grammar

There are lots of tips and tricks for ways in which you can make your business-related writing more effective and just as many proofreading tips to make sure it is grammatically correct. But as this article says, you can greatly improve your writing by simply following the 4 C’s: clear, concise, considerate, and correct.

First, be clear. Don’t use vague, ambiguous or overly wordy phrasing that can leave your reader confused or force them to guess at what you are really saying.

Your writing is a reflection of you—especially in a business setting, when people often judge your professional skills (and perhaps your intelligence) by your writing. Sloppy mistakes can make you look careless. But there are also those meaningless expressions and redundant words and phrases that not only make your writing look weak, but it can also be a waste of your time (and makes your text more wordy than necessary).

We are all guilty of some of these offenses occasionally. See if you recognize any of these:

When it comes to grammar in the workplace, you might say there’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, most professionals are so busy and need to work at such a quick pace that they often don’t pay attention to the little details like double-checking their grammar. On the other hand, in the workplace, you are often judged by appearances (your own, and that of your work). Sloppy errors like bad grammar may reflect badly on you professionally and make others doubt your skills.

They say English is one of the toughest languages to learn. And judging on how often it seems to trip up even those of us who have spoken it all our lives, that’s easy to believe.

While there are lots of grammar and vocabulary pitfalls, a few seem to be the biggest culprits in tripping us up. And though these mistakes are easy to make, they are also easy to spot by anyone who pays attention. So by making an effort to avoid these offenses, you will go a long way in making a better impression through your written communications.

It never fails. You spend time carefully preparing that proposal or important email, hit the “send” button feeling confident—and then realize you overlooked a typo that any grade school student could easily spot.

It’s important to make sure your writing is as error-free as possible, to help you make a good impression—and so the recipient can concentrate on the message without being distracted by errors in the text. But if you’re busy, it can be a challenge to spend as much time proofreading as you should. Here are some tips to help you do it quickly.

Communication is critical when it comes to succeeding in business. And while technology can help make some things easier, nothing can replace good old-fashioned writing skills. To help you with this important job, we’re featuring a weekly writing or grammar tip to help you with a common communication challenge.