Blog
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Semicolons: when to use them and when to skip them
Semicolons sit between a comma and a period, but most writers either avoid them entirely or drop them in the wrong place. Here's when they work, and when to reach for something simpler.
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i.e. vs e.g.: what each one actually means
Writers mix up i.e. and e.g. constantly, but the two abbreviations mean completely different things. Here's how to tell them apart and use each one correctly every time.
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Starting a sentence with "And" or "But": is it correct?
Starting a sentence with "And" or "But" is one of the most persistent grammar myths in professional writing. The rule forbidding it has no basis in standard English, and careful writers have been ignoring it for centuries.
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How to write a business email to someone you've never met
A cold business email to a stranger is one of the hardest professional messages to get right. Too formal and it reads like a form letter; too casual and it undermines your credibility.
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When to use numbered lists vs bullet points in business writing
Numbered lists and bullet points look similar but signal very different things to your reader. Picking the wrong one quietly undermines your document's logic.
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How to write a business email sign-off for difficult situations
Standard sign-offs fall flat when the email itself carries bad news, a complaint, or an awkward request. Here's how to close difficult business emails in a way that fits the message.
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How to write a business email greeting line
The greeting line of a business email does more than open the message. It sets the register, signals formality, and shapes how the rest of the content lands. Here's how to choose the right one.
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Passive voice in business writing: when to use it
Passive voice gets a bad reputation in business writing, but the real rule is more nuanced than "always avoid it." Here's when it works, when it doesn't, and how to spot the difference.
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How to write a formal business letter salutation
The salutation of a formal business letter does more than say hello. It signals respect, sets the register, and tells the reader whether you did your homework.
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How to write a business email BCC line correctly
The BCC field in a business email is the most misunderstood of the three recipient lines. Used correctly, it protects privacy and keeps inboxes clean. Used carelessly, it creates trust problems that are hard to undo.
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How to write a business email CC line correctly
The CC line in a business email looks like a small decision, but getting it wrong creates confusion, resentment, and cluttered inboxes. Here's how to use it with precision.
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How to write a business letter closing paragraph
The closing paragraph of a business letter is your last chance to tell the reader exactly what happens next. Get it right and you turn a good letter into one that actually produces a result.
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How to write a business letter date line correctly
The date line in a business letter is easy to get wrong, and readers notice when you do. Here's how to format it correctly for every audience, style, and context.
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How to write a request email that gets a yes
A request email lives or dies on how clearly you frame the ask and how easy you make it to say yes. Here's a practical structure that works across almost every professional situation.
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How to write a professional email salutation
The salutation in a professional email does more work than most writers realise. Get it right and your reader is already on your side before the first sentence begins.
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How to write a business email body that gets results
The opening line and sign-off get plenty of attention, but the body of a business email is where most messages succeed or fail. Here's how to write one that's clear, direct, and easy to act on.
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How to write a business email subject line for internal emails
Internal emails are the most neglected writing in any organisation. Most people dash off a subject line without thinking, and colleagues pay the price in missed actions and slow decisions.
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How to write a business email closing sentence
The closing sentence of a business email is the last thing your reader processes before the sign-off. Get it right and you guide their next move. Get it wrong and you leave them unsure what to do.
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How to write a business email opening line
The opening line of a business email is the first thing your reader sees after the subject line. Get it right and the rest of the message lands; get it wrong and you've already lost them.
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How to write a business email sign-off that fits
Your email sign-off is the last thing a reader sees before your name, and it shapes how the whole message lands. Here's how to pick the right closing phrase every time.
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How to write a project kickoff email that sets the right tone
A project kickoff email is the first message a team receives about a new piece of work. Get the structure and tone right and you set up clear expectations from day one.
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How to write a progress report that gets read
Most progress reports bury the point in a wall of activity updates that no one asked for. Here's how to write one that gives decision-makers exactly what they need, quickly.
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How to write a status update email that people trust
A status update email is easy to write badly and hard to write well. Get the structure, tone, and level of detail right and your readers will stop asking follow-up questions.
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How to write a meeting recap email people actually read
A meeting recap email is only useful if people read it and act on it. Here's how to write one that captures decisions clearly, assigns ownership, and doesn't get buried in the inbox.
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How to write a professional handover note
A handover note is one of those documents most people write in a rush and regret later. Get the structure and content right the first time with this practical guide.
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How to write a follow-up email after no response
A follow-up email after no response is one of the most delicate messages in professional life. Get the timing, tone, and wording right and you'll hear back. Get them wrong and you'll push the reader further away.
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Spelling differences that trip up global teams
Spelling differences between American, British, and Australian English create quiet confusion in global teams. Knowing the core patterns helps you write with confidence for any audience.
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Plain English for international readers: a practical guide
Writing in Plain English for international readers takes more than cutting jargon. It means rethinking word choice, sentence structure, and cultural assumptions from the first line.
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Free resources for workplace writers
Good workplace writing doesn't require a budget. The best free resources for workplace writers cover grammar, style, proofreading, and plain-English thinking, all at no cost.
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Writing tools that actually earn their price
Most writing tools promise to fix your prose. A handful actually do. Here's how to separate the ones worth paying for from the ones that just add noise to your workflow.
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The best style guides for business writers
The best style guides for business writers aren't just grammar references. They shape how your documents sound, how readers trust you, and how consistently your team communicates.
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Reading aloud: the fastest proofreading trick
Reading aloud is the fastest proofreading trick available to any writer, and it costs nothing. Here's why your ears catch what your eyes routinely miss.
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Why spell-check misses your worst mistakes
Spell-check catches misspelled words, but the mistakes that cost you credibility are usually spelled perfectly. Here's what the tool misses and how to catch those errors yourself.
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A five-step proofreading checklist for business writing
Most proofreading errors survive a first read because writers look for everything at once. A five-step proofreading checklist gives each category of error its own pass, so nothing slips through.
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Microsoft Office tips for better documents
Microsoft Office tips can transform the documents you produce every day. A handful of underused features in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint do more for professional polish than any style guide.
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Replying to a rude email professionally
A rude email can trigger an instinctive reply that makes everything worse. Here's how to respond professionally, keep your credibility intact, and actually resolve the situation.
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Subject lines that get your email opened
A great subject line is the difference between an email that gets read and one that gets deleted. Here's what professional subject lines do differently, and how to write one every time.
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How to write a condolence message at work
A workplace condolence message needs to be warm without overstepping, personal without being intrusive. Here's how to write one that genuinely helps.
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Apostrophes in business writing: the complete guide
Apostrophes cause more professional writing errors than almost any other punctuation mark. Get the core rules straight and your business documents will read with noticeably more authority.
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Affect vs effect: a practical guide
Affect and effect trip up writers at every level, but the rule for choosing between them is simpler than it looks. Here's how to get it right every time.
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When to use a comma before "and"
A comma before "and" isn't always required, but leaving it out at the wrong moment can change what your sentence means. Here's how to get it right every time.
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What's the difference between "program" and "programme"?
Program and programme are the same word spelled two different ways, but choosing the wrong one for your audience can quietly undermine your credibility. Here's the rule that settles it.
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Is there a comma before or after "such as"?
Whether a comma goes before or after "such as" depends on one thing: whether the examples are essential to the sentence's meaning. Here's how to get it right every time.
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How to accept a job offer via email or letter
Accepting a job offer in writing is your first piece of professional communication with a new employer. Get the structure, tone, and wording right from the start.
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Truly or not truly: is "truely" ever correct?
Truely or truly? The misspelling is so common it feels right. Here's why "truely" is always wrong and the simple rule that keeps you on the right side of the line.
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Year-old vs year old: when to hyphenate
Year-old and year old look nearly identical, but the hyphen isn't optional. Whether you need it depends entirely on where the phrase sits in your sentence.
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Is it correct to say "and also"?
Writers second-guess "and also" more than almost any two-word combination in English. The phrase is grammatically correct, but whether it belongs in your sentence is a different question entirely.
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Understanding the phrase "slow and steady wins the race"
The phrase "slow and steady wins the race" is one of the most recognisable idioms in English. Knowing where it comes from and how to use it well makes your writing sharper and more deliberate.
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Chose vs choose: how to tell them apart every time
Chose and choose look nearly identical but they belong in completely different sentences. Here's the rule that keeps them straight, every time.
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What is "albeit" and how to use it correctly
Albeit is one of those words that sounds formal and precise, yet many writers misuse it without realising. Here's what it means, how it works in a sentence, and when to reach for it.
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Comprised of vs composed of: a test to get it right
Comprised of and composed of look interchangeable but careful readers notice the difference. Here's a simple test that tells you which phrase belongs in your sentence.
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What is a simile? Definition, examples, and when to use one
A simile compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as," making abstract ideas concrete and easier to grasp. Here's how similes work and when to use them in professional writing.
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Point of view: first, second, and third person explained
Point of view determines who is speaking in your writing and how readers experience it. Get first, second, and third person right and your business writing will land with far more precision.
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Out of office: how to write one that actually works
An out of office message does more than tell people you're away. Written well, it protects your professional reputation and gives senders exactly what they need.
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"Enclosed please find" means you've lost it
Few phrases date a business letter faster than "enclosed please find." It's technically correct but practically deadening. Here's why it keeps appearing and what to replace it with.
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Eachother or each other: one word or two?
Writers frequently type "eachother" as a single word, but only the two-word form "each other" is correct in English. Here's why the confusion happens and how to fix it.
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Objective vs subjective: what's the difference?
Objective writing sticks to verifiable facts. Subjective writing reflects personal interpretation. Knowing which one a situation calls for is a skill every professional writer needs.
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Led or lead: which spelling is correct?
Led and lead look almost identical but they're never interchangeable. Here's exactly which spelling belongs in your sentence and why the confusion happens so often.
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Is it "my apologies" or "my apology"?
Both "my apologies" and "my apology" are grammatically correct, but they don't mean the same thing. Here's how to pick the right one every time.
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More apostrophe rules you need to get right
Apostrophes cause more professional writing errors than almost any other punctuation mark. Here's a practical guide to the rules most writers miss, from tricky possessives to contractions that aren't what they seem.
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How to cite enclosures in business letters
Citing enclosures in a business letter is a small detail that signals professional polish. Get the placement, format, and wording right every time with this guide.
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Reinventing the phrase "as per our conversation"
As per our conversation is one of those phrases that technically works but quietly puts readers off. Here's why it lands badly and what to write instead.
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How to use the apostrophe in "Happy Mother's Day"
Whether to use the apostrophe in "Happy Mother's Day" trips up writers every spring. The answer is simpler than it looks, and getting it right takes about 60 seconds to learn.
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The difference between bases and basis
Bases and basis look related and sound similar, but they play different roles in a sentence. Here's how to tell them apart and use each one correctly in professional writing.
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What is the plural of moose? Don't make a "meese" take
The plural of moose is simply moose, and the word never changes, no matter how many animals you're describing. Here's why "meese" is wrong and how to use the correct form every time.
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Commas in dates: writing a date correctly every time
Commas in dates follow a specific logic that most writers learn by instinct rather than by rule. Get the placement right and your dates will read cleanly in any professional context.
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The difference between "use to" and "used to"
Use to and used to look almost identical, but only one is correct in most sentences. Here's exactly when to write each form and why the distinction matters in professional writing.
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Is it "here here" or "hear hear"?
Writers often second-guess themselves between "here here" and "hear hear." One is the real phrase with a centuries-old history. The other is a mistake.
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Does a comma go before "since"? The rule explained
Whether a comma goes before "since" depends on where the clause appears in the sentence and what "since" is doing. Get the rule right and your writing will read more cleanly.
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Thank you for your understanding: when and how to use it
Thank you for your understanding is one of those phrases that feels polite but can land badly if you use it at the wrong moment. Here's how to get it right every time.
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With best regards: how and when to use it
With best regards is a staple of professional email, but it's often used on autopilot. Here's what the phrase actually signals and how to choose the right closing for every situation.
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Proper business letter format: a complete guide
Proper business letter format follows a specific structure that most writers never learned explicitly. Get each section right and your letters will read as polished and credible from the first line.
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In regard to vs in regards to: which is correct?
One of these phrases belongs in formal business writing. The other is a widespread error that careful readers notice immediately. Here's how to get it right.
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Whose vs who's: which one do you need?
Whose and who's sound identical but work very differently on the page. Get the distinction right and your business writing will read with noticeably more authority.
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Is it "others'" or "other's"? Getting possession right
Others' and other's look nearly identical, but only one is correct in most professional contexts. Here's how to tell them apart and get possession right every time.
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Using "care of" in an address: what it means and how to write it
The abbreviation c/o on an envelope or letter head means "care of," but knowing when and how to use it correctly is less obvious than it looks. Here's the complete guide.
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Please see attached: better ways to say it in email
Please see attached is one of the most overused phrases in professional email. It works, but you can do better. Here's when to keep it and when to replace it.
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Please advise: when to use it and better alternatives
Please advise is everywhere in professional email, but it often frustrates the people who receive it. Here's what the phrase actually signals and when a more specific alternative works better.
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Empathic vs empathetic: which is correct?
Empathic and empathetic both describe the same quality, but writers and editors disagree on which one belongs in professional contexts. Here's how to choose with confidence.
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Verbage vs verbiage: which is correct?
Verbage and verbiage look nearly identical, but only one is a real English word. Here's how to tell them apart and use the correct form every time.
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What does "duly noted" mean in professional writing?
Duly noted sounds formal and efficient, but in many professional contexts it comes across as dismissive or robotic. Here's what it actually means and when to use it.
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How to write an address: multiple types explained
Writing an address correctly depends heavily on context. Mailing labels, business letters, and email signatures each follow different rules, and mixing them up creates real problems.
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Using a comma before and after "but": the complete rule
Commas and "but" follow a specific logic that most writers never learn explicitly. Get the rule right and your sentences will read with more confidence and clarity.
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Favorite or favourite: which spelling is correct?
Favorite and favourite mean exactly the same thing, but using the wrong one for your audience can quietly undermine your credibility. Here's how to choose the right spelling every time.
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The proper use of P.S. in business writing
P.S. has survived centuries of letter-writing to land in the modern inbox, but most writers misuse it or skip it entirely. Here's how to put it to work correctly.
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Alum, alumni, alumnus, and alumnae: what's the difference?
Alum, alumni, alumnus, and alumnae all refer to graduates or former members, but mixing them up in professional writing signals carelessness. Here's how to tell them apart.
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Master's degree or masters degree: which is correct?
Master's degree or masters degree? The apostrophe makes all the difference, and getting it wrong on a resume or cover letter can undermine your credibility. Here's which form is correct.
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Is "To Whom It May Concern" still ok to use?
Few salutations carry as much baggage as "To Whom It May Concern." It's not wrong, exactly, but in most modern professional contexts there are sharper, warmer options.
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Testing Grammarly: does it actually help business writers?
Grammarly promises to fix your writing before it reaches anyone else's inbox. But does it hold up when you put it to a real business-writing test?
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Passed or past: what's the difference?
Passed and past look almost identical and sound exactly the same, but they're never interchangeable. Here's the clearest way to tell them apart in business writing.
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"Or which" vs "which": choosing the right relative pronoun
The phrase "or which is" sounds natural in speech but can create tangled sentences on the page. Here's how to use it correctly, and when to cut it entirely.
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E-mail or email: which spelling should you use?
E-mail or email? The hyphenated form was once standard, but the spelling landscape has shifted decisively. Here's which form belongs in your business writing today.
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"I couldn't care less" or "I could care less": which is correct?
One of these phrases means what it says. The other accidentally says the opposite. Here's how to settle "I couldn't care less" vs "I could care less" once and for all.
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Friendly introduction ideas for business letters
The first sentence of a business letter sets the entire tone. These friendly introduction ideas help you open warmly without sacrificing professionalism.
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Happy belated birthday or belated happy birthday: which is right?
Is it "happy belated birthday" or "belated happy birthday"? The two phrases look almost identical, but only one is grammatically precise. Here's how to settle the debate.
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Imperative sentence: definition and examples
An imperative sentence gives a command, makes a request, or offers an instruction, and it's one of the most useful sentence types in business writing. Here's how to recognise and use it well.
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All told, all tolled, all totaled: which is correct?
All told, all tolled, and all totaled look nearly identical but carry different meanings. Here's how to tell them apart and use the right one every time.
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A guide to gender-neutral language in business writing
Gender-neutral language keeps your writing accurate, professional, and respectful to every reader. This guide covers the core rules, common pitfalls, and practical rewrites.
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Congratulations on or for: which preposition is correct?
Congratulations on or for? Both prepositions appear in professional writing, but they don't mean the same thing. Here's how to choose the right one every time.
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Re: what does "re" mean in emails and letters?
The word "re" appears at the top of letters and in email subject lines every day, yet most writers aren't sure what it actually means or where it comes from. Here's the full picture.
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What does "ily" mean? Wouldn't you love to know
ILY is short for "I love you," but its meaning shifts dramatically depending on context. In professional writing, it's almost always the wrong call.
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Complex sentence: what is it and how to use it
A complex sentence combines an independent clause with at least one dependent clause, giving your writing more precision and flow than a string of simple sentences can achieve.
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Everything about the ampersand (&) symbol
The ampersand has a surprisingly long history and a very specific place in professional writing. Here's when it belongs in your documents and when it doesn't.
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What does [sic] mean and how to use it
Sic is one of those editorial marks that looks simple but trips up a surprising number of writers. Here's what it means, when to use it, and how to avoid the common mistakes.
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"But" it's okay: an introduction to starting sentences with conjunctions
Many writers were taught never to begin a sentence with "but." That rule doesn't hold up. Here's what the evidence actually says, and how to use conjunctions at the start of a sentence with confidence.
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Words to capitalize in titles and headings
Capitalization in titles trips up even experienced writers. The rules differ by style guide, but a handful of core principles covers almost every situation you'll face.
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Tips for writing gender-neutral emails
Gender-neutral emails aren't just a courtesy. They're clearer, more professional, and more likely to land well with every reader. Here's how to write them without making your prose awkward.
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There's no excuse for "Dear Sir or Madam"
Reaching for "Dear Sir or Madam" is a reflex that belongs in a different era. There are better options for every situation, and they take less effort than you'd think.
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Do email "thanks" and "please" help or provoke you?
Email pleasantries like "thanks" and "please" can read as warm or as hollow filler, depending on exactly how and where you use them. Here's how to tell the difference.
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When to use Miss, Mrs, Ms, and Mx
Miss, Mrs, Ms, and Mx each carry a distinct meaning, and picking the wrong one in professional writing can undermine your message. Here's how to choose correctly.
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Onsite vs on-site: which spelling is correct?
Onsite and on-site both appear in professional writing, sometimes in the same document. The rule for choosing between them is straightforward once you know it.
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Is it "bare with me" or "bear with me"?
One of these phrases asks for patience. The other accidentally asks your reader to undress. Here's how to tell "bare with me" from "bear with me" and never mix them up again.
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Placeholder text: what it is and how to use it well
Placeholder text marks a gap where real content will eventually live. Used well, it keeps documents moving; used carelessly, it creates confusion and delays.
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Don't use "contra": what to write instead
The word "contra" sounds precise, but in most business writing it confuses more readers than it helps. Here's what to write instead.
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"A well-known problem": is it hyphenated or not?
Writers constantly stumble over whether "well known" needs a hyphen. The rule is simpler than it looks, and once you see it, you won't second-guess it again.
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To CC or not to CC: that is the question
Every email you send forces a small decision: who gets copied in, and who doesn't? Getting that call right is more consequential than most people realise.
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How to address multiple people in an email or letter
Addressing multiple people in an email or letter is one of those small decisions that reveals a lot about your professional polish. Here's how to get it right without overthinking it.
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"Looking forward to" vs "I look forward to": which to use
These two closing phrases look almost identical, but they send different tonal signals and follow different grammar rules. Here's how to pick the right one.
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Thanksgiving "th": how to write it correctly every time
Writers often stumble over the "th" in Thanksgiving-related dates and ordinals. Here's how to handle capitalization, date suffixes, and ordinal usage correctly in professional writing.
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Follow up on, follow up with: which phrase to use
Writers stumble over "follow up on" and "follow up with" more than you'd expect. The choice comes down to whether your sentence points at a thing or at a person.
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Got questions? How to invite inquiries in business writing
The phrase "got questions?" seems simple, but how you invite inquiries at the end of a business email shapes whether readers actually reach out. Here's what works, what doesn't, and why it matters.
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Opening sentences for global email: what actually works
The opening sentence of a global email sets the tone before your reader has processed a single piece of content. Get it wrong and you lose the room before you've started.
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Years or year's or years': which one is correct?
Years, year's, or years'? These three forms trip up even experienced writers. Here's how to choose the right one every time.
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Its, it's, or its': which one is correct?
Its, it's, and its' trip up even careful writers. Here's how to tell them apart in seconds and get it right every time.
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Greetings and salutations: which to use and when
Greetings and salutations are the first words your reader sees, so getting them right matters more than most people think. Here's how to choose and punctuate them correctly every time.
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Thank you in advance: when to use it and when to skip it
Thank you in advance is one of the most debated phrases in business writing. Used carefully, it's warm and efficient. Used carelessly, it can put readers' backs up before they've even agreed to help.
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How to write better executive summaries
A weak executive summary buries the point and loses busy readers before they reach page one. Here's how to write one that earns its place at the top of any document.
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How to format p.s. in an email or letter
P.S. is one of the most misformatted lines in business writing. Here's exactly how to write it, where to place it, and when it's worth including at all.
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Using commas with introductory clauses and phrases
Using commas after introductory elements is one of the most common stumbling blocks in business writing. Get the rule right and your sentences will feel immediately cleaner and more professional.
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The problem with "not a problem" as a reply
When someone thanks you, replying "not a problem" sounds helpful. In business writing and professional conversation, it's quietly doing the opposite.
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AM or PM: how to write time correctly every time
Unsure whether to write 9 AM, 9 a.m., or 9am? The rules for formatting time correctly in business writing are simpler than they look, once you know which style guide to follow.