The obligation to write in the correct style does not only apply to examinations. The author of this article is struggling with the rigid constraints of academic style. I am having the same struggle as I complete my master’s degree. It’s very strange having to write about what I think without being allowed to use the word “I”! But unfortunately, this is just the way things are. This is the style and fighting against...
Write emails easily with a new app
Email Writer is a new app for iPhone, iPad and Android which will allow you to select from thousands of sentence combinations so you can write your business emails quickly and easily. Sometimes you don’t want to look for the right preposition or expression when you’re in a hurry and this app will be a huge help in those situations. Watch the video to see how it works! The maker of the app also runs The Business English Blog with...
Write like a pro: use a style guide
How do you write about the person who plays music on the radio or at the club? Is it DJ, D.J., D. J., deejay or dee-jay? Should there be 3 commas or 4 commas in the list above? Should I have written three and four in the sentence above this one? Should I have written “three” and “four” in the sentence above this one? Is it better to write from 2-5:00 pm or from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm? Do you write the abbreviations for...
Learning with the BBC
The BBC is possibly one of the richest sources of high-quality, free English learning material on the Internet. Their Learning English site has so many sections I really can’t talk about all of them here (although I will say Words in the News is a very good place to start). Skillswise has excellent sections on spelling, reading, and writing. Their Video Nation site has interviews with real people and a short quiz afterwards to see if you...
Advanced writing techniques for American university students
The Guide to Grammar and Writing is a resource for American college students so the language on the site is considerably more advanced than on a site for English learners. However, the information is extensive and you may find the pages on punctuation (under Word and Sentence Level) and sentence combining skills (under Paragraph Level) particularly useful.