Business writing

This week saw the 30th Plain English Campaign award ceremony, held at The Brewery, London, honouring the best and worst in written communications. There was the imaginatively named Web Award for the ‘clearest website’, won this year by the Financial Ombudsman Service. Whilst The Daily Telegraph, BBC Radio 1, and Birmingham Mail were all winners in the media category for excellent journalism. But...

When it comes to business writing or copywriting, it's always better to use Anglo Saxon words rather than Latin words. But why are Anglo Saxon words better? And how can we tell the difference? To find out, let's take a brief look at the history of the English language. What have the Romans ever done for us? Latin words have been around...

I hate the word solution. I really do. It's now so over-used it has lost all its meaning. Lunch solutions? Right. That would be a sandwich then. Or how about plumbing solutions? Got it. You're a plumber. Or spotted on a bin in Glasgow the other weekend: 'Providing refuse solutions'. But my favourite, seen on a website this week, 'Contemporary quality...

I was amused by a letter in this week's Design Week, in which Richard Murray, of London's Williams Murray Hamm, grumbles about the rubbishy press releases he receives from design consultants. He complains of meaningless statements like 'the brighter red feels more contemporary'. And refers to 'merging the word Air and France asserts Air France's international status while preserving its traditional...

Interesting question this. It's generally thought the best time to send a sales email is between 10.00am and 10.30am and between 1.00pm and 1.30pm Tuesday to Thursday. Monday is out of the question. Too many other things to deal with. Friday, forget it. No-one is thinking about work on a Friday. In the UK the weekend starts on a Thursday night. The...

Birmingham City Council has decided, in their wisdom (ignorance), to drop apostrophes from all their road signs and place names. Councillor Len Gregory said, "I don't see the point of them. If it was to give more clarity to the people of Birmingham it might be something we would look at, but I see no benefits at all." Ok, the point of...

So what were your new year's resolutions? Already broken them? Yep, me too. But, if you only commit to one thing this year, make 2009 the year you change your writing style. Stuffy, formal, waffly writing is out, out, out. And informal, friendly, conversational writing is the new black baby.  Here are five top tips to help you on your way.    1. Read...