BizWritingTip reader: “Could you give us an update on when it is appropriate to use ‘I was’ versus ‘I were.’ ” BizWritingTip response: “I was” is the normal past tense of the verb “to be.” Examples I was busy when you called. (past tense) I was nominated head of the committee. (past passive tense) I […]
Angela’s question: “Can you please describe when to use ‘reoccur’ and when to use ‘recur.’ Are they interchangeable?” BizWritingTip response: Aha more controversial words! The dictionary defines “recur” as a verb meaning “to occur again” or “be repeated.” (“Recurrence” is the noun.) Examples Lightning recurred throughout the night. (It happened often.) It is a recurring […]
This BizWritingTip continues a previous blog discussion on how to write dates. It is considered substandard North American English to place an “rd,” “st” or “th” after a number directly following a month. Example Incorrect January 14th, 2011 ExampleCorrect January 14, 2011 ExamplesCorrect 14th of January or 14th day of January (The number comes before the month […]
Contractions can cause problems for some writers. Here’s a common error: let’s versus lets. Let’s is the contraction for “let us.” Lets is a form of the verb to let, meaning “to allow to.” Example (Incorrect) The new software program let’s us collect more data on our customers. (This sentence would, therefore, mean “The new software program let us us to collect more […]
Daniel’s question: “I am not sure which is the right spelling: coworkers or co-workers?” BiztipWritingTip response: Unfortunately, this question is still being debated. Both the CP (Canadian Press) and the AP (Associated Press) stylebooks recommend co-worker. So does the dictionary associated with the MicroSoft Word program. But The Chicago Manual of Style and The Economist’s […]
BizWritingTip reader: “I wonder if you could write one about the use of ‘complement’ and ‘compliment.’ It seems the misuse of these words, in my opinion, is increasing. Is there an American variation influencing this or perhaps both can now be used interchangeably?” BizWritingTip response: You are right. These words are often confused. However, “complement” […]
BizWritingTip reader: “People write dates as Jan 12th, 2011, and others write Jan 12, 2011 or 12th Jan, 2011. Under what circumstances do we need the ‘th’ after the date and is the comma always needed before the year?” BizWritingTip response: For standard business writing in Canada, a semi-formal approach to writing dates is recommended. […]
I have noticed that some business writers have still not updated themselves with regard to the rules for North American quotation marks. The rule in Canada and the U.S. is that all periods and commas are placed inside quotation marks. (Changing the placement of periods and commas according to what is being quoted is the […]
Claire’s question: “What is the correct use of the expression ‘as well’ versus using ‘also’?” BizWritingTip response: Also is an adverb meaning “in addition, likewise, besides, moreover.” As well is an idiom and is defined as “also, in addition, to an equal extent, too.” Although these words appear similar, do not interchange them. Also is […]
BizWritingTip reader: “When do you use `to’ or ‘too?’ ” BizWritingTip response: Using “too” when it should be “to” is a common mistake today particularly among email writers who don’t always check what they have written.?“To” is one of the more widely used words in the English language, and it has many purposes and definitions. […]