Writing guides

Practical guides on grammar, emails, cover letters and work messages, with examples you can copy.

• It's or Its? Their, There or They're? A Quick Way to TellTwo apostrophe mix-ups cause most everyday spelling slips. Here is a simple test for it's/its and their/there/they're, with examples.
• Affect vs. Effect, Fewer vs. Less and Other Pairs That Trip People UpA short guide to eight word pairs writers confuse: affect/effect, fewer/less, then/than, lose/loose, advice/advise and more.
• How to Write a Clear Email, From Subject Line to Sign-OffA practical order for emails people actually answer: subject line, opening, the ask, the deadline and a short close.
• How to Write Work Chat Messages People Actually AnswerShort habits for Slack and team chat: lead with the point, one topic per message, and end with what you need.
• How to Write a Cover Letter That Sounds Like YouWhy many cover letters read the same, and how to open with something real, cut clichés and back claims with specifics.
• How to Apologize in Writing Without Over-ApologizingA short structure for written apologies: say what happened, apologize once, and explain what you will do next.
• How to Say No Politely in an Email or MessageA four-part structure for declining a request or offer clearly and kindly, with examples for work and personal messages.
• Phrases That Make Your Writing Sound Robotic (and What to Write Instead)Stock phrases like 'it is important to note' and 'delve into' make text sound generated. Here are plain alternatives.
• Comma Rules That Actually Matter: Six Cases With ExamplesMost comma advice is a long list of exceptions. These six rules cover the cases you meet in everyday writing, with before-and-after examples.
• Semicolons, Colons and Dashes: When to Use Each OneA plain-English guide to semicolons, colons, em dashes and hyphens, with examples of correct and incorrect use.
• How to Proofread Your Own Writing: A Seven-Step ChecklistProofreading your own work is hard because your brain fills in what you meant. These seven steps help you catch errors you would normally miss.
• Plain English at Work: How to Write Messages People Actually ReadShort sentences, concrete words and a clear request make workplace writing faster to read and easier to act on. Here is how to do it, with rewrites.
• Subject-Verb Agreement: The Cases That Cause MistakesThe basic rule is simple, but long sentences, collective nouns and phrases like 'each of' make people slip. Here are the cases to watch, with examples.
• Formal or Informal? How to Choose the Right Register for Any MessageThe same idea can sound warm, stiff or rude depending on the words around it. Here is how to match your register to the reader and the situation.
• Why Your Message Sounds Rude (and How to Fix the Tone)Text has no voice, so tone gets read into small word choices. Learn which phrases come across as cold or blunt and what to say instead.
• Present Perfect or Simple Past? A Clear Way to ChooseHave you finished or did you finish? The choice between the present perfect and simple past depends on one question: does the time matter?
• How to Give Feedback in Writing and in ConversationGood feedback is specific, kind and useful. These phrases and structures help you say difficult things clearly without damaging the relationship.
• Starting, Keeping and Ending a Conversation NaturallySmall talk is a skill. Practical phrases for opening a chat, showing you are listening, changing topics and leaving politely.