Writing Tips
Writing memos, letters, reports, etc. in the business world is an imperative aspect of most any profession. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing in professional settings:
1. There vs. Their.
We are all guilty of letting some their/there/they’re mistakes slip past our self review or spell check. “They’re” is simply “they are” and is the least likely to be confused with the others. “There” can be used in many ways, including as a reference to a place or as a pronoun. “Their” is a plural possessive pronoun, as in “their opinions.” Always do the “that’s ours!” test- are you talking about more than one person and something that they possess? If so, “their” will get you there.
2. Affect vs. Effect.
As with any of the other common mistakes people make when writing, it’s taking that moment to get it right that makes the difference. “Affect” is a verb, as in “Your ability to communicate clearly will affect your income immensely.” “Effect” is a noun, as in “The effect of a parent’s low income on a child’s future is well documented.” By thinking in terms of the effect, you can usually sort out which is which, because you can’t stick a “the” in front of a verb.
3. Different than vs. Different From.
This one slips under the radar a lot. It boils down to the fact that things are logically different from one another, and using the word “than” after different is a grammatical blunder.
4. Improper Use of the Apostrophe.
You use an apostrophe in two cases: for contractions (don’t for do not), and to show possession (Frank’s blog means the blog belongs to Frank). Be careful when using the apostrophe, it causes more reader confusion to insert an apostrophe where it doesn’t belong than it does to omit one.
5. i.e. vs. e..g.
The Latin phrase id est means “that is,” so i.e. is a way of saying “in other words.” It’s designed to make something clearer by providing a definition or saying it in a more common way.
The Latin phrase exempli gratia means “for example”, so e.g. is used before giving specific examples that support your assertion.
MORE COMING SOON!
