Tag Archive for: business writing

Grammar Grappler #29: Postpone Reading This Until Later

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“Larry decided to postpone sending the email until later that afternoon.”

“I’m going postpone doing my geometry homework until later.”

 

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “postpone until later”? It kind of just rolls off the tongue, but it’s poor usage.

Postpone automatically indicates later. If you postpone studying, it means you’re not going to study until later.

So, the practical grammar tip here is to always eliminate “until later.” Just say postpone.

After all, you’ve never heard someone decide to postpone studying until earlier.

 

 

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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Grammar Grappler #26: Is it “free rein” or “free reign”?

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A fellow Amory Panther brought this confusing word pair to my attention through Facebook. Let’s see how well you choose the correct word in this sentence: Read more

Grammar Grappler #24: Why Sign it “Sincerely”?

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A couple of weeks ago, I posted a guideline on how to capitalize complimentary closes for business letters and emails. When your complimentary close is more than one word, you don’t capitalize the second word. For instance: Read more

Grammar Grappler #17: The Tattletale of Email

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When do you use bcc: appropriately? Read more

Photo by Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash

Grammar Grappler #14: Deciding Between That and Which

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Time for a quick pop quiz. Please choose the correct word for each of these sentences. Read more

grammar tip

Grammar Grappler #10: Its and It’s and Its’

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You will see this word written one of three ways:

Its

It’s 

Its’

How do we know when to use which one correctly? Even seasoned professional proofreaders can get in a hurry and miss this commonly confused and misused word. It’s not tricky when you use this quick and easy proofreading hack. Read more

Grammar Grappler #10: Chester Drawers

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This weeks’ blog spot is short and sweet.

How do you pronounce this piece of furniture?

.

.

.

.

Answer: chest of drawers

 

As a child, I called it a “chester drawers.” Fortunately, someone kindly corrected me before I entered college.

However, I am not alone. So many people to this day say “chester drawers,” even as adults. Someone close to me (and older than I) called it a “chester drawers” last week. Even a furniture store rep pronounced it that way not too long ago. I used to believe it was a Southern tendency, but I have discovered in my travels that other regions of the country go furniture shopping for a bed, night stand, dresser—and “chester drawers.”

Which other mispronunciations come to mind from childhood?

 

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

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Photo by Rumman Amin on Unsplash

Grammar Grappler #6: A Corny Way to Remember i.e. and e.g.

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“What do i.e., and e.g., mean?” Read more

Grammar Grappler #5: Readers Share Mispronunciations

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Last week I shared a word I found out I had been saying incorrectly for more than four decades: 

Sherbet

After telling my “sher-bert” story, I asked you to chime in with similar examples. You did not disappoint! We’ve had so much fun these past few days sharing some hilarious stories and examples, and I appreciate all of your input.

For fun, I’m sharing a few of the most common mispronounced terms according to the blog’s readership. See if you can relate.

One reader shared she recently had a coworker take her aside and say, “You know, it’s ‘for all intents and purposes,’ not ‘for all intensive purposes.’”

NO: for all intensive purposes

YES: for all intents and purposes

Another reader said he still calls his bedroom furniture “chester drawers,” even though he knows better now.

NO: chester drawers

YES: chest of drawers

Last Friday I spoke at a statewide association of REALTORS® leadership retreat. They were the first to speak up and give examples of how many people mispronounce their job title. It’s two syllables, not three.

NO: re-la-tor

YES: REAL-TOR

And who can forget Joey Tribbiani’s classic mispronunciation of “supposably” on Friends.

NO: supposably

YES: supposedly

Let’s keep this thread going. I’m sure you have other relatable examples you can share—at least, supposedly.

 

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

You might also like:

How Do You Handle Virtual Meeting Whiners?

Use this App to Capture Fresh Presentation Ideas

Wacky Word of the Week: Purge this Particular Word

To customize a keynote or professional development session that will have your audience laughing and learning, contact Mandi Stanley.

Certified Speaking Professional Mandi Stanley works with business leaders who want to boost their professional image by becoming better speakers and writers through interactive high-content keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, technical writing seminars, and fun proofreading classes. 

You might also like:

How Do You Handle Virtual Meeting Whiners?

Use this App to Capture Fresh Presentation Ideas

Wacky Word of the Week: Purge this Particular Word

Photo by Sudan Ouyang on Unsplash

Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on Unsplash

Grammar Grappler 3: Peak or Peek?

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I still lose sleep over an executive tips book I wrote in 1999 where in the 13th chapter I recommend presenters take a “sneak peak” at their notes whenever needed. Read more