I have a pretty big vocabulary, but I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know every word there is, especially when it comes to industry-specific jargon – or worse, industry-specific jargon that has different meanings in different industries.…
When and How to (Re-)Use Boilerplate
In an ideal world, every item description is written individually and each section of a business proposal is tailored specifically to the client. In the real world, however, that’s often just not practical, especially when you’re effectively saying the same…
How to Write a Basic Internal Proposal (aka Presenting a Solution to the Higher-Ups)
Ever had a great idea for an improvement at work (a new category for the home page, switching to the Costco variety pack for the office oatmeal) and been told, “Sounds interesting, write it up”? You’ve just been asked for…
How to Word Business Emails to Get Replies
Far too frequently, I’ve had colleagues complain that “Soandso never replies to emails” or “They never get back to me with what I need.” True, some people are really bad about replying, but you can significantly up your chances of getting…
Writing Business Communications When You’re Not a Writer
You’re not a writer. You can put words on paper, of course, but you’re not about to write the next War and Peace or Harry Potter. Despite this, you can’t escape at least the occasional bit of business writing. Maybe…