You’ve waited months. Now, you’re dining and enjoying a delectable meal. The time passes quickly, too quickly, but go you must. With memory fresh and excitement high, you wish to share your enthusiasm. Naturally you message a friend, your brother and even a distant aunt, but you still want other people to know.

So, like any normal person, you post your view on TripAdvisor:

➤ 7 course taster menu was absolutely flawless. Absolutely recommend the wine flight as well. Front of house staff were fantastic and the chef coming out to every table after their meal was finished was a very personal touch

However, upon re-reading, you notice the flow of thoughts has not translated into a flowing review:

▪︎ the two short sentences make the review choppy
▪︎ repetitive: absolutely
▪︎ group like with like
▪︎ tighten to improve flow

By creating two balanced sentences, with a subordinate clause, we can write a short review which flows:

➤ The 7-course taster menu was flawless and I highly recommend the wine flight.The front of house staff were fantastic and the personal touch from the chef, who thanked each table once they had finished, was much appreciated.

The question is: how would you rewrite this review? What would you do differently?
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Sometimes our enthusiasm has less of an impact than we think:

➤ I was advised to try the tasting menu, luckily i did, it was amazing, the wine paired exquisitely.

Using adverb ‘luckily’ weakens the emphatic statement. Also, ending with an adverb means the reader must look and choose the word it’s modifying. However, rephrasing gives the review its impact:

➤ I was advised to try the tasting menu; and glad I was! Not only was the paired wine exquisite, the menu was sensational.

Writing one sentence with multiple ideas is confusing and difficult to read 😕. By using ‘Not only’, we introduce an element of surprise 😯. We can also add impact by removing adverbs and using stronger, more descriptive adjectives 🤓.

The tightened sentence is easier to read and has more impact. 😎

_____________________________
Writing in English has its challenges. But don’t worry! Our online workshops are designed to guide you through these challenges. Why not join us?

Find out more here.

SUMMARY: Good writing is fundamentally good thinking. However, interview processes rarely assess writing competency qualitatively or quantitatively: that is, evaluating clarity, cohesion and coherence. Interviewing for potential should include a writing competency assessment. Assessment supports native and non-native English speakers assess candidates.
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The interview process can be complex and demanding, both for interviewee and interviewer. Depending upon the position, the process may involve physical and online interviews, social and formal meetings, tests, and assessments. Furthermore, for those whom English is a second language, assessing writing skills is near impossible: a language certificate is not a guarantee of writing competency.

While much emphasis is placed upon experience, qualifications and potential, one aspect rarely targeted is writing competency. Part of the reason is its challenging nature; what metric is measured and how is it quantified? If a candidate is asked to write a report, and the assessor states they understand it and a manager declares it factually accurate, is this an adequate writing assessment?

Over the last few years, I have been developing a method to assess and grade writing. Stating a writer has faults or their style requires attention is simple: faults may include the quantifiable (grammar and spelling) and the vague (style is subjective). Having objective parameters requires both foundation and criterion from which advice can be sought. Take the following example:

➤ A great dinner. Fantastic food and very cozy atmosphere. The whole service was excellent. I hope we can return to Bristol and repeat the Chefs table experience.

While it could be considered understandable, it has a number of issues:

■ lacks flow
■ grammar
■ disjointed subjects
■ lacks depth
■ requires tightening

If this were a report, the reader needs to gather the various subjects, assess and order, then make sense of the information. While less problematic here, a longer text would exacerbate the issue: readability must be forefront when writing. Even with a short sample, its structure can provide clues about the writer.

Recognising potential is challenging but, experience and a robust data gathering approach helps and supports recruiters, managers and colleagues during the decision making process: writing skills are an asset worth investing in.

Furthermore, assessing and grading writing enables targeted improvements. If a candidate has potential, understanding weaknesses and omissions, in addition to capabilities allows the good-fit to become a better-fit.
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Do you believe a connection exists between good leadership and writing?
Should writing skills be assessed?
If you would like to find out more about writing assessment, just ask!

You’ve arrived at the restaurant and you’re hungry; hungry with anticipation! You’ve been told about the comfortable interior, the superb service, and the chef’s fabulous skills.

The meal is exquisite. Each course? Sublime The wine? Perfectly paired. The after-dinner chocolates? Divine. Unfortunately, you must now take your leave,

Despite parting with a sizeable amount of money, your enthusiasm has not been diminished, and, as you walk back home, you type few lines about your experience:

➤ A great dinner. Fantastic food and very cozy atmosphere. The whole service was excellent. I hope we can return to Bristol and repeat the Chefs table experience.

Of course, walking and typing are a poor combination; nevertheless, we could do better! Why? Well:

▪︎ short sentences create a stilted effect
▪︎ disjointed subjects, requiring reader to re-read
▪︎ grammar

Yes, we can do better: first, write when not walking! Next, gather like subject with like: dinner, ambience, and service; conclude. Check for flow.

How would you rewrite this review?

While a NO is strong and clearly not a YES, we sometimes focus on the negative a little too much. Negativity can appear anywhere:

➤ I can’t come to the meeting at 9am. 10 would be better.

Changing your approach can create a more positive 😃 and strong 💪🏻 impression:

➤ 10 would be better (I have a client call at 9). Could you confirm if this is possible?

How would you rephrase the first statement?

Clarity is not only the opposite of obscurity. Sometimes what we read takes time to process, but not because the information is important, emotional or thought-provoking. Rather, the information is expressed unfavourably so it requires reorganising or reprocessing:

[1] To view this breathtaking one of a kind property, get in touch today to arrange a viewing.

■ confusing word choice = [verb ➤ view] and [noun ➤ viewing]
■ phrase acting as adjective = create compound adjective: one-of-a-kind
■ repeated instruction = [to view] and [to arrange]
■ wordy = get in touch
■ unsuitable adjective = breathtaking
■ multi-syllable adjective prevents flow = breathtaking one-of-a-kind

If we restructure, we can improve its readability:

[2] Contact us to view this spectacular property.
[3] To view this spectacular property, contact us.

Do you agree with the revised version?

You’re visiting a restaurant and, as you read the menu, you notice some dishes contain tomatoes. But you notice some differences:

[1] tomatoes
[2] home-grown grilled tomatoes
[3] local vine-grown, char-grilled cherry tomatoes

Which appeals more? Which is more expensive? When we want to add value to our writing, we can do so in a number of ways; one being words.

There’s no special grammar within the above descriptions, but the words chosen provide a valuable picture for the reader. A tomato will mean what the reader wants it to mean; the writer has left the reader to imagine, to visualise, to define ‘tomato’.

In [2] the writer has painted a rudimentary picture, providing information about where the tomatoes were grown and how they are cooked; the diner’s image becomes a little clearer.

However, the writer in [3] has taken full control, describing tomato type, location and precisely how it’s cooked. The diner is provided with a full-colour, and sensory, image of what to expect.

While such language may not be appropriate for every occasion (Please find attached a dynamic, insightful and detailed Q1 2023 financial report.), adding value to writing is essential if readers are to benefit from it.

Want to find out more? We understanding writing in English isn’t easy. We run online workshops looking at improving, developing and enhancing our writing. Why not join us?

More information here.

Combining subjects, ideas and words together may produce a readable sentence. Then again, maybe not. 😢

➤ The manager Marco and the staff were very professional and polite, it was a pleasure interfacing with them.

The sentence is unclear: is talking about the manager and the staff, or the manager, Marco and the staff?

Additionally, the unusual use of ‘interfacing’ is distracting, as we are left wondering what is actually happening; ‘interfacing’ does not apply between humans 🤖 👽! Perhaps ‘interacting’ was meant, although this still sounds unnatural; try 'meet':

➤ The manager, Marco, and his staff were very professional and polite. It was a pleasure to meet them.

The edited sentence now makes better sense, sounds more natural, and has more impact. 😎

How would you have rephrased the sentence?

Negative words can give the reader a negative image 😱:

➤ I did not find the copywriters' position on the RedX website so I don't know exactly what are the requirements.

Rather than say what is not possible (using negative words ⛔️), say what is possible ✅:

➤ Please find attached my CV, as requested, with respect to the copywriter’s position.

If you have been asked to send in a CV, but with limited information about the position, focus on what is known, as well as your strengths with respect to the position

Changing your approach creates a positive 😃 and strong impression. 💪🏻

Negativity can appear anywhere:

➤ I can’t come to the meeting at 9am. 10 would be better.

How would you rephrase this statement?

Sometimes it’s not what we say but how we say it. Negativity can appear even if a negative word is not used:

➤ Absolutely lovely service. We had the restaurant to ourselves and the owner was very kind and provided us with everything we needed. He was very grateful after we showed up and everyone else had cancelled due to the ongoing situation. Food and drinks were lovely and service was very prompt.

Saying you 'had the restaurant to ourselves’ gives the impression it is unpopular, despite the enthusiastic review. While the writer explains the reason for the empty restaurant, this is only a snapshot in time: no mention is made about being the only diners for their meal, or whether it was for the entire day.

Focus on the positive and the experience highlights:

➤ Absolutely lovely service. The owner was very kind and provided us with everything we needed. He was very grateful after we showed up especially with the ongoing situation. Food and drinks were lovely and service was very prompt.

The review now has a positive tone and how the ‘on going situation’ was not going to spoil their time!

Would you rephrase this differently?

Some sentences may be grammatically correct but difficult to read:  

➤ You need to create a sweet potato dish but not a sweet potato dish.
 
The problem here is 'sweet potato': it can mean a type of potato or potato sweetened. While some may consider it strange to sweeten potato, the confusion creates a possibility; their may be a dish which requires sweetening potato.

By rephrasing, we can improve clarity so the reader does not need to read it two or three time: eliminating 'sweet potato' in one clause allows us to achieve this: 

➤ We are using sweet potatoes to create a savoury dish.  
➤ You need to create a savoury sweet potato dish.

Using savoury helps clarify 'sweet potato'.

Is their another way in which to clarify the sentence?

Sometimes our enthusiasm has less of an impact than we think:

➤ I was advised to try the tasting menu, luckily i did, it was amazing, the wine paired exquisitely.

Ending with an adverb means the reader needs to go back to find the modified word. Rephrasing gives the review its impact:

➤ I was advised to try the tasting menu; and glad I was! Not only was the paired wine exquisite, the menu was sensational.

Writing one sentence with multiple ideas is confusing and difficult to read 😕. By using ‘Not only’, we introduce an element of surprise 😯. We can also add impact by removing adverbs and use stronger, more descriptive adjectives 🤓.

The tightened sentence is easier to read and has more impact. 😎

Sometimes, our enthusiasm to share information results in a confusing text:  😱

➤  A typical non-descript modern building from the outside the Hilton Garden Inn is very convenient for Temple Meads station (just a five minute stroll) and a little further from the harbour's lively facilities and the Town Centre, all in all around fifteen minutes walk from Central Boulevard.

Not only confusing, the poor reader has to edit and interpret what is written: considerate writers make writing readable! 😇

■ keep different subjects separate
■ be careful with vague or imprecise language
■ avoid using unfamiliar or generalist names, words or expressions
■ always check your spelling

What would you change in the above example? How would you improve it? 🤔

Structure and readability

Scientific papers and articles frequently write like this:

➤ The use of polymers to produce prosthetic heart valves that have the positive attributes of current commercial and mechanical valves without any of their drawbacks, has been a focus of research since the 1950s.

However, it does not read will and requires multiple readings. Help your read and create flow:

➤ Since the 1950s, scientists have been trying to use polymers to produce prosthetic heart valves which have the positive attributes of current commercial and mechanical valves, but without any of their drawbacks.

Formal writing has its place but whether you are writing for a general audience, or highly knowledgable, readability and flow are essential.

To keep it readable:

▪︎ make subjects people rather than concepts and place the main verb close to the subject
▪︎ choose strong verbs, check punctuation, and avoid unnecessarily long sentences

What advice would you add?

A new employee wrote, “I have a problem with a male. Could you help me?” to a colleague. Quite an unusually direct request from someone whom you have only just met!

Did they mean:

- I have a problem with an email.
- I have a problem with a male colleague.
- I have a problem with a personal male friend.

It transpired, after a discreet conversation, the new colleague had a problem with an email, but, in their haste, did not check their spelling. Initially, this resulted in an embarrassing dilemma for the recipient.

Normally, when new in a job, we do not discuss personal issues with unknown colleagues. Fortunately, the colleague did not mention this to anyone else; had they done so, the resulting rumours and gossip would have haunted the new employee from that day hence.

Be careful what you write! Misspelled or misused words may give the wrong impression, or set in motion an unwanted chain of events.

What would you have done?