Ringo’s Guide to Avoiding Comma Splices
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Ringo’s Guide to Avoiding Comma Splices

Ringo the Patrol Pony, from his Instagram Comma splices happen when you connect two complete sentences with just a comma. It’s super common. Even experienced writers do it! The good news is that it’s easy to spot and even easier to fix once you know how. Here’s an example of a…
Less Is More with Exclamation Points
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Less Is More with Exclamation Points

Exclamation points can add energy and enthusiasm to your writing, but in the workplace, too many exclamation points can seem unprofessional, overly emotional, or even exhausting to your reader. Before you add that exclamation point, stop and ask: Is this truly urgent, exciting, or important? Most professional communication values clarity and…
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Grammatical Voice in Technical & Scientific Writing

In technical & scientific communication, the voice you choose affects how readers perceive your work. Although we typically focus on active and passive voice, this week we are having a little fun exploring additional “voices” too! Take a look at this comic by Tom Gauld for New Scientist: Notice the differences:…
Quoting Well: Bringing in Outside Voices Without Losing Your Own
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Quoting Well: Bringing in Outside Voices Without Losing Your Own

Quotations can strengthen your writing—but only if you integrate them smoothly. Dropped quotes (also called “quote dumps”) confuse readers and interrupt your flow. Instead, use the Quote Burger method to sandwich your quotes between your own words, maintaining your voice and guiding your reader. The Quote Burger: A Three-Part Recipe Top …
Your Reader Is Lazy: Use Clear, Consistent Headings
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Your Reader Is Lazy: Use Clear, Consistent Headings

Your reader is busy, skimming, distracted, or all three. Clear, consistent headings help them understand your document at a glance. Good headings guide your reader through your content without making them work for it. They work like a roadmap, showing your reader the outline for your document. In this post, I’ll…
Adapting Abstracts, Letters, and Executive Summaries to Different Audiences
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Adapting Abstracts, Letters, and Executive Summaries to Different Audiences

Abstracts, letters of transmittal, and executive summaries might seem similar—they all show up at the front of a report—but they serve very different purposes and audiences. Understanding the audience for each section helps you adjust your tone, language, and level of detail. The same report might be read by engineers, managers,…