VANCOUVER, BC, May 18, 2012 (Press-News.org) As usual, on the third week of each month, we offer tips for effective business writing. This month our advice is - be active!
No, we're not suggesting you down tools and go for a run - though there might well be something to be said for that - we're talking about using the active voice rather than the passive in your business communications.
The active voice, where the subject of the sentence performs the action, is generally preferable (we will examine some possible exceptions later) since it makes your writing more powerful and infuses it with energy.
Compare:
Donna headed up the team. (Active) The team was led by Donna. (Passive)
Tom organized a meeting. (Active) A meeting was organized. (Passive)
Passive sentences enable anonymity, something that may be perceived as an attempt to avoid responsibility. Consider the following:
Many jobs were lost when budget cuts were made across the board.
Applications for the new position were reviewed on Thursday.
If possible, be honest - thus:
Unfortunately, many employees lost their jobs when head office made budget cuts across the board.
The hiring committee reviewed applications for the new position on Thursday.
So, should the passive voice never be used? Not necessarily. Sometimes we really do not know who carried out the action:
The warehouse was broken into last night.
Not only do we not, as yet, know who broke in, but the fact that the warehouse was broken into is the most salient at this point.
As a general rule of thumb, however, active is preferable and will make your writing more dynamic. Since you are clearly not obfuscating or trying to avoid responsibility, it also tends to make you seem more trustworthy. So, whenever you can, be active!
About Prompt Proofing
Prompt Proofing is based in Vancouver, BC, Canada and was officially launched in 2010 by a team of editing and writing professionals who have over 40 years of experience in the education, news media, public relations and recruitment fields. Prompt Proofing prides itself on affordable services delivered with fast turnaround times, without sacrificing quality or accuracy.
Offering content writing, editing and proofreading services, Prompt Proofing takes care of your individual or business content needs. Visit our website for more information at http://www.PromptProofing.com.
We offer coupons, news and more through our social media sites:
Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/promptproofing
Like us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/promptproofing
Prompt Proofing Blog Post: Writing Tips - Be Active!
As usual, on the third week of each month, we offer tips for effective business writing. This month our advice is - be active!
2012-05-18
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Visualizing the imprints of past and present Earth dynamics
2012-05-18
Boulder, Colo., USA – New Lithosphere articles posted online 16 May 2012 report on (1) seismic anisotropy measured beneath 14 broadband stations in southeastern India; (2) why geoscientists should persist in their efforts to reach and study such spectacular sub-sea geologic features as the Mariana Trench (recently explored by film director James Cameron) and how "land geologists" can help this effort by studying on-land equivalents like ophiolites; and (3) pressures and melting temperatures of sediments deeply buried in Earth's mantle.
Seismic anisotropy beneath the ...
Foul-mouthed characters in teen books have it all, study finds
2012-05-18
Bestselling authors of teen literature portray their more foul-mouthed characters as rich, attractive and popular, a new study finds.
Brigham Young University professor Sarah Coyne analyzed the use of profanity in 40 books on an adolescent bestsellers list. On average, teen novels contain 38 instances of profanity between the covers. That translates to almost seven instances of profanity per hour spent reading.
Coyne was intrigued not just by how much swearing happens in teen lit, but who was swearing: Those with higher social status, better looks and more money.
"From ...
With fat: What's good or bad for the heart, may be the same for the brain
2012-05-18
Boston, MA--It has been known for years that eating too many foods containing "bad" fats, such as saturated fats or trans fats, isn't healthy for your heart. However, according to new research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), one "bad" fat—saturated fat—was found to be associated with worse overall cognitive function and memory in women over time. By contrast, a "good" fat—mono-unsaturated fat was associated with better overall cognitive function and memory.
This study is published online by Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association ...
Experts call for clinical trials to test non-skeletal benefits of vitamin D
2012-05-18
Chevy Chase, MD—The Endocrine Society's new scientific statement published online today represents the first comprehensive evaluation of both the basic and clinical evidence related to the non-skeletal effects of vitamin D. The statement addresses current research regarding the associations of vitamin D with immune function, hypertension, stroke, skin conditions and maternal/fetal health.
Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the bloodstream and promotes healthy bone growth. Vitamin D deficiency is common throughout the world and ...
UH Case Medical Center, CardioKinetix reveal promising data for treatment for heart failure
2012-05-18
CLEVELAND — University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and CardioKinetix Inc., a medical device company pioneering a catheter-based treatment for heart failure, today announced promising results for the first-of-its-kind catheter-based Parachute™ Ventricular Partitioning Device, a Percutaneous Ventricular Restoration Therapy (PVRT) technology for patients with ischemic heart failure.
The two-year clinical results were presented today (May 18, 2012, 9 a.m.) during a Trials, Registries and Late Breaking Science Hot Line session at the 2012 EuroPCR Conference in Paris ...
It's National Small Business Week in America (May 20-May 26, 2012)...Does Your Company Know About Some Advertising Math That Can Help Them Make A Lot More Money?
2012-05-18
The math is a very simple formula called "The Barrows Popularity Factor" and it actually lets you quantify the relationship between advertising and sales, according to Robert Barrows, author of a booklet called 'The Barrows Popularity Factor' and President of R.M. Barrows, Inc. Advertising and Public Relations in San Mateo, California.
"Businesses of all kinds can use the math to help them increase their sales, increase their profit and decrease their risk," according to Barrows, "and they can use the math to help them fine-tune their entire ...
Green over Grey Unveils Gigantic Living Paintings at Edmonton International Airport
2012-05-18
Artist Mike Weinmaster, of the design firm Green over Grey, gained inspiration from high altitude cloud formations to create the artwork of the main central Living Wall (also referred to as a Vertical Garden, Green Wall, Biowall or Plant Wall). For the upper walls, Weinmaster based his designs on famous Canadian paintings by The Group of Seven and Emily Carr. The colours, patterns and textures were not created using paint but instead by incorporating over 8000 individual living plants, representing 32 unique species.
The verdant masterpiece will continually evolve on ...
The American Challenge by Robert Etheredge wins IPPY Bronze Medal Award
2012-05-17
The 16th annual "IPPY" Awards will be celebrated on June 4th in New York City on the eve of the annual Book Expo American convention. These awards are designed to bring increased recognition to book titles released by independent publishers. This year over 2,400 authors and publishers entered the contest. The American Challenge from MiraVista Press won the bronze medal in the Best Adult Non-Fiction eBook category.
The American Challenge is an illustrated review of American history, civics, and culture. It is a unique collection of everything that makes America ...
Gamebowl Announces the Callet iPhone Case Giveaway from Picnic Raiders
2012-05-17
Beginning May 16, 2012 eight iPhone 4 & 4S owners from the USA can get a chance to win a Callet iPhone Case simply by following and sharing Gamebowl's Picnic Raiders Facebook & Twitter official giveaway entry. This promo is open to iPhone 4 & 4S users and does not require any purchase or download to join.
To win the Callet iPhone 4 or 4S Case, entrants may join either the Facebook or Twitter giveaway. To join the weekly Facebook giveaway, entrants must like Gamebowl's Official Facebook Fan Page (www.facebook.com/gamebowl) and share the official giveaway photo ...
Students At Risk For Identity Theft
2012-05-17
Being a college student can open up a world of possibilities, but unfortunately it can also open young adults up to becoming victims of identity theft. Thousands of students have been affected by security breaches at colleges and universities that exposed their personally identifiable data on the Internet. Students have been advised to avail themselves of credit monitoring services for identity theft protection to prevent their personal data from being misused.
There have been several incidents just in the first few months of 2012 in which universities have inadvertently ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Heart rhythm disorder traced to bacterium lurking in our gums
American Society of Plant Biologists names 2025 award recipients
Protecting Iceland’s towns from lava flows – with dirt
Noninvasive intracranial source signal localization and decoding with high spatiotemporal resolution
A smarter way to make sulfones: Using molecular oxygen and a functional catalyst
Self-assembly of a large metal-peptide capsid nanostructure through geometric control
Fatty liver in pregnancy may increase risk of preterm birth
World record for lithium-ion conductors
Researchers map 7,000-year-old genetic mutation that protects against HIV
KIST leads next-generation energy storage technology with development of supercapacitor that overcomes limitations
Urine, not water for efficient production of green hydrogen
Chip-scale polydimethylsiloxane acousto-optic phase modulator boosts higher-resolution plasmonic comb spectroscopy
Blood test for many cancers could potentially thwart progression to late stage in up to half of cases
Women non-smokers still around 50% more likely than men to develop COPD
AI tool uses face photos to estimate biological age and predict cancer outcomes
North Korea’s illegal wildlife trade threatens endangered species
Health care workers, firefighters have increased PFAS levels, study finds
Turning light into usable energy
Important step towards improving diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases
Maternal cardiometabolic health during pregnancy associated with higher blood pressure in children, NIH study finds
Mercury levels in the atmosphere have decreased throughout the 21st century
This soft robot “thinks” with its legs
Biologists identify targets for new pancreatic cancer treatments
Simple tweaks to a gene underlie the stench of rotten-smelling flowers
Simple, effective interventions reduce emissions from Bangladesh’s informal brick kilns
Ultrasound-guided 3D bioprinting enables deep-tissue implant fabrication in vivo
Soft limbs of flexible tubes and air enable dynamic, autonomous robotic locomotion
Researchers develop practical solution to reduce emissions and improve air quality from brick manufacturing in Bangladesh
Durham University scientists solve 500-million-year fossil mystery
Red alert for our closest relatives
[Press-News.org] Prompt Proofing Blog Post: Writing Tips - Be Active!As usual, on the third week of each month, we offer tips for effective business writing. This month our advice is - be active!