Articles

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.

Despite the global trend towards plain English workplace communications, there is a common misconception that plain English is a process of ‘dumbing down’ that is violating the English language. Word choice is a critical component of plain English. But it’s not simply a case of replacing of long word with a short one – it’s so much more than that.

Plain English is not a new concept in the workplace. The NRMA recognised its value over 30 years ago when they produced plain English policies to help their customers make informed choices. Yet,  the uptake of clear, concise writing has been slow in some industries putting organisations at risk. Why is the quest for clear written communication so challenging and how can a plain English writer help?

The Digital Age has not only revolutionised the way we work, it is also transforming the way we read. We are evolving from being deep readers invested in comprehending complex information to skim readers who ‘browse’ text. What impact does this have on the way we write at work?