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Results 1 to 10 of 321 (page 1 of 33)
5 tips to improve your email writing skills
An English blog post containing a list of five steps for writing effective emails.We’ve all been there. You click open an email, and there’s a long block of text that stretches beyond where you can see. Your first reaction is to close the window and flag the email for later. Much later. Email can be a useful communication tool, but not everyone uses it well. Below are 5 steps to follow in order to draft an email that readers will open, read and understand. 1. Maintain your credibility Present yourself as the trusted professional you are. Be polite: say please and thank you as appropriate Keep a professional tone: avoid slang, exclamation marks, and smiley faces Use a suitable greeting and opening, but avoid insincere small talk Include a suitable sign-off that fits the tone of the email Keep your email signature simple and short: limit images and avoid cursive fonts Don’t use too many high importance flags 2. Present your email thoughtfully Give the right amount of information in the right way so that your reader is able to read your message easily, and wants to. Place your key message and call to action near the top so it’s the first thing your reader sees Organize the rest of the information from most to least important Limit the number of issues covered in the email to increase the chance of a response Write briefly and stick to the point: try to keep to 150 words or less Use short, everyday words instead of jargon and difficult words Avoid acronyms and terms your reader won’t understand Keep sentences short 3. Help your reader scan We don’t read content onscreen word for word. In fact, most of us scan a web page in an F-shaped pattern. Use layout and formatting to guide your reader through the email and to your key points. Put your key message and call to action at the top For a longer email with a lot of details, use headings Write in easy-to-read chunks: use short paragraphs and lists with bullets or numbers Don’t use too much bold; if you emphasize too many words, you end up emphasizing nothing Avoid all caps, huge fonts and random colours; these slow the reader down 4. Write your subject line last Your subject line could determine whether your reader opens your email. Make it count. Write the subject line after drafting your message Use action verbs so the reader knows what you want done Be specific and descriptive so the reader knows right away what the message is about Appeal to the reader’s needs: ask yourself what will make the reader care about your email Avoid starting a sentence in the subject line and finishing it in the body Keep your subject line under 50 characters or 6 to 8 words, so the whole line will show in the inbox preview Keep in mind that some smartphones show only 33 to 44 characters for the subject line 5. Review and revise Imagine that everyone in the company will read your message. Emails are quick to create, but leave a lasting impression. Review your work now to save time and get results later. Use the spell-check feature to reduce errors Read the message backwards to check for errors that a spell-checker won’t catch, like homonyms and usage errors Check that your key message is perfectly clear, without typos, wordy phrases, or anything that can be misunderstood Check that all names and titles are correct Make sure you have attached any important files or included any necessary links Do you have a useful tip for effective email writing not included here? Please share it in the comments.Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
Number of views: 212,927
in regard to, with regard to, as regards
Write the noun regard in the singular in the phrases in regard to and with regard to. The store has called in regard to (not in regards to) the missing hot tub. With regard to (not with regards to) my recent accident in the hot tub, I have completely recovered. The final s is correct only in the phrase as regards, where regards is a verb. As regards the hot tub, I’m making a planter out of it! Note: In regard to, with regard to and as regards are wordy phrases. Instead, to communicate clearly and effectively, use about, as for, concerning or regarding, or rewrite the sentence. The store has called about (or concerning or regarding) the missing hot tub. I have completely recovered from my recent accident in the hot tub. As for the hot tub, I’m making a planter out of it! OR I’m making a planter out of the hot tub!Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 40,112
Logic 1: What’s wrong with this thinking?
An English-language quiz on identifying logic errors.Each of the following statements represents a logic error. See if you can identify the error.1. If you start letting your teenagers stay out late, soon they will get into drinking and taking drugs, and their lives will be ruined!appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slope2. This world-renowned American economist says that Canadian logging practices are environmentally sound.appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slope3. It is normal for business writers to use expressions like "pursuant to your request" or "attached herewith please find." This kind of language has been used for decades and sounds professional. So why change?appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slope4. The committee was to meet last week to discuss the changes to the project, so a decision still has to be made.appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slope5. Most hospital workers think that the health care industry needs more funding. Therefore, hospitals should get more money.appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slope6. My son David has been playing a lot with the boy who just moved to the neighbourhood; I recently caught David stealing money out of my purse. He'll have to stop playing with the new boy.appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slope7. If you believe in censorship, you have no commitment to free speech.appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slope8. Everyone I know believes we should pay women to stay home with their children. It's obviously the right choice.appeal to traditionbandwagonbiased or suppressed datablack and white thinkingfalse appeal to authorityfalse causenon sequiturslippery slopeSource: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Number of views: 12,367
decision (make a decision, take a decision)
Both make a decision and take a decision are correct. Although attempts are sometimes made to distinguish between these two expressions or to reject one in favour of the other, most modern dictionaries use them interchangeably. For example: She was forced to make a tough decision about her future. The Cabinet took the decision to launch the initiative.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 11,136
overall, over all
The overused adjective overall can be left out entirely or a more precise synonym can be used instead. Depending on the context, choose one of the following: absolute, aggregate, average, comprehensive, general, supreme, total, or whole. The (overall) goal of the provincial program is full employment. The final figures show an overall (total, absolute, average, general) increase in sales. The adverb phrase over all expresses the idea of “all things considered,” and is written in two words. Over all, I would say the party was a great success.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 10,576
assure, ensure, insure
Assure is used in the sense of offering a guarantee or removing doubt, uncertainty or worry. Thanks to the new regulations, the employees’ job security was assured. The builder assured the homeowner that the renovations would be completed on time. Ensure means to make sure or certain. To ensure that he could keep his word, the builder hired two extra carpenters. Insure is related primarily to the field of insurance, and sometimes to preparing for the future. If you insure your life, you assure your family members a settlement and ensure their financial security. Insure (or Ensure) your future by continuing your education.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 10,239
Weed your words: Clear the clutter
A quiz on weeding out redundancies.We are often told to write the way we speak. But sometimes when we speak, we use more words than we need. While we can get away with redundant and long-winded expressions in speech, we should be careful to avoid this fault in writing. See if you can weed out the unnecessary words in the sentences below.1. No one single person knew the answer.singlesingle and personone2. Children under the age of five must receive this vaccination.the age ofthe and ofunder the age3. By working together, we can build a better community.canby workingno words are redundant4. Take this medication in combination with food to avoid an upset stomach.in combinationstomachno words are redundant5. I worked on the project together with your mother for years before we achieved notable success.togethernotableno words are redundant6. We are in close contact with people in this region, and all without exception have congratulated us on what we have done.closewithout exceptionno words are redundant7. The committee closely scrutinized the report with a fine tooth comb.closelywith a fine tooth combclosely and with a fine tooth combSource: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Number of views: 10,190
above-mentioned, aforementioned
To write clearly and effectively, avoid legal jargon like the word above-mentioned or aforementioned. Instead, use words such as previously, earlier or above. Legal jargon: The above-mentioned documents are available on our website. Plain language: The documents mentioned previously (or earlier or above) are available on our website. Legal jargon: The police have investigated the aforementioned incidents. Plain language: The police have investigated the above incidents. You can also replace these terms with demonstrative adjectives: this, that, these, those. Legal jargon: The above-mentioned documents are available on our website. Plain language: These documents are available on our website. Legal jargon: The police have investigated the aforementioned incidents. Plain language: The police have investigated these incidents.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 9,287
OK, O.K., okay
Okay and the abbreviations OK and O.K. are informal and should be replaced by synonyms such as acceptable, all right, correct, approval, authorize or recommend in formal writing. Ian says he’ll be okay (all right) once his cold clears up. Once we have the Board’s okay (approval), we can begin hiring staff for the project. Jill okayed (authorized) the travel claims submitted by her staff. In everyday writing, choose okay rather than OK or O.K. Are my vacation plans okay (not O.K.) with you? The plural of the abbreviations is formed by adding ’s (OK’s or O.K.’s). You should replace the two OK’s in your email message with the word okay or with a more formal synonym.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
Number of views: 9,068
Improve your writing: Say it with a verb!
An English quiz in which the user must identify the verb hidden within a noun in each sentenceDid you know that nouns in a sentence can sometimes contain hidden verbs? For example, in the sentence "I have an objection," the verb to object is hiding within the noun objection. To make your writing clear and effective, avoid hidden verbs. So instead of "I have an objection," get straight to the point with "I object!"In each of the sentences below, there's a verb hidden within a noun. See if you can identify the noun that could be turned into its verb form to create a clear and effective sentence.1. The cook provided an indication that the meal was ready to be served.cookindicationmeal2. Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers took the decision to work together.Keepersdecisionwork3. In school, Mandana displayed a tendency to daydream.daydreamschooltendency4. Twins Patrick and Sammy were in agreement about celebrating their birthday with a day trip to Montréal.agreementbirthdaytrip5. My naturopath has advised that I practise abstinence from all sources of caffeine.abstinencecaffeinesources6. Well-meaning friends launched a bombardment of questions at Finley about her experience.bombardmentexperiencequestions7. Our intention is to continue helping vulnerable populations.helpingintentionpopulations8. The Clerk of the Privy Council made the announcement that she would be retiring after a fulfilling career in the public service.announcementcareerservice9. The investigators conducted an examination of the evidence.investigatorsexaminationevidence10. The store placed a limit on the number of packages customers could buy.storelimitpackagesSource: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Number of views: 8,449