WriteTip #2: Identify acronyms.

Don’t make your readers pull a Scooby Doo: huh? Spell out acronyms on first reference. “But everyone knows what it means,” you say. Don’t make assumptions. It is your job, as a writer, to be as clear as possible. Take CIA. It could be Central Intelligence Agency or Culinary Institute of America. Getting those two mixed up could cause indigestion.

In a longer work or report, spell out acronyms the first time they are used in every new chapter or section. This helps orient readers who drop into the middle of your document looking for specific information.

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From The Dos and Don’ts of Effective E-Mails

Provide a specific subject line. Busy people receive hundreds of e-mails a day. How do you make yours stand out? Be clear and specific about the topic of your e-mail in the subject line. Never say just “Hi” (porn site come-on), never use just your name, and never leave the subject line blank. This is no time to be mysterious. Don’t try to be titillating or funny: “Sexy report on new wenches, er, wrenches.” Give your reader a solid tip about the content of the e-mail: “Revised plumbing tool report.” Also a specific subject line helps your recipient find that e-mail again when he or she needs to refer to it later.

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Don’t we all love grammar humor?

Be Clear in Your E-mails

Dear Noah,
We could have sworn you said the ark wasn’t leaving ’til 5.
Sincerely,
Unicorns

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