Tag Archives: Workplace Writing Power Points

I Don’t Get It – Vague References

By Phil Stella | Published: October 9, 2017

I don’t get why so many workplace communicators still prefer vague words or phrases. Whether the choice is conscious or not, ‘specific beats vague’ every time. Read More »

Lose Lame Lines

By Phil Stella | Published: September 4, 2017

An often- overlooked element in any workplace email or memo is the simple little Subject Line. Depending on their content, they can add to the message or detract from the writer’s image of competency. So … here are a few tips to Lose Lame Lines:<!-

  • ‘No Subject’ – the absence of a subject line is really lame. That says the writer was too lazy to think of something or too unimaginative. While either could be true, neither reader assumption helps the writer’s credibility. So … anything is better than nothing.
  • ‘Meeting’ – at least better than ‘no subject’, but not much. It does tell the reader something about the message. Less helpful if the reader attends lots of meetings, however. Read More »

I Don’t Get It – Redundancies

By Phil Stella | Published: July 4, 2017

Your Redundancies Are Laughable

We’ve gotten into some sloppy habits regarding redundancy. While this tendency may not be a major problem in verbal or written communication, it does waste words and the result is often amusing. Unless you’re a comedian, you probably don’t want people chuckling about what you say or write. So, here are some reminders.

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Workplace Writing Power Point – Short Words

By Phil Stella | Published: June 6, 2017

Here’s this month’s Power Point – whenever a short, simple, familiar word is just as clear or clearer as a longer word, use the shorter word. The extra syllables don’t add anything to your meaning and may detract from your image as a real, down-to-earth person. But don’t trade clarity for brevity. Think ‘Twitter’ and save some of those characters for another message. Read More »

Workplace Writing Power Points – ‘Very’

By Phil Stella | Published: May 7, 2017

One of my favorite engaged readers mentioned a one-day ‘English Refresher’ course he took years ago in which the professor stressed never using the word ‘very’.  My response was very focused and very brief. Read More »

I Don’t Get It – Noun Phrases

By Phil Stella | Published: April 2, 2017

Here’s my newest rant in the Workplace Writing Power Points category. I don’t get why people still use lame noun phrases. So, let me challenge some word use habits, like this one carried over from those 500-word essay days in high school. Read More »

Tone of Words?

By Phil Stella | Published: March 1, 2017

This month’s ‘Workplace Writing Power Point’ deals with the Tone of your Words. We all learned about Tone of Voice in freshman speech class – the way your words sound can overshadow their meaning and have a profound impact on your listener or audience. Good stuff – hope you still use it. Read More »

Activate Active Voice

By Phil Stella | Published: September 3, 2016

This month’s Workplace Writing Power Point activates Active Voice. And you get two points every time you use it over Passive Voice – for ‘Concise’ and ‘Conversational’. Read More »

More Workplace Writing Power Points

By Phil Stella | Published: July 4, 2016

Several months ago, we launched a new feature of brief Workplace Writing ‘Power Points’. Going forward, we’ll share more of these simple tips to help your writing pass the ‘7-C Test’  and become more Clear, Conversational, Concise, Consistent, Credible, Compelling & Correct. Read More »