0044 (0)1273 732 888
Advice and tips
Posted by: Cathy Dann
19 / 05 / 12
Every now and then, you’ll come across someone who insists that different to and different than are wrong, and that only different from is correct, writes Cathy Relf. For the most apoplectic example, we’ll cite the now semi-defunct Queen’s English Society’s, who complain: ‘At a conservative estimate, it can be said that some 90% of […]
Posted by: Catie Holdridge
17 / 05 / 12
For accountants, effective writing skills can be as important as the ability to crunch the numbers. Your professional development and competitive edge depend as much on your ability to communicate what you’ve found as the findings and recommendations themselves. So what are some of the key writing challenges accountants face when trying to do this? […]
19 / 04 / 12
Compare to is used to describe similarity, while compare with is used for differences as well as similarities. So, for example, while a man may be flattered to be compared to George Clooney, he may not find it quite as pleasant being compared with George Clooney. Hence Shakespeare mused ‘Shall I compare thee to a […]
What is ‘singular they‘? Singular they is the use of they, their or them (plural pronouns) with a singular antecedent (the word the they, their or them refers back to). And singular they is typically used to refer to a noun that could be either gender (such as client, person or student), or to an […]
30 / 03 / 12
It would be easy to imagine that these words represent an evolution: two words becoming one. In fact, they have distinct meanings. Here’s how to keep each in its place. Altogether can mean entirely, utterly or completely; on the whole; or with everything included: That’s a different point altogether. Altogether the meeting was a success. […]
20 / 03 / 12
Do you substitute one thing for another, or with another? Well, you can do both. But they have different meanings, writes Cathy Relf. You substitute the new for the old, but substitute the old with the new. The easiest way to get it right is to think of sport, where, if someone is injured, you […]
Our newsletter contains proven advice and tips for transforming everything you write at work. Join over 4,000 professionals who receive our best advice for writing documents that help you achieve your goals.