Articles

In times of crisis, we naturally seek comfort from others. When someone is ill, anxious or sad, we instinctively want to be near them, to squeeze their hand, give them a hug or have a chat over a cuppa. Yet as we don our masks and keep a physical distance to stop the spread of COVID-19, we have to find other ways to show we care. Words become increasingly important.

If you were applying for a senior management position at a large corporation, wearing thongs and shorts to the interview is likely to give the wrong impression. A top hat at Ascot might look appropriate there but completely out of place at the family Sunday barbecue. It’s a similar principle with writing. 

With word processing programs in workplaces often remaining in the default setting of US spelling, many people are increasingly unaware of the differences between Australian and American spelling. Australian spelling closely follows British spelling, yet many common words are spelt differently in American English even though they mean the same thing. In an interconnected world with English an international language, do these differences matter?

Enticing your reader to begin reading your report may be the biggest writing challenge you face. Even the most motivated reader is likely to be deterred by a report with pages of unbroken text. So how do you overcome this common barrier?

It was French designer Coco Chanel’s non-traditional approach to women’s fashion that made her famous in the 1920s. Perhaps the most enduring of her creations is the little black dress (also now known as the LBD). But what does the little black dress have to do with plain English?

The COVID-19 coronavirus has provided fertile ground for scammers to prey on anxious and unsuspecting people in vulnerable financial and health positions. C Since the outbreak of the virus there have been over 2,000 COVID-19-related scam reports. Looking for clues in the text of an email, social media post, or SMS is one of a number of steps you can take to protect yourself from scams. 

To meet the challenge of COVID-19, Sydney-based Concise Writing Consultancy has developed a hybrid 3-stage online learning model that combines self-paced learning and interactive virtual classroom.  Giving participants the best of both worlds, this training approach will allow participants to consolidate their learning and more easily transfer their skills to the workplace.

At the beginning of the 21st century we have the ability to publish anything on the internet. By the time the grammar trolls pounce, the errors are out there going viral and confusing readers who blindly copy these errors thinking it’s correct usage. In the face of other global concerns, worrying about the English language may seem pedantic. Yet, now more than ever, clear communication is critical. Is the English language on the fast track to regressing to confusion and unintelligibility?

Writing clear and concise business communications with exactly the right tone is tricky at the best of times. But how do you get the right balance when communicating with your clients or staff about an invisible virus that's causing its fair share of disruption around the world? Discover 5 common traps when writing about COVID-19 and how to avoid them.  

If you’re pushed for time or you want to give your report or flyer a professional polish, contracting a professional writer or editor is a wise investment. Qualifications, experience and expertise fluctuates wildly between writers and editors, so it’s important to take the time to get the right match. Find out how to avoid some of the pitfalls of hiring a professional writer or editor.