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Blog was last modified on July 2nd, 2016 by Proof Communications Team

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Don’t get stuck on these commonly confused words

August 28, 2019

copywriting, English language, Writing tips

English is a tricky language: sometimes you need to select between words that sound the same, other times you need to decide whether you’re using a noun or a verb and pick the right spelling. And this isn’t easy for whole generations who weren’t taught English grammar at school! What’s more, American English can have a different way of doing things, which further muddies the waters! So, without wanting to bog you down in grammar, here’s how to avoid getting…

Don’t get stuck on these commonly confused words was last modified on August 28th, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

How to write a business profile

August 21, 2019

B2B documents, Business profiles, copywriting, Writing tips

It’s worth spending the time writing a strong business profile as you may be able to use or repurpose this content on your website, in your marketing materials, tenders or proposals, or across other professional documentation. Brainstorm your key messages The first thing to do is to brainstorm your key messages. Think about what your point of difference is, and why a customer should choose you over a competitor. Your differentiator could be your customer service, range of products or…

How to write a business profile was last modified on August 21st, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

Content is king!

August 16, 2019

B2B documents, Case Study, copywriting, Uncategorised, Writing tips

Many companies use it to connect with and engage their customers. However, producing it is not necessarily easy. Writing is a specialist skill and many marketing budgets do not stretch to an in-house resource… That’s where we can come in, lightening the load and writing content to your brief and brand specifications. Get bang for your buck with content you can use on your website, in newsletters and on social media. And with this taken care of, you can focus…

Content is king! was last modified on August 16th, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

Could this be the only policy the UK Parliament will agree on this year?

August 12, 2019

B2B documents, English language, How to win business, Preparation guides, Style Guides, Writing tips

As the UK comes to terms with a new Prime Minister, officials for the new leader of the House of Commons are also grappling with change. It seems Jacob Rees-Mogg MP has wasted no time in issuing a style guide, making his views on language usage abundantly clear. ‘Lot’, ‘got’, ‘hopefully’ and ‘I am pleased to learn’ are just some of the many terms now strictly verboten. And heaven help anyone who uses a comma after ‘and’. So, are style…

Could this be the only policy the UK Parliament will agree on this year? was last modified on August 14th, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

How consistent are your documents? Without a professional proofreader, inconsistencies rule the day!

August 6, 2019

Uncategorised

When your annual report is beautifully presented and error-free, it really looks like you have your house in good order. On the other hand, errors and inconsistencies are messy and undermine the substance of your documents. Unfortunately, mistakes and oversights are common. That’s because typically many individuals contribute to these lengthy documents, bringing their own style and errors to the page. So, without a professional proofreader presiding over the whole document, inconsistencies rule the day! Here are some of the…

How consistent are your documents? Without a professional proofreader, inconsistencies rule the day! was last modified on August 6th, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

Quids in. A language lesson from the UK

July 31, 2019

B2B documents, copywriting, English language, Writing tips

Online comments from an unhappy UK shopper have made headlines this month. After visiting major retailer John Lewis, Donna Hewer posted a review criticising what she perceived to be a shop assistant’s overly informal manner. ‘Saying quid when quoting a price is uxeceptable in any shop. I expect better from John Lewis,’ said Donna. Her comments immediately made two things crystal clear: the language you use in a business scenario matters to your customers, and Donna struggles with the spelling…

Quids in. A language lesson from the UK was last modified on July 31st, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

You can’t be too careful when it comes to the English language, here's how to save your bacon

How an innocent mistake can turn global relations nasty

July 17, 2019

copywriting, Editing, Writing tips

You can’t be too careful when it comes to the English language, here’s how to save your bacon. There are times when, with no apparent effort at all, businesses can find themselves at the centre of a publicity nightmare after seemingly innocent statements assume a life of their own. Take Swiss bank UBS in China recently. An epidemic of African swine fever has had a hugely detrimental effect on China’s pig industry, with almost 100 million – some 20% of…

How an innocent mistake can turn global relations nasty was last modified on July 17th, 2019 by Thomas

Why trustworthy testimonials make marketing easier

July 1, 2019

B2B documents, Case Study, copywriting, How to win business, Testimonials

You’ll know that LinkedIn has a section for testimonials in each profile and plenty of websites have pages with case studies and positive feedback. Apart from a customer’s personal experience, the most valued opinion comes from someone they trust. It’s for this reason that word of mouth referrals are so valuable. The next best thing is a testimonial. It’s a third-party endorsement, most likely from someone you don’t know which makes it credible. It’s like testimonials that appear on book…

Why trustworthy testimonials make marketing easier was last modified on July 1st, 2019 by Proof Communications Author

Everyone can write, right?

July 1, 2019

B2B documents, copywriting, Editing, Grammar tips, How to win business, Proofreading tips, Writing tips

Most can write, but most can’t write well! Writing is hard: it’s not only thinking up the ideas, but articulating them, linking them together and crafting them into a neat package. It takes practice – and sometimes many attempts to get right. Here are some of the traps that novice writers often fall into: Choosing difficult words: Overly formal language is usually a turn off for readers. If there is a simpler everyday alternative that you can use, then do…

Everyone can write, right? was last modified on July 1st, 2019 by Proof Communications Author