I do a lot of training in report writing.  Here are 3 of my top ideas for writing better reports, tenders, proposals, etc. – so that you engage to the reader, have more impact, and achieve whatever are your objectives.     1.)  May the FORCE be with you… What your text looks like on the page is important. You want your report to be visually attractive for the reader to pick up, pore over and take note.  And nothing beats a...

I had some useful comments on my book yesterday.  An old work colleague reminded me of three additional things that I could (and should) have included in my book … although, as it happens, they paralleled feedback I had given to some delegates on a training course that I had run earlier in the week.  Read on. Make your document LOOK attractive Yes, the rest of my book is about words – what you say and how you put them together – but it is...

The paragraphs below explain each of the main types of punctuation.  But the punctuation is missing.  By doing this exercise you will therefore learn not only where and what type of punctuation to use, but also get practice in using it.  My suggested answers are given at the foot of the blog. Commas are used in lists of things to clarify meaning after introductory words and phrases like however (at the start or mid-sentence) when providing...

I give training in writing skills in many different areas, drawing on my wide experience … I know how to: WRITE catchy headlines, so your article will stand out… GRAB people’s attention in the first few paragraphs, so they get sucked in and read through to the end … MAKE a piece flow well and give it ‘voice’, so customers buy into your ideas … GIVE it impact and make it remembered, which is essentials...

At the end of 2016 I was invited by the European Commission to kick-off their annual Clear Writing Week in Brussels.  This was in recognition of my book on Business Writing Tips, which they bought, found useful and stock copies of in their library. The title of my talk was Say ‘No’ to Gobbledygook – Writing Traps, Tips and Techniques. Here we are before the event started: 100+ people attended my 90-minute long talk, and I gave...

Another year and another training course. 2017 started well. Here is the feedback on my presentation skills after doing a half-day’s training in Report Writing for a business: Good facilitator of session and involving everyone Very clear Very engaging speaker and good listener Robert is a witty presenter, displaying a genuine passion for his subject Really useful Really useful; enjoyed all the day’s sessions All very relevant – good...