Have you ever formed a first impression about someone based on how they write? I suspect we all have. First impressions are powerful and hard to avoid. Even when we want to stay objective, we are sizing up the other person without meaning to. We can make assumptions about a person’s intelligence, education level, professionalism,… Continue reading Your Writing Is Your First Impression—What Does It Say About You?
Does this sound familiar? You labor over a document or an email, finally submit it, then have someone ask you a question you answered with your writing. Obviously, they didn’t read what you wrote and you start to wonder, “What was the point of all that work?” Whether it’s lazy-ness or busy-ness in the workplace… Continue reading 10 Ways to Get People to Keep Reading What You Wrote
Have you ever realized you’ve been making the same mistake over and over, unaware it was a mistake? And I don't mean business writing mistakes, not yet... Growing up I had a friend who would say “for all intents and purposes.” I thought she kept saying “for all intensive purposes.” I didn’t know what it… Continue reading 11 Common Business Writing Mistakes that Have Nothing to Do with Your Grammar
We're going to talk about business writing skills, but let's start with a more appealing topic first... Do you have an activity or interest that constantly challenges you to learn? Horses top my list. They challenge me to keep learning because they are also learning. Every time we master one thing, it simply moves us… Continue reading Why You Need Better Business Writing Skills by 2020—and Dozens of Ways to Improve
After years of resisting, I tried the Hemingway app. It scared me. We already have a lack of good writing skills in the U.S. And I assume the goal of the app is to help make up for that deficit. But I predict this app will only dumb down our writing further instead. Here’s why…… Continue reading I Tried the Hemingway App and It Scared Me—Here’s Why…
