The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

272 / SPEAKING AND WRITING

USE CONTRACTIONS

Make your writing softer

and more accessible by

occasionally using the

contractions that we naturally

speak with, such as “I’m,”

“we’re,” “you’d,” “they’ve,”

“can’t,” “don’t,” and “let’s.”

ALLOW SENTENCES TO

END WITH A PREPOSITION

Don’t reword a sentence just to move

a preposition (e.g. “after,” “at,” “by,”

“from,” “of,” “to,” or “up”) from the

end. You are likely to lengthen, tangle,

and stiffen the sentence.

Capturing and

keeping your

readers’

attention

Meeting your reader’s needs

Before you write, find out what the

reader expects, wants, and needs. If

you later discover that you must deviate

from these guidelines, let the reader

know why. When composing your

document, don’t include material that

you don‘t need: you may be accused of

missing the point. Make sure, too,

that you always separate facts from

opinions in your writing. The reader

should never be in doubt as to what

you know to be true, and what you

think may be the case. Always apply

a consistent approach to avoid

misunderstandings.

US_272-273_A_Better_Writer.indd 272 30/05/16 3:04 pm