We hope you enjoy reading our articles. They are intended to inform, stimulate and entertain. If there are any topics you are particularly interested in and would like to see covered in an article please let us know via the Feedback page.

Books for business writing
Whilst the internet provides a wonderful resource for business writers, sometimes only a book will do. If you like to learn from the printed page, then any of the following will prove a sound investment. Whatever your learning style, everyone should at least have an English dictionary by the side of their keyboard. Read More

Commonly misspelled (or misspelt) words
A: abandon abandoned absence absent accommodation acquire address analyse analysis ancillary apparent/ly ascertain Read More

Some of the secrets of effective layout and presentation
We work hard on getting the content of our documents just right - but then what happens? We rush at the end and send them out without giving enough thought to the layout and presentation! This is a mistake and can cost us customers. Read More

Easily confused words
The English language has a number of words which are easily confused. Here are some of the main ones with examples of their different meanings and usage. If there are particular words which confuse you, please let us know (enquiries@the-writestuff.co.uk) and we'll add them to our list. Read More

Jettison the jargon
Jargon invades much of our lives, both in written and verbal communication. For those of us running businesses and competing for customers, the ability to write clearly and simply in everyday language is vitally important. Read on if you want to know how to appeal to more of your customers, more of the time. The only thing you have to lose is your jargon! Read More

Using lists
Using a list, or bullet points, is one of the most customer-friendly ways of presenting complex information in manageable chunks. There are different ways of punctuating a list. Read More

Complete?
When you've completed a piece of writing, try this as a checklist. Ask yourself, does my writing: ... Read More

The trouble with writing
The trouble with writing is that it is just that: writing; words on a page, letters on a screen, often black on white, spidery figures that crawl left to right ( and sometimes up and down) in front of our eyes. Read More

Clever language
We don't know the origin of this collection of witticisms and puns. If you do, please let us know. We don't want to infringe any copyright or tread on any toes. Remember: a plateau is a high form of flattery! Read More

How to talk your customer's language
A friend asked me recently, "Do you talk a language or speak a language?" The answer, of course, is both! But there is a subtle difference. Read More

Signs of the Times: How simple writing can still be confusing
Ever seen a road sign and thought, "Huh?" Ever seen a public notice and wondered what it meant? These examples from the Naval Safety Center show how even the simplest writing can present a problem for the reader. Read More

How to write business letters
Have you ever wondered how some people seem to dash these off and yet you seem to take ages? Do you struggle with knowing how to start? Are you unsure how formal/informal you should be? If you've answered 'yes 'to any of these then rest assured, you are not alone! Read More

Need to write a reference? Try these out!
Have you ever had to write a reference for an employee you've fired? Have you really struggled to find the right words? Don't worry. The beauty of the English language is that you can say what you want in more ways than one! We have some really good suggestions for you. Take a look at these and see if they will help. Read More

Emails for ever? That's just the problem
Have you heard the one about the lawyer, his secretary and the £4 dry cleaning bill? Or the one about the sexually explicit email that became a 'cause célèbre' as it made its way around the world? If you haven't, you need to listen up, as these true stories all have a major bearing on how we use email at work. Read More

Clarity, clarity...
Whatever you're doing, put that coffee down, as this article will make you splutter it all over the keyboard. These extracts are from genuine letters written in good faith to the Department of Work and Pensions. They all show how important is it to think before you write and review what you have written. Enjoy! Read More

Cheque yore spell-checker!
Many of our delegates tell us that they do not need to check their documents for spelling mistakes - as spell-check will do it for them. We would like to urge you, however, not to rely too heavily on spell-check. Read More

Pun's the word!
"A prisoner's favourite pun-ctuation mark is the full stop. It marks the end of his sentence." Or even his pun-ishment! Ouf! We know it's corny but so are most of these gems. If you liked the puns in our Clever Language article, you'll love these. Read More