Clear answers to the grammar questions professionals ask most often.
The Oxford comma divides writers. BusinessWritingBlog explains the rule, the exceptions, and when consistency matters most in professional documents so you can make a confident, informed choice every time.
Read more
Two words, two distinct jobs. BusinessWritingBlog gives you a clear, memorable rule and real workplace examples so you can fix this mix-up for good.
Read more
Possessives, contractions, and the mistakes that cost credibility. BusinessWritingBlog covers every apostrophe case you will actually encounter at work.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog settles the debate: coordinating conjunctions at the start of a sentence are grammatically correct and often improve flow in professional writing.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog gives you a one-sentence memory trick that makes "i.e." and "e.g." permanent knowledge, with before-and-after examples from real business documents.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog explains the semicolon's one core job and the most common misuses that make business writing harder to read than it needs to be.
Read moreWrite emails people read, understand, and act on.
BusinessWritingBlog shows you a simple formula for subject lines that are clear, specific, and easy to act on, even in a crowded inbox.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog gives you word-for-word strategies that keep your tone measured, protect your reputation, and still say exactly what needs saying.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog provides a practical length guide organised by email type, from a quick confirmation to a detailed proposal, so you stop second-guessing.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog maps the opening and closing phrases that signal professionalism, warmth, or urgency, and tells you which to avoid in a formal context.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog shows you exactly how to nudge without nagging, with ready-to-use follow-up templates for sales, project, and internal emails.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog covers the five elements every meeting request needs: purpose, proposed time, agenda, action, and a clear ask, all in under 100 words.
Read moreCatch the errors before your reader does.
BusinessWritingBlog lays out a repeatable process for catching typos, inconsistencies, and missed words before any document leaves your desk. Each step takes under two minutes and can be done without a second reader.
Read more
Spell-check passes "manger" when you meant "manager". BusinessWritingBlog explains the gaps in automated tools and the manual techniques that close them.
Read more
Your eye skips what your ear catches. BusinessWritingBlog explains why reading your work aloud is the single most effective self-editing move you can make.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog lists the fifteen mistakes that appear most often in workplace documents, from misplaced hyphens to inconsistent capitalisation, and shows how to catch each one.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog explains the cognitive bias that makes self-editing difficult and gives you three evidence-based workarounds that actually work under deadline pressure.
Read moreThe right words when a colleague or client is grieving.
BusinessWritingBlog walks you through tone, length, and the specific phrases that show genuine care without overstepping professional boundaries.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog lists the well-meaning phrases that land badly and gives you clearer, warmer alternatives that colleagues actually appreciate.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog explains how to acknowledge a client's loss without turning a professional relationship into an awkward exchange, with a short, adaptable template.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog covers the sensitive middle ground between a formal bereavement note and a personal message, with guidance on length and vocabulary.
Read moreWant structured learning?
BusinessWritingBlog curates online courses that fit around a full working week. Grammar foundations, business email, report writing, and more, all vetted for practical value.
Save time and reduce errors with the tools already on your desk.
BusinessWritingBlog highlights the Word features that save time and reduce errors: tracked changes, styles, AutoCorrect, and Find and Replace used properly.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog covers the Outlook configuration changes that improve email clarity: signature templates, delayed send, and folder rules that keep your inbox readable.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog explains how to build a personal AutoCorrect list in Word that catches your specific recurring mistakes and expands your most-used phrases automatically.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog walks you through the steps to create a properly styled Word template so every report, proposal, and letter starts with consistent formatting.
Read moreBooks, tools, and resources that BusinessWritingBlog recommends.
BusinessWritingBlog reviews the reference books worth keeping at your desk, from AP to Chicago, with notes on which suits which kind of professional writing.
See the picks
BusinessWritingBlog tests grammar checkers, distraction-free editors, and productivity apps so you know which ones improve your work and which ones do not.
See the picks
BusinessWritingBlog curates the courses worth your time: grammar foundations, business email, report writing, and plain-language communication, all with practical outcomes.
See the picks
BusinessWritingBlog rounds up the free resources from university writing centres and major publishers that deliver real, immediate value for workplace writers.
See the picks
BusinessWritingBlog picks the concise titles, under 200 pages each, that deliver a measurable improvement in clarity without demanding a week of reading time.
See the picks
BusinessWritingBlog compares the free-tier grammar tools available in 2026, scoring each on accuracy, interface, and how well they handle business writing specifically.
See the picksWriting clearly for colleagues and clients across cultures and borders.
BusinessWritingBlog shows you how to strip idioms, jargon, and cultural references from your writing so every international reader understands the message first time.
Read more
Honour or honor? Centre or center? BusinessWritingBlog maps the American, British, and Australian spelling differences that matter in professional documents.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog explains which date, time, and number formats to use when your document will be read across more than one country, and why ambiguity costs more than you think.
Read more
BusinessWritingBlog maps the formality expectations in written business communication across English-speaking markets and non-native-English business contexts so you match your register to your audience.
Read moreThe questions BusinessWritingBlog answers most often.
Yes. Starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction is grammatically acceptable and widely used in professional writing. BusinessWritingBlog covers when it helps rhythm and when it undermines formality, so you can make the call consciously rather than by accident.
Keep the message brief, sincere, and focused on the person rather than the loss. BusinessWritingBlog offers specific phrases and a short adaptable template matched to different workplace relationships and cultures.
"i.e." means "that is" and introduces a restatement or clarification. "e.g." means "for example" and introduces one or more examples. BusinessWritingBlog gives you a one-sentence memory trick that makes this distinction permanent.
Short enough to read in under a minute in most cases. BusinessWritingBlog provides a practical length guide organised by email type, from a quick confirmation to a detailed proposal, with word-count benchmarks for each.
Yes. BusinessWritingBlog covers Word, Outlook, and related tools with guidance on formatting, templates, tracked changes, and AutoCorrect settings that save time and reduce errors in everyday workplace writing.
The Oxford comma is the comma placed before "and" in a list of three or more items. BusinessWritingBlog explains the cases where omitting it creates genuine ambiguity in professional documents and when a style guide should settle the question for you.
BusinessWritingBlog recommends three techniques: reading from the last sentence backward, changing the font size before a final read, and printing the document rather than reading on screen. Each exploits a different perceptual shift to surface errors your familiarity hides.
BusinessWritingBlog is a practical writing resource built for people who write at work every day. Every article on BusinessWritingBlog focuses on one question, gives a clear answer, and gets out of the way.
BusinessWritingBlog covers grammar, usage, punctuation, email, proofreading, and workplace communication, with dedicated sections on Microsoft Office tips and writing condolences at work.
More about this blog