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Tag Archives: Clear and concise writing
What is parallel structure and why does it matter?
‘Parallel structure’ or ‘parallelism’ refers to keeping the same grammatical structure in your writing when you list items in a series. Mistakes are very common in this area. They make your writing look and sound clunky and can impede a … Continue reading
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Tagged bullet points, Clear and concise writing, noun phrases, Prepositions, verb phrases, writing lists
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Overuse of linking phrases and discourse markers
There seems to be a tendency among non-native speakers of English to use more linking phrases in their writing than is necessary. There are numerous examples of such phrases. Many of them use the passive voice and can be very … Continue reading
Whether (or not)
WRONG We must decide by the end of the month whether or not we’re going to do it. This is an example of a very common mistake. In this sentence “or not” is unnecessary. RIGHT We must decide by the … Continue reading
How to use commas part 4
The bracketing comma Bracketing commas usually come in pairs. They are used to mark information which is not essential to the meaning of a sentence. Such non-essential information is called a “non-restrictive phrase” or a “weak interruption”. E.g.: All the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Clear and concise writing, Commas, Participle clauses, Punctuation, Relative clauses
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How to use “provided that”
The phrase “provided that” has numerous possible meanings, which can result in ambiguity if it is not used properly. First of all, “provided that” can simply be a verb + conjunction combination. This is a common structure in legal … Continue reading
How to use the word “risk”
Consider the following: There is a potential risk that the Company may refuse to satisfy your demand. Almost every time I read the word “risk” I have to correct how it is used. This is usually because it is preceded … Continue reading
Don’t use double negatives
My last post referred to confusing multiple negatives. This one looks at the common grammatical problem of double negatives. Have a look at this example: WRONG This Escrow Account Agreement expires if no money is not credited to the Escrow … Continue reading
Don’t use multiple negatives
Read this: If the Deposit is not paid, the Seller has the right to rescind this Agreement by a notice in writing to the Purchaser delivered within 30 days from the date of this Agreement, provided that such rescission right … Continue reading
One simple way to make your English easier to read
Where possible, keep the subject of a sentence next to its verb. This will help prevent readers from “getting lost” as they read, and will also make your English sound more native-like. In the example below the announcement is the … Continue reading
Don’t use Polish word order when you write in English
It is very common to use the word order of you native language when you write in a foreign language. It is part of what linguists call “first-language interference”, and it leads to a vast range of errors. This post … Continue reading
Common Mistakes in Business English 