AT IN ON

PRECISE TIME MONTHS, YEARS, DAYS & DATES

CENTURIES and LONG
PERIODS
at 3 o’clock in May on Sunday
at 10:30 am in summer on Tuesdays
at noon in the winter on 6 March
at dinnertime in 1990 on 25 Dec. 2010
at bedtime in the 1980s on Christmas Day
at sunrise in the next century on Independence
Day
at sunset in the Ice Age on my birthday
at the moment in the past/future on New Year’s Eve
I. PREWRITING
A. Freewriting
B. Clustering (or mind-mapping)
C. Outlining
II. WRITING
A. Be organized: define your purpose
 To inform
 To persuade
 To instruct
 To inspire or motivate
B. Be concise
C. Be clear
D. Be warm and personal
 Say “I” and “you”.
 Accentuate the positive
 Show empathy.
 Establish rapport.
III. REVISE AND EDITING
Checklist:
 Is all the information relevant?
 Has all the necessary information been included?
 Is the information organized so that it clearly and effectively conveys
the message?
 Are the recommendations supported by the facts?
 Is your grammar correct?
 Is your writing free of spelling mistakes?
 Did you use research to support your analysis?
 Did you reference all appropriate information?
 Did you use space appropriately?
 Is there consistency in your heading and formatting?
 Is your letter, report or proposal professionally presented?
 BUSINESS JARGON PLAIN ENGLISH
in compliance with as you requested
pursuant to, subsequent to after
Please be good enough to advise us Please tell us
Thank you again [nothing]
the undersigned I, me
with regard to, in regard to regarding, concerning
with respect to, with reference to relating to
arrived at the conclusion concluded
in view of the fact that because
came to realization realized
 BUSINESS JARGON PLAIN ENGLISH
come to an agreement agree
in the ultimate analysis finally
in the majority of instances usually
place a major emphasis on stress
to a certain degree somewhat
notwithstanding the fact that although
draw to your attention show, point out
extend an invitation to invite
is aware of the fact that knows
conduct an investigation investigate
E-MAIL
Things to remember:
1. Be specific and get to the point in the subject line.
2. If you are requesting action, say so in the subject line.
Example: FARU Implementation Timetable for your comment
3. Don’t leave the subject line blank.
4. Don’t use abbreviations and acronyms unless you are sure your receiver will
understand them.
5. Keep your message brief but clear.
6. Before using electronic jargon, be sure intended receivers will understand it.
7. Read what you’ve written.
8. Unless you are using an encryption device, you should assume that mail on the
Internet is not secure.
9. Respect the copyright on material that you reproduce.
10. If you are forwarding or re-posting a message you’ve received, do not change the
wording.
11. Never send chain letters, including religious chain letters, by e-mail.
12. Don’t send heated messages (“flames”) even if you are provoked.
13. Include a line or two at the end of your message with your contact details.
14. It is extremely bad form to simply reply to a message by including the previous
message entirely.
15. Use mixed case. UPPER CASE LOOKS AS IF YOU’RE SHOUTING.
16. Observe basic courtesies and conventions.
 TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS
to indicate that what follows is in
opposition to what came before it
what has been said before may be
true or correct, but what follows is
also true or correct
listing, to mark the order in which
things are said
time sequence
to clarify
in comparison, in contrast,
conversely, instead, on the contrary,
on the other hand
all the same, anyway, in any case, at
the same time, but, however,
nevertheless, nonetheless,
notwithstanding, in spite of, still
namely, as follows, first, second,
third, etc., for one thing, for another,
above all, to begin with, then,
finally/lastly, in the first place, etc.
first, subsequently, in the beginning,
eventually, in the end, first, next,
then, finally
essentially, that is, by this we mean,
which means, meaning, thus, in
other words
 TRANSITIONAL SIGNALS
to give examples for example, for instance, to illustrate

to reinforce what has been said as a matter of fact, in fact,

before
to denote that what follow is of equal at the same time, correspondingly,
importance or on the same level as
the preceding
what follows is a replacement of
what has been said before
what follows is a logical consequent
or a result of what has been said
before
to introduce a new stage in the
discussion
summation
furthermore, in addition, moreover,
again, indeed, and, clearly
for the same reason, in the same
way, likewise, similarly
better, instead, rather, worse,
alternatively
consequently, hence, therefore, in
that case, because of this, for this
reason
incidentally, now
all in all, briefly, in brief, in short, in
sum