WorkplaceWriting101

 

Technical work can be complex. Technical writing does not have to be. Clarity is achievable with a little effort.

Available as an eWorkbook: Kindle . Kobo . Nook

Clear Terms

Generic Nouns - How to write more clearly using specific, instead of generic, nouns.

Weighty Nouns - Four rules for using and not using weighty nouns.

Quantity Qualifiers - Suggestions for reducing the use of unnecessary qualifiers of quantities.

Time Qualifiers - Spotting and editing redundant and unnecessary references to time.

Device Qualifiers - How and why to edit qualifiers that identify devices or equipment.

Activity Qualifiers - Learning self-restraint when using words to show how active we are.

Clear Descriptions

Emphasis Qualifiers - Learn to spot and omit small unnecessary words of emphasis.

Nature Qualifiers - Suggestions for reducing the use of qualifiers that add nothing of value.

Affectation Qualifiers - Learn to avoid overusing phrases of authority or ego.

Situation Qualifiers - Omitting certain qualifiers with keywords that, is, and use.

Pointing Qualifiers - How to spot and fix qualifiers that cause unnecessary distractions.

Qualified Qualifiers - Suggested edits for making complex qualifiers more clear.

Clear Phrasing

Bloated Prepositions - Practice spotting and fixing bloated prepositional phrases.

Unnecessary Qualifiers - Identify and rewrite troublemakers, both forceful and subtle.

Existence Claims - Learn when and when not to use words like actual, existing, and presence.

Inflated Quantities - Practice how to clearly rewrite approximate quantities.

Turgid Times - Learn how to use simpler words to describe time past, present, and future.

Stifling Nouns - Three strategies for vigor in rewriting abstract nouns.

Clear Action

Buried Action - Learn to unveil the subject and unveil the verb to uncover buried action.

Action Star 1 - Find clarity with the Leading Star and the Main Action in each sentence script.

Action Star 2 - Find Stars and Actions in sentences that use the verbs make and do.

Action Star 3 - Find Stars and Actions in sentences that use the verbs have and use.

Action Star 4 - Find Stars and Actions in sentences with the verbs give and perform.

Action Star 5 - Find Stars and Actions in sentences with the verbs cause and generic synonyms.

Simple Action

Use and Do - Suggestions for substituting use and do for more complex verbs.

Have and Give - Suggestions for using have and give instead of more complex verbs.

Make and Cause - Suggestions for using make and cause instead of more complex verbs.

Check, Show, and Send - Suggestions for substituting simpler verbs check, show, and send.

Need, Buy, Get, and Keep - Suggestions for using simpler verbs need, buy, get, and keep.

Begin and End - Suggestions for substituting begin and end for more complex verbs.

Engaging Action

Spot-On Verbs 1 - Practice with spotting blurry verbs and replacing them with precise verbs.

Spot-On Verbs 2 - Replacing vague adverbs; editing stuffy verbs; rewriting weak verbs.

Helping Verbs 1 - How to improve cumbersome verb phrases by using helping verbs.

Helping Verbs 2 - How to edit unfinished thoughts into assertive statements.

Readability 1 - Suggestions for editing announcements, opinions, and silos.

Readability 2 - How to create symmetry and use promotion to make the reading easier.

Special Topics

Distracting Announcements - Practice with spotting and fixing unnecessary announcements.

Negative Expressions - Suggestions for how to use and not use negative expressions.

Helpful Explanations - Techniques for converting secondary statements into explanations.

Compound Adjectives - When to hyphenate them and when to not hyphenate them.

Numbers and Units - How to write numbers and units of measurement with consistency.

Readable Data - How to format tables so data is easily found and understood.

WorkplaceWriting101