Writing Matters
Welcome to the blog – advice, opinions and musings on how to make words work
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When information is cheap, thinking is priceless
Early in my former publishing career, back when I was still in short trousers, I worked as a sub-editor on a woodwork magazine. Our offices...
Rethinking creativity: a Q&A with Greta Solomon
As a journalist, PR consultant, author, poet and communications trainer, Greta Solomon has built a career on her creativity. Now she loves showing...
Why humans beat the bots at creativity
Creativity is probably one of the most misunderstood concepts in the professional world. When we hear the word, we tend to think of great artists,...
Why it’s still good to talk
I started writing this just after finishing a phone call with a customer service agent. The conversation lasted no more than five minutes. And the...
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Making your job application stand out when everyone’s using AI
With a host of new AI tools at our disposal, applying for a job has never been easier. At the same time, candidates are finding it harder than ever...
Warning: templates contain a hidden trap
When many people set out to write a report or proposal, they start with a standard template or adapt a previous document. On the surface, this makes...
Has ‘I hope you’re well’ had its day?
I hope you are well. No, really – I do. But have you ever noticed how those five words have become the default opener for almost every email? Why do...
How apps like ChatGPT actually work (and how we got here)
You might think of artificial intelligence mainly as a new way to draft short emails or outline reports in seconds. If you do, you’re in good...
Is AI writing about to choke us?
AI is already transforming how many of us write. But evidence is beginning to emerge that it may also be harming our organisations in a way that...
Unlocked: the secret of great reports
I’ll never forget the first time I was asked to write a report. I had recently graduated and was two months into a new job with the Environmental...
Why simple scares us
Simplicity is often misunderstood and underrated. One of the biggest myths in business writing is that complex topics need complex documents. The...
Why storytelling is the language of thought
Years ago, not long after I started Emphasis, I found myself in conversation with a young training manager for one of the UK’s biggest companies. We...
Change this one thing to make 2025 a success
Many of us are still hoovering up pine needles from the living room carpet. There may even be a lone chocolate rattling around the Quality Street...
The best of Writing Matters 2024
Disappointingly, the good people at the Oxford English Dictionary have chosen not to name Documentese as their 2024 Word of the Year. But as their...
What if your employer bans ChatGPT?
There’s one critical problem with most articles and videos on ChatGPT. And it’s glaringly obvious to anyone who works in a sizeable organisation....
The awkward request that transforms a meeting
I faced a slightly awkward moment in a meeting recently. Some consultants were presenting their ideas to me, but I stopped them five seconds into...
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