by Sharon Ernst | Jun 5, 2024 | Business Writing Skills
I love to read. I always have. I still remember being six years old and the first time I read a whole “chapter” book by myself. It was a library book and I was tucked into bed with it at bedtime. I realize now it was a very short book, but it seemed very grownup to me at the time because it didn’t have any pictures. I was so excited to finish it that I hopped out of bed and ran into my parent’s bedroom to announce my triumph. That is one of my most vivid memories from my childhood. That is the impact reading has always had on me....
by Sharon Ernst | Jun 3, 2024 | Business Writing Skills
My friend Brenda sent me an email with an attachment and a cryptic message. The email said simply: “I believe a better word choice here may be hosting an event.” Confused, I opened the attachment to find a flyer for a resort with a huge headline that asked: Are You Having an Affair? I laughed out loud. After all, there’s a huge difference between hosting an event and having an affair. Below the headline, the flyer went on to promote the resort for romantic getaways, family gatherings, bachelorette parties, and so on. So yes, to...
by Sharon Ernst | Jun 3, 2024 | Business Writing Skills
Originally published November 2019; updated June 2024 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 today, people are more likely to quickly scan what you write and not fully absorb what you’ve said—no matter how long you labored over it. (And that’s just a nice way of...
by Sharon Ernst | May 22, 2024 | Business Writing Skills
It can be hard to be clear, even when we think we’re being crystal clear! Case in point: I’m reading Nature’s Best Hope about planting native plants, shrubs and trees to provide critical food sources. I like to throw out trivia from the books I read when talking with my youngest because she likes to share this trivia with others in her age group, who are the ones more likely to listen. (It’s all part of my plan to save the planet.) So I mentioned a mind-blowing fact from the book: 90% of insects only eat one kind of plant.*...
by Sharon Ernst | Feb 26, 2024 | Business Writing Skills
Originally Published July 2018. Updated February 2024. Have you been told to use active not passive voice in your business writing? Probably. And if not, you’re hearing it now. I came across a useful example of the passive voice and edited it below to illustrate the difference. Read through the before version and see where you would make changes, not only to use the active voice but to the clutter caused by so many additional (and unnecessary) words. Then you can check out my edits, and see how the version with the edits...
by Sharon Ernst | Feb 19, 2024 | Business Writing Skills
Originally published May 2018. Updated February 2024. Something has been lost in our hurry-up world: attention to detail. And some of the most important business writing advice we need to learn by heart is that details do matter! Details matter because paying attention to details saves time for the writer and the reader, and protects the credibility of the businessperson and the brand. Paying Attention to Details Takes Time but Saves Time Details, shmetails, right? We’re in a hurry! Maybe, but the time we save by going so fast can...
