The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

BECOMING A BETTER WRITER / 273

USE THE PRESENT TENSE

WHENEVER POSSIBLE

This adds immediacy to your writing.

Be careful, however, not to slip from

the present to the past tense and

back again, because this will make

your writing confusing. Select one

tense and stick to it.

USE SHORT TRANSITIONS

Use “but” more than “however,” and

“more than” rather than “in addition

to.” Use more formal transitions only

for variety. Don’t be afraid to start a

sentence with words like ”but,” ”so,”

”yet,” ”and,” or ”or.”

WRITE WITH

PERSONAL

PRONOUNS

Use “we,” “us,” and “our”

when speaking for the

company. Use “I,” “me,”

and “my” when speaking

for yourself. Either way,

be generous with the use

of the word “you.”

Find out what your

reader expects,

wants, and needs:

if you deviate from

this in your writing,

let the reader

know why

US_272-273_A_Better_Writer.indd 273 30/05/16 3:04 pm