The problem with using elegant variation to avoid repetition
By Dan Kaufman on September 4, 202204Most writers have a fear of repeating words – and so they’ll strive, in often ludicrous ways, to come up with synonyms and alternate descriptions. This is called elegant variation – but it’s often anything but elegant.
Why turning verbs into nouns is often – but not always – a bad idea
By Dan Kaufman on April 10, 2022Turning verbs into nouns is called nominalisation – such as when you change decide into decision. Doing this can either improve your writing or sap the energy out of it, as this article explains:
Proofreading cheatsheet and step-by-step guide
By Dan Kaufman on December 12, 2021We often don’t spot mistakes while proofreading because our minds know what we want to say – which is why a proofreading cheatsheet and guide can help. You can download them here:
A tragic tale of typos and grilled cheese sandwich makers
By Dan Kaufman on October 12, 2021A typo isn’t just a typo. It’s a sign people don’t care enough, which usually means there are going to be other mistakes – as this tragic tale of a delayed sandwich maker shows.
Improve your business writing with these four tips
By Dan Kaufman on July 26, 2021If we spoke to our friends the way most people write at work, we wouldn’t have those friends for long. A lot of business writing is borderline absurd – but it doesn’t have to be that way. This article shows how to make your business writing clear, simple and effective:
