The Business Writing Center has faculty who have published in journals about the teaching of writing. We have learned the best ways to develop grammar courses so the students learn the business grammar of greatest importance to them. This article explains the most effective way adult learners can learn in business grammar courses. What We Know Doesn’t Work in Business Grammar Training Drills and exercises that don’t focus on the skills each business person needs […]
Read MoreBusiness Grammar Training
The Business Grammar Training Blog contains articles about business grammar training and grammar courses. Included are blogs about grammar, language, punctuation, spelling, word usage, and sentence structure. The blog contains articles about business grammar courses and ways to most effectively learn business grammar skills.
Lay, Lie, Laying, Lying: Choose the Right Word
Choose the Right Word Do you want “lie,” “lay,” “laying,” or “lying”? This article contains memory aids to help you learn to choose the right word. Lay Place something down flat. Lie A person or thing reclines. Examples I lay the book down. A hen lays eggs. A crane lays a steel beam on the ground. I lie down to sleep. The dog lies on his bed. I like to lie in the sun. Clairton […]
Read MoreComplete Guide to Abbreviations
Guidelines These guidelines follow the standard practices for abbreviating in business writing. The guidelines contain information about the following types of abbreviations: 6.A. Spell out first names; don’t abbreviate 6.B. Abbreviations of titles 6.C. Abbreviations of group names and organizations 6.D. Abbreviations of time designations 6.E. Abbreviations in addresses 6.F. Abbreviations of weights and measures 6.G. Abbreviations of commonly used expressions Guideline 6.A. Spell out first names; don’t abbreviate Example Correct William Taft George Washington […]
Read MoreGuide to Using Me, Myself, and I
This guide will help you understand when to use “me,” “myself,” and “I” and will give you memory aids to help you recall the rules later. When to Use “I” Use “I” when the “I” is the subject of the sentence. Usually, that means “I” begins the sentence or follows introductory words that are not the main sentence. Examples: I asked for his resume. After we met, I sent him an email. Sally and I […]
Read MoreGuide to Capitalizing Words in Titles and Headings
This simple guide will help you capitalize words in titles and headings correctly. The three major style guides, The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Stylebook, and the MLA Handbook have the same guidelines, with two exceptions. This guide explains the common rules and those that differ among the stylebooks. For the most part, if you identify the words you should not capitalize, you won’t have to remember the rules for words you should […]
Read MoreE.g., I.e., Etc. and All the Latin Holdovers
What i.e. and e.g. stand for e.g. is the abbreviation for the Latin words exempli gratia meaning “for example” or “such as.” i.e. is the abbreviation for the Latin words id est, meaning “that is” or “in other words.” Memory aids to help you remember e.g. stands for “for example,” so remember “eg-zample” to see whether you’re following with an example. i.e. stands for “in other words,” so see if what you’re writing fits with […]
Read MoreCompliment and Compliment — Know Which Spelling to Use
This training aid will teach you how to decide when to use “compliment” with an “i” or “complement” with an “e.” Rules and Examples Compliment means to say something nice about someone. Complement means something completes or works well with something else. “I gave him a compliment.” “His skills complement my skills because we have different skills each needs.” “She is always fishing for compliments.” “Our company’s capabilities complement the new acquisition’s capabilities.” Memory Aid […]
Read MoreBusiness English Grammar Course for Nonnative Speakers of English
Language and grammar course for nonnative speakers who have problems in language, grammar, punctuation, spelling, word usage, or sentence structure. Grammar training, practice, and tests based on the student’s own writing Instructor provides individual grammar training as necessary, especially for nonnative speaker language and grammar issues Students receive grammar training in only the specific language and grammar skills they need Self-pacing grammar course with lessons available from anywhere in the world Unlimited access to the […]
Read MoreBasic Grammar Course and Grammar Tutorial
Grammar course for people who need grammar training to take care of problems with grammar, punctuation, spelling, word usage, or sentence structure Grammar course contains practice and tests based on the student’s own business writing Instructor provides individual attention to grammar training needs Students receive grammar training in only the specific grammar skills they need Self-pacing, online grammar course that can be taken from anywhere in the world Unlimited access to the instructor to ask […]
Read MoreConfusing Word Pairs in Business Writing
Writers and proofreaders consistently have problems with 25 confusing word pairs. The pairs are words that sound similar, but have very different meanings. Review the meanings of the confusing word pairs that follow. A quiz testing your knowledge of the correct use of the word pairs follows this explanation: accept – receive something, recognize a truth, or approve of something except – to leave out or exclude accessible – easily approached or attained assessable – […]
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