Gael Spivak’s Post

How much could these seven big writing mistakes be costing your organisation? In the 30+ years I’ve spent editing documents and training writers, one thing has stood out for me. It’s that most business writers tend to make the same basic mistakes, over and over again. These mistakes can cost organisations thousands every year. And if a writer is making one of the mistakes, they’re very likely to be making all of them. The great thing is, once you know what these mistakes are, it’s easy to put them right. I’ve put together a *free* report that explains what these mistakes are, why they cause such a problem, and how to put them right. It couldn’t be easier! Go to https://lnkd.in/eWMwgaHC to download your free report. #communications #writingskills #writers #customerrelations

Work in Government? Confusion within the business writing and formatting content? This Style Manual is for everyone who writes, edits or approves Australian Government content. Use it to create clear and consistent content that meets the needs of users. I give you, the bible:

This post is for CW4 Charles Davis, who feels as strongly about good paragraphs as I do. It's an excerpt from a forthcoming article. Enjoy! Writing effective paragraphs is vital, and it’s where many writers struggle. Each paragraph should discuss one (and only one) idea. Revising paragraphs involves finding each paragraph’s main idea, stating it clearly, and ensuring that the rest of the paragraph’s sentences develop the idea. Although paragraphing should be simple (one paragraph = one idea), bad paragraph advice is nevertheless easy to find—usually in the form of ridiculous rules: A paragraph is between 120 and 150 words long. Or three to five sentences. Or six to eight sentences. Or one inch deep on the page. Nonsense. A paragraph is a unit of thought, not of sentences or words or inches. Each paragraph is as long or short as necessary to develop one (and only one) idea. Most paragraphs develop an idea using a series of related sentences. But paragraphs can also be one sentence or even one word—like the paragraph before this one. Although most paragraph “rules” aren’t worth following, here are three paragraph guidelines (not rules) that work well most of the time. First, state each paragraph’s main idea in the first sentence. Writers often bury the main idea, or worse, don’t state it at all. Find the sentence that states the main idea and move it to the beginning of the paragraph. If no sentence states the main idea, write one. Second, organize the rest of the paragraph around the main idea. The first sentence states the main idea—the rest of the sentences develop it. When you find a sentence that doesn’t, move it or cut it. Third, short paragraphs are better than long ones. If a complex idea requires a lengthy explanation, divide it into smaller chunks and discuss one chunk per paragraph. The breaks between chunks will allow the reader to pause and process one chunk before moving to the next one.

Proofread, proofread, proofread! Avoid costly mistakes and errors by thoroughly reviewing your grant proposal before submission. #AttentionToDetail #grantwritingtips

Update your writers guidelines:

Redundancy in tender writing can be a silent deal-breaker. ✍ Here’s how to keep your tenders lean and to the point: 🔍 Spot the Obvious Redundancy often hides in plain sight. Phrases like "planning in advance" or "added bonus" bulk up your text without adding value. Keep it simple; let each word earn its place. ❌ Cut the Fluff A common pitfall is bloating sentences to sound more impressive. Instead of saying, "At this point in time, it now becomes necessary for us to consider alternative possibilities for the purposes of our goals," streamline to "We now need to consider alternatives." Shorter, clearer, better. 📢 Check for Echoes Global redundancy is repeating the same points. It’s tempting to reiterate your strengths, but it’s also a quick way to lose your reader's interest. Make each point unique; keep the narrative moving forward. Remember, conciseness is key to keeping your reader engaged and conveying your message effectively. Before you submit that next tender, take a moment to trim any repetitive content. Your clarity and brevity might just be what sets you apart from the competition. 👉 Still, struggling to fit those last 300 words into a tight 1500-word limit? Let us take the weight off your shoulders. Our expert team specialises in refining and streamlining your content, ensuring every word packs a punch. Reach out now for a sharper, more focused submission that meets the mark without missing a beat. #PublicSectorTendering #TenderWritingTips #BidManagement

📝Looking to enhance your bids? Improve clarity, compliance, and competitiveness with our professional writing support.     🖋️Our experienced team knows how to craft bids that stand out and win contracts.     👍No more ambiguity or non-compliance issues.     💼Let us handle the nitty-gritty of bid writing while you focus on what you do best - running your operations smoothly.     📢Don't let subpar bids hold you back. Reach out to us today to see how we can support your bid writing needs. Remember, a well-written bid is the key to winning contracts. So let's get you that competitive edge! 🚀    Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/dusAt9a        #strategicplanning #cloudaccounting #academicwriting #graduatejobs #methodology #business101 #businessstrategies #businessdevelopment #virtualpa #businessconsultant #hrconsultant #businessoperations #directmarketing #mediumbusiness #hrconsulting #careertransition #leadgeneration #marketresearch #businesstransformation #digitalmarketingagency #articlewriting #professionalwriter #businesswriting #thesishelp #copyediting #freelancewriting #blogwriting #resumehelp #academichelp #essaywriting

Developing a checklist is a simple way for polishing diamonds in the rough. via @millercathy Read more 👉 Your Business Writing Checklist: Simple as A-B-C https://lttr.ai/AInOH #BusinessWriting #BusinessCommunication

Your Business Writing Checklist: Simple as A-B-C via @millercathy Read the full article ▸ https://lttr.ai/ANFJe #BusinessWriting #BusinessCommunication

For today's #ElevateTuesdayTip, we cannot recommend enough that you proofread with others. A part of Elevate's standard process is that our Directors and Grant Writers review the drafts before they're sent to our clients. Even then, we expect our clients will STILL review those drafts for edits. NOTHING 👏 SLIPS 👏 BY 👏US 👏!!!!! How do you proofread your important deliverables?