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Welcome to the March edition of the Word Constructions newsletter!

I have recently read Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss. It is quite funny in parts and very easy to read. It isn't a grammar book, although it is about using correct punctuation to avoid mistakes such as in the title of her book (see the end of the newsletter if you can't spot it!) The book is very satisfying for someone like me who does notice bad grammar and punctuation everyday...

This month will see the Commonwealth Games hit Melbourne. It will be an interesting time for those of us in Melbourne and I'm looking forward to watching some of the athletes give it their best shot.

In your business or career, do you strive to reach your personal best each week or are you looking for additional motivation?

I love being a writer and having the opportunity to write many different documents for varied clients as it makes every day a challenge. I also appreciate that, unlike the competing athletes, I can write drafts and have more than one go at winning gold for myself and my clients!

Tash

PS You won't see many changes to my site yet, but pages have been adjusted offline and will be uploaded soon. This includes some new packages, new services and new prices...


 Tash Hughes
0428 376 110
fax 03 9445 9154
www.wordconstructions.com
For all your business writing needs

Be concise
 By Tash Hughes of Word Constructions

We're all busy and don't want to read a page of text when one sentence would do - the days of long flowery prose are pretty much gone, especially when it comes to business and internet writings.

As much as many people dread the idea of writing a long report or essay (consider your reaction to the words 1,000 word report), the fact is many people will write more than they need to. So how can you be more concise in your writing?

  • plan your ideas so you can make your point without too much introduction

  • don't explain what will be obvious to your readers. For instance, if your Boss asks for a report about your project, don't waste time explaining what the project is for

  • use a single word instead of a phrase whenever possible. For example, use 'now' instead of 'at this moment'

  • put related points into a list instead of sentence form if possible

  • minimise the use of descriptive words (adjectives and adverbs)

Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision

Anthony Robins


Hard and callous
By Tash Hughes

Callous: insensitive, hard or unfeeling behaviour or person. it was callous of her to leave him sitting there alone.

Callus: hard area of skin or other soft tissues. Using the axe repeatedly caused a callus on his hand.

Callous and callus sound the same and similar in that they refer to something harder than the normal. You can remember that callous refers to a person or behaviour as it contains 'ou' as in 'you'.

** Note that callous can also refer to a hardening of skin, but callus never refers to a person. English is a tricky language!


What is a media release for?
 By Tash Hughes of Word Constructions

A media release is like a short newspaper article. You send it to media outlets to gain their interest and, if all goes well, they will then publish a story about you.

Sometimes the journalist will hardly do anything except copy the media release; often they just use it as a base to start their article from.

There are no guarantees that a media release will result in a news story. Even the best media releases were ignored on the day the tsunami hit Asia or whenever we win Gold medals at the Commonwealth/Olympic Games; likewise, weaker media releases may be picked up if it is a quiet news day.

I have a new article on the site which explains more about media releases here.

Landlords Protection Insurance

What is a prospect list?
From Business Victoria (and by Tash Hughes of Word Constructions)

The most fundamental selling tool a salesperson and business can develop is a prospect list.

A prospect list is simply a record of people who are potential clients. Your existing clients remain on this list as they will potentially use your business again.

A prospect list is only as good as its implementation and usefulness: it's important to keep it up-to-date and  to refer to is as much as possible.

Its success can be measured by:

  • an increase in the number of entries on the list
  • the number of sales resulting from its use 
  • the relative value of the sales that it brings in
Your prospect list can contain details such as:
  • name and address of prospect
  • key decision makers' names and position names
  • usual contact and any personal details (e.g. football team supported, married, children, birthdays)
  • are they already customers?
  • what attribute qualifies them? (use of equipment or service or need for certain materials)
  • expected dollar value of sales project (opportunity value)
  • what contacts have been made so far? (opportunity cost)
  • next action - what is it? what date?
  • company revenue
  • number of employees
  • director's names
  • location of head office
  • subsidiaries names and locations
  • company's credit rating
  • company's main suppliers

 

Domain Names

** Eats, Shoots & Leaves literally means that the Panda in the original sentence will eat then shoot and then leave. It should have been written as 'eats shoots and leaves' to explain that Pandas eat the shoots and leaves of plants. Misplacing one little comma makes a huge difference!

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© 2006, Tash Hughes