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11 / 04 / 18
Why a list of bullets is not a report (and military writing could make you enemies)
A few years ago, I was working with a consultant. We used to meet every week, over breakfast. And, as my daughter was going through a phase of waking up every night, I was invariably tired. I remember one session, during which I had been particularly sluggish. Even a second double espresso could not push […]
24 / 08 / 17
The one phrase you should (almost) never use to start an email
Most of us write tens or even hundreds of them a week, but the question of how to start an email (or letter) can still leave us floundering. In fact, one of our readers asked us to settle an office argument on this very matter. We’re very fond of workplace debates – especially about language […]
20 / 06 / 17
Why you should always include ‘sent from my iPhone’ in your mobile signature
While conducting some research recently, I discovered a question in a web forum that got me thinking. In a nutshell, the question was: should you include ‘Sent from my iPhone [or Android phone etc]’ at the foot of an email if you’re composing it on a mobile device? I confess that, until a few weeks […]
04 / 08 / 16
Thanks in advance? No thank you
Look through your inbox or an online forum, and it won’t be long until you hit someone making a request and concluding with ‘thanks in advance’. But they’re probably making a big mistake. What’s more, they may have no idea about the hornets’ nest of irritation they’re poking just by using a few short words. […]
28 / 07 / 16
Writers without borders: three rules for international emails
Given the nature of business today, it’s very likely that at some point you’ll have to write to someone from another country – or someone whose first language isn’t English. (We are making a bit of an assumption – that, since you’re here, you tend to write in English.) English has been called ‘the language […]
21 / 03 / 16
Five signs that it’s time to pick up the phone
If you’re like most people, you will know what it feels like to agonise over an email. Often it’s the wording that torments you, or uncertainty about the grammar and punctuation. But sometimes, it’s email itself that’s the problem. Sometimes you shouldn’t be using email at all. Recognising this can be hard. So here are […]