A BizWritingTip reader wanted to know whether to use numbers or words when expressing time. BizWritingTip response: ?When you are using a.m. or p.m., use the numbers. Example We will start the meeting at 8:30 a.m. (Note the space between the number and a.m.) He can usually be found at the gym between noon and […]
What punctuation should I use with a bulleted or a numbered list? This is a commonly-asked question. Although many writers like to use bulleted lists in their business documents, list writing is difficult. You must be consistent. Your lists must contain all sentence fragments or all complete sentences. Your lists should never be a mixture […]
Heather’s question: “I hope you’ll address the words ‘principal’ versus ‘principle’ soon. I was taught principal was a school official, as in your ‘pal,’ and principle is defined as a belief. In more recent years, I think some instructors have this rule mixed up.” BizWritingTip response: Principal and principle do confuse many people. Yes, you […]
BizWritingTip reader: “I understand these words may now be interchangeable. Could you comment on whether this is true? I always understood that farther was used for literal references, for example, for geographic distance. The word further is used when the reference is figurative, for example, ‘I am further along in the process.’ Your thoughts would […]
I recently asked people to send me their pet peeves with regard to emails. My pet peeve was — and is — people who don’t put their phone numbers on their emails. Several BizWritingTip readers supported me. Marina H. went one step further. Her peeve was people who not include the extension, forcing people to […]
BizWritingTip reader: When is it ok to use a comma before “and”? BizWritingTip response: Many people tell me that they have been told never to put a comma before “and.” However, as we all know, never say “never.” When listing a series of ideas in a sentence, you separate the thoughts with commas. But when you […]
Lisa’s question: “I would appreciate learning about the correct use of the expression ‘very much.’ I see it often, and it bugs me, but I don’t know why. Examples include ‘it’s very much a work in progress …’ or ‘It is very much appreciated.’” BizWritingTip response: “Very” and “much” are intensifiers. They allow you to […]
I have found that most people have a love/hate relationship with emails. Here’s an opportunity to vent and to learn. I am conducting a survey of business people’s pet peeves when it comes to this form of communication. My pet peeve is emails that lack phone numbers. Sometimes if a reply is lengthy or negative, […]
A BizWritingTip reader: “Could you comment on the use of ‘orient’ and ‘orientate’? I have always used orient and it drives me nuts to hear orientate, verbal and written.” BizWritingTip response: This is the third question I have received on these words this week. There must be a lot of orientation in the workforce right now. The two […]