The Business Writing Academy

02/04/2015

We couldn't agree more...
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/lucy-tobin-time-for-plain-english-from-corporate-britain-10149430.html

On my first day as a business reporter, sitting at the same, dust-ridden keyboard where I’m now typing under seven more years of grime, my boss handed me a broker note about a cattle-semen business.

12/01/2015

Salad. Gym. Detox. Three words that strike fear into most of us. How about making some 2015 writing resolutions instead? Guaranteed to be less painful but still get great results, here are our top three...

1. Be active : Don't say 'A meeting was held', say, 'We held a meeting'. The active tense involves your readers more and sounds more genuine than the passive voice.

2. Fight the flab : Cut any jargon and any phrases that don't support your main point, so every word works hard for you.

3. Tone up : Check your tone of voice is right for your audience and that you focus on what they really need to know right now.

Happy writing in 2015 everyone!

26/11/2014

Will you be sending out hand written, personalised Christmas cards this year? Maybe it's time to go back to the old fashioned tradition...

New Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev Paul Bayes, pledges to write 60 cards a day and hand deliver as many as possible amid fears internet greetings are depersonalising Christmas

23/09/2014

Whilst it's no substitute for personal face-to-face training (of course!) we were intrigued to hear about the new Hemingway App. Just like the author himself, it helps to make your writing bold and clear. http://www.hemingwayapp.com/

03/09/2014

Now that the kids are safely back to school…how about brushing up on your own business writing skills? On 16th October, we will be at The Society of Authors in London, teaching brilliant business writing tips and tricks that your English teacher forgot to tell you. Don't miss out - book yourself or a colleague in today!

http://businesswritingacademy.co.uk/index.php/open-workshops/

The Business Writing Academy

10/03/2014

So 96% of adults think correct spelling is still important despite the omnipresent spellcheck on our gadgets.

Yet 32% can't spell the word definitely and 50% wouldn't be confident about checking a 5 year old's spelling.

Seems a lot of people need to get themselves on a writing course to boost their confidence and spruce up their spelling.

News coming here soon of our first Open Business Writing Academy workshop where anyone can do just that...

MAG Interactive, makers of word game Ruzzle for phones and tablets, today announced the results of research commissioned for Brain Awareness Week that reveals Brits cannot spell common words correctly and rely heavily on devices to correct their spelling.

21/02/2014

Thinking of running something up the flagpole today?

A new poll by the unlikely pairing of The Plain English Campaign and The Holiday Inn has found that 90% of people think it's time to stop the 'blue sky thinking outside the box'. The jargon needs to go. Whether spoken or written - we agree.

21/01/2014

Let us know if you see anything to compete with these works of literary genius when out and about...

Read 22 brilliantly bad company names - Management Today

20/01/2014

Thinking about the looming tax return deadline reminds us of a favourite Douglas Adam quote…"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." Inner peace here we come…

13/11/2013

Interesting CNBC report out this week about increased technology meaning people have lost their good old fashioned writing skills…"With Gen X and Gen Y, because everything is shorthand and text, the ability to communicate effectively is challenged," And top employers now want to see a writing sample before they will even consider hiring someone...

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101176249

Writing skills of college graduates and MBAs are coming up short, and employers aren't happy. Here's what they are doing about it.

31/10/2013

Out today and available on Amazon.co.uk, 'Who touched base in my thought shower' by Stephen Poole. An invaluable resource for anyone who, as Mr Poole says, hates 'going forward', shudders when a colleague wants to 'reach out' and is disgusted by 'low-hanging fruit'. Here's Poole's A-Z of the worst office jargon:

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/oct/22/a-z-modern-office-jargon

It's time to drill down into Steven Poole's A-Z of office jargon. You could be talking like a boardroom legend by end of play. Massive yield!

21/10/2013

Excellent article in today's FT about words that should be banned from financial reporting...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/10386450/Terry-Smith-Words-that-should-be-banned-from-finance.html

After four decades in the City, Terry Smith has accumulated a list of words the professionals use to befuddle.