BUSINESS LETTER ETIQUETTE
* Envelopes: Your name, name and title of person you're writing, name of the organization
* Salutations: Don't use a comma - use a semicolon in business situations. Dear Prof. Morris:
* Dates: every letter must have a date
* Your address: If you're using letterhead, don't write your address on the letter or envelope
* Ending: Thank you, yours truly, very truly yours
WRITING ARTICLES
* Preachers: If they're ordained, the Rev... If they also have doctorates, the Rev. Dr....
* Don't use over when you mean more than
* Do not hyphenate African American
* Avoid weak verb forms - say plans instead of intends to lead or research instead of look up
* Don't split infinitives
* Identify speaker of direct quotations after the first pause
* Don't use mention
* Don't say happy or excited in their various forms
* Avoid spoke or speak in all forms
* Avoid leads in second paragraphs, as well as non-sequiturs
* Don't be a secretary at meetings. i.e. At the beginning of the speech, at the end of the speech
* Avoid Southeastern Conference (SEC)
* Put time element next to the verb
* Keep lead paragraphs short and do not ask questions
* Inappropriate lead verbs include facilitate, spoke, address, discuss, covered, stood, met, held, stressed
* Avoid backing into the story
* Aim to be completely balanced - interview multiple people
* Do not call adults by their first name
* Don't use direct quotations of unimportant statements
* Avoid referencing budget stories without providing budgetary amounts
* Do not misspell words
* Avoid clichés
* Capitalize President only with specific last names
* Avoid there was/there were
* Avoid some people or some sources
* Don't say "average" American
* Write out the number if it is the first word of the sentence
* Said is better than according to
* Avoid "in regard to"
* If less than 7 days, use Monday, Tuesday, etc. NO today. Date is necessary if it is outside 7 day window
* Don't babble
* No saying feels/thinks...It must say Obama SAID he feels/thinks
* If you ask a question, answer it immediately
* Don't digress
* STRONG verbs
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