On Target English

Harnessing the versatility of bar charts

2010-03-07T22:38:00.001-05:00

You can use graphics in your documents to capture attention, emphasize data, and support your message. This tutorial surveys the most common kinds of bar charts, their purposes, and some possible uses.

The You Approach - displaying a positive tone

2010-02-28T21:30:00.001-05:00

One mark of the You Approach is that it sets a positive tone. You can communicate a positive tone when you use positive wording, when you state an audience benefit prior to asking a favor from your audience, and when you emphasize what your readers can do instead of what they can't.

Empty sentiments - obstacles to a natural style

2010-02-21T23:18:00.003-05:00

The best way to sound natural and sincere is to mean what you say. But bad habits that plague the workplace can infect the messages even of well-intentioned communicators.

Most statements that you might consider empty emotional expressions are empty, not because of what the statements include, but because of what the context does not include. The remainder of the message needs to affirm and to be consistent with the sentiment that you attempt to express.

Recycled copy - an obstacle to a natural style

2010-02-14T20:36:00.001-05:00

Wording copied from other documents can work against a natural style, even though re-using such copy can be efficient. Boilerplate and common workplace expressions (clichés) can speed up your document-writing process, but make sure that these forms of recycled copy do not serve as obstacles to a natural style.

Not all should reply-all - a call for email restraint

2010-02-09T22:01:00.004-05:00

We like using email to get one message to multiple recipients quickly. The reply-all feature can communicate your message efficiently and can keep information from slipping through the cracks. But it can also harm productivity and cause a great deal of annoyance. Learn to use the reply-all feature with discernment.

A natural style

2010-01-31T23:29:00.001-05:00

Stuffy, robotic, windy, mechanical—these are common complaints about business communication. Readers prefer a style that sounds more human, more conversational. In this tutorial, you will learn some tips for communicating with a natural style.

A precise style

2010-01-24T21:54:00.001-05:00

A precise style helps both to clarify and to enliven your message. Although clarity often requires simple language, it may also require specific wording. As you work toward communicating simply, make sure that you are also communicating precisely.

A simple style

2010-01-18T22:01:00.004-05:00

It seems that everyone wants to read or hear plain English but communicate with flowery, embellished language. Since readers prefer clarity, learn to communicate in a simple style.

How to avoid getting into trouble with email forwarding

2010-01-11T20:05:00.001-05:00

Email forwarding can get you into trouble in at least a couple of ways. You might forward something that shouldn't be forwarded; you might also write something that shoudn't be forwarded. With this tutorial, learn some tips that can help you to stay out of trouble.

Forwarding email that actually gets read

2010-01-05T16:10:00.003-05:00

Some business professionals make communication very frustrating for the recipients of their forwarded messages. By prefacing what you forward with your own wording, you clarify your message and display the value of your communication.

How to write email that prompts action - respecting your readers' time

2009-12-28T13:13:00.001-05:00

How are you going to lead your readers to give your email more than glance? How are you going to keep them from deleting your email altogether? If you have a reputation for writing messages that respect your readers' time, you can continue to win that time.

How to write email that prompts action - making your email more readable

2009-12-22T17:44:00.001-05:00

Those workplace professionals whose email prompts action know how to make their email readable. To improve readability, you can use bottom-line writing, plain language, parallel lists, and clear headings.

The You Approach - using language that includes others

2009-12-13T23:00:00.001-05:00

“Anyone should be allowed to voice their opinions.” How should you correct the grammatical error in that sentence? Believe it or not, this issue has seen numerous fierce debates. Watch this tutorial to learn how to use language that is both grammatically correct and inclusive.

Taking advantage of crowdsourcing's benefits

2009-12-06T21:36:00.001-05:00

Crowdsourcing can help your organization to learn your customers' needs, to build customer loyalty, and to save a great deal of time and money.

Crowdsourcing your workplace communication

2009-11-29T20:06:00.004-05:00

Crowdsourcing channels the collective skills and knowledge of your customers. So what is crowdsourcing? And how can it apply to your workplace communication?

The You Approach - talking to your audience about your audience

2009-11-22T21:57:00.001-05:00

Adopting the You Approach can drastically improve your effectiveness. Make your communication focus on your audience and on benefits for your audience.

Writing and formatting powerful memos

2009-11-15T22:22:00.001-05:00

Among the mediums of business communication, the memo is one of those most likely to convey a sense of importance. This lesson will help you to harness the power of this medium.

Memos vs. email and letters

2009-11-15T22:20:00.000-05:00

How are memos different from email and from letters? It turns out that some situations give memos a rhetorical advantage.

Knowing your audience - two more common myths about audience analysis

2009-11-15T22:18:00.000-05:00

The most common myth about knowing your audience is that your audience is just like you. But there are other pitfalls to avoid when trying to adapt your message to your audience.

Knowing your audience - the most common myth about audience analysis

2009-11-15T22:15:00.000-05:00

You've got something timportant to say, and you want to say it well. But your audience is just as important as your subject. Do you really know your audience?

The writing process - composing and correcting

2009-11-15T22:12:00.000-05:00

Complete the writing process so that you can send successful messages. You may have already watched the lesson on Creating, which is the first step of the writing process. This lesson is on the last two steps: Composing and Correcting.

The writing process - creating

2009-11-15T22:02:00.000-05:00

If you want to make your writing easier, more efficient, and more effective, then this lesson on starting the writing process by creating will help you to enhance those skills.

Instructional Videos

2007-06-23T10:14:00.086-04:00

Harnessing the versatility of bar charts

The You Approach - displaying a positive tone

Empty sentiments - obstacles to a natural style

Most statements that you might consider empty emotional expressions are empty, not because of what the statements include, but because of what the context does not include. The remainder of the message needs to affirm and to be consistent with the sentiment that you express.

Recycled copy - an obstacle to a natural style

Not all should reply all - a call for email restraint

We love using email to get one message to multiple recipients quickly. The reply-all feature can communicate your message efficiently and can keep information from slipping through the cracks. But it can also harm productivity and cause a great deal of annoyance. Learn to use the reply-all feature with discernment.

A natural style

A precise style

A simple style

It seems that everyone wants to read or hear plain English but communicate with flowery, embellished language. Since readers prefer clarity, learn to communicate in a simple style.

How to avoid getting into trouble with email forwarding

Forwarding email that actually gets read

How to write email that prompts action - respecting your readers' time

How to write email that prompts action - making your email more readable

The You Approach - using language that includes others

Taking advantage of crowdsourcing's benefits

Crowdsourcing can help your organization to learn your customers' needs, to build customer loyalty, and to save a great deal of time and money.

Crowdsourcing your workplace communication

Crowdsourcing channels the collective skills and knowledge of your customers. So what is crowdsourcing? And how can it apply to your workplace communication?

The You Approach - talking to your audience about your audience

Adopting the You Approach can drastically improve your effectiveness. Make your communication focus on your audience and on benefits for your audience.

Writing and formatting powerful memos

Among the mediums of business communication, the memo is one of those most likely to convey a sense of importance. This lesson will help you to harness the power of this medium.

Memos vs. email and letters

How are memos different from email and from letters? It turns out that some situations give memos a rhetorical advantage.

Knowing your audience - two more common myths about audience analysis

The most common myth about knowing your audience is that your audience is just like you. But there are other pitfalls to avoid when trying to adapt your message to your audience.

Knowing your audience - the most common myth about audience analysis

You have something important to say, and you want to say it well. But your audience is just as important as your subject. Do you really know your audience?

The writing process - composing and correcting

The writing process - creating

If you want to make your writing easier, more efficient, and more effective, then this lesson on starting the writing process by creating will help you to enhance those skills.