writer’s Block is what? Well, it tends to happen when you’re in a hurry, flustered, or tried. ‘If you don’t understand it, you can’t write it.’ This isn’t totally true. You can write something — it mightn’t be great — by distracting the reader, playing with clever words, and showing off. But others see […]

10-Point Checklist For Headline Writing

Looking for headline writing tips that will capture attention immediately and force readers to stop in their tracks? Who doesn’t? What exactly are headlines? What purpose do they serve? Headlines are the ‘ad’ for what’s about to follow. Its purpose is to tease the reader into clicking or reading more. If your headline fails, no one […]

How To Increase the Number of Words You Can Type Per Minute

typing skills for business writers

My friend PM wants to go into freelance writing. I think it can work for him. He’s determined, has a nice writing style, and knows how to hustle for work. But typing is a problem. It’s that simple. He pecks and pecks at the keyboard. Last weekend, his house he showed me some gizmos, ‘hacks’, […]

Why grammar is (probably) not your problem

Know the difference between affect and effect? Or where to use that but not which? Or when to use which but not with a comma before it? I know. MS Word forbids it. But can expect from a bot? Anyway… You could fill several multi-story car parks with people who — or is it that? […]

Em Dash v En Dash

Noreen Malone, senior editor at New York magazine, admits what everyone else thinks about those pesky em-dashes. “The problem with the dash—as you may have noticed!—is that it discourages truly efficient writing. It also—and this might be its worst sin—disrupts the flow of a sentence. Don’t you find it annoying—and you can tell me if […]

Report Writing: How to write the Conclusions section

The conclusion section to this strategy report, eGovernment Strategies, The Case of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from Dr. Ali M. Al-Khouri, United Arab Emirates, provides an excellent template on how to summarize the main points in a strategy document. This conclusion section is divided into five paragraphs: Problem statement: need to develop new capabilities […]

How can I improve my business writing skills?

Your ability to communicate effectively, persuade others, and motivate teams are influenced by your writing skills. While some people appear to be born great writers, others get there by practice. Let’s look at how you can improve your business writing skills. Set a writing goal Be specific. Decide to improve one area of your business […]

Jane Austen on Persuasion in business writing

Jane Austen “How quick come the reasons for approving what we like.” Want to be a more persuasive writer? A few suggestions: Tap into the reader’s values. Be decisive. Don’t sit on the fence. Force the reader to take sides, hopefully with you Ask the reader a question, often framed as a dilemma. Help them […]

How to improve your business writing in 15 minutes or less

‘I’d love to be a better business writer but don’t have the time.’ Ever hear yourself saying something like this? We’d all like to be better writers, but… How about if you could sharpen up your writing skills in fifteen minutes a day? Sound like a plan? Here’s how to do it. Getting started: create […]

Is Trying Too Hard Counterproductive?

I finally have my first running injury. I overdid it and now cannot run for a few weeks. And while this is a bummer, I also feel slightly proud that I’ve managed to acquire a running injury, which is surely a sign that I’m trying hard, right? Maybe. Well, not really. The injury occurred because […]

When to use ‘You’ in business documents… and when not to

Proposal writing might be easier if English had the equivalent of ‘usted’ in Spanish. Many languages have a formal and informal way of addressing people that’s not available in English. Maybe in the past, in olde English, ye served this purpose. I’m not sure. If you know, drop me a line. So, is there a […]