Resource for your global communications

Resource for your global communications

More investment and wealth managers have clients and other important relationships outside the borders of the U.S. The online Microsoft Writing Style Guide from Microsoft includes a section on global communications that may help you communicate more effectively with your prospects, clients, colleagues, referral sources, and vendors. For example, its: Time and place page offers […]

So at the start of a sentence

So at the start of a sentence

I am far from perfect in my knowledge of grammar, as I admitted in “Confessions of a grammar ignoramus.” So I wasn’t surprised to learn that I’ve been making a mistake when starting a sentence with “so.” Apparently, I shouldn’t have been putting a comma after “so” at the beginning of a sentence. No comma […]

3 times to use passive verbs in your writing

3 times to use passive verbs in your writing

I usually slash passive verbs in articles that I edit. (Don’t know what a passive verb is? Read this.) But sometimes I leave them in place. When? When the sentence should emphasize the person or thing that the verb is acting on. Or, when you don’t want to identify the person or thing that is […]

Mistake Monday

MISTAKE MONDAY for January 31: Can YOU spot what’s wrong?

Can you spot what’s wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. This week’s mistake isn’t easy to identify. I post these challenges to raise awareness of the importance of proofreading.

Simple language helps your readers, even when they understand technical terms

Plain language helps your readers, even when they understand technical terms. The Yahoo! Style Guide makes a great point on this topic: Even if more technical or sophisticated language is appropriate for your site, your readers will appreciate simpler language in the areas where their eyes are scanning to determine what a page is about. […]