by Leslie O'Flahavan | Apr 6, 2020 | Customer Service Writing, Featured, Plain Language Writing Courses, Social Media Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
On a typical day, most customers will understand what you mean even if you use less-than-graceful words when you speak or write. For example, lots of customers dislike the phrase “No problem!” but they’ll look past it if you’re providing great service. They’ll give...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | May 5, 2016 | Featured, Plain Language Writing Courses, Social Media Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
By Leslie O’Flahavan, E-WRITE and Rich Weborg, OneReach If your customers have opted-in to receive texts from your company, they probably realize that some of your texts are going to be automated. They understand that sometimes texts from your company were sent by an...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Apr 18, 2016 | Featured, Plain Language Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
This piece was originally published as part of the “Tough Talk” article series by Relate, where I’m honored to be a guest author. You’ve had the heart-to-heart with your boss about why it’s time for you to move on. You’ve given HR your two weeks notice. You’ve...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Mar 14, 2016 | Featured, Plain Language Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
This piece was originally published as part of the “Tough Talk” article series by Relate, where I’m honored to be a guest author. My colleague, Frank, seemed distracted. He was taking days to respond to emails and ignoring voicemails altogether. Then...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Jan 6, 2016 | Featured, Plain Language Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
Over the last six months I’ve been involved in a dream-come-true project. For the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), I developed a full writing curriculum—a set of eight different writing courses—and taught each of the courses at least twice. This project...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Nov 19, 2012 | Plain Language Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
This guest post is by Elaine Blackman, Writer/Editor for the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Health and Human Services. Cleaning up our language: A never-ending campaign Only a few generations ago, many causes and movements set out to clean up the...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Sep 5, 2012
Download the presentation for this workshop: E-WRITE STCWDC Plain Language Workshop 30Nov12 In this hands-on, half-day workshop, you’ll get up to speed on the federal plain language legislation, and you’ll learn strategies for streamlining your own...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Jul 6, 2012 | Plain Language Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
After the destructive derecho storms our region experienced last week, the streets were a mess of downed branches, wrenched limbs, uprooted trunks, and scattered leaves. And residents were eager to jump into clean up activities. But lots of us were wondering what to...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Jan 4, 2012 | Plain Language Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
A plain language colleague recently shared this tale about jury duty. (He’s given me permission to use it.) Here’s the story, in his own words: “If you are called to serve as a grand juror in the District of Columbia, as I have been, you are sworn in...
by Leslie O'Flahavan | Oct 26, 2011 | Plain Language Writing Courses, Writing Matters Blog
Need to get up to speed on plain language? Interested in improving your own writing skills and learning how to improve the documents you edit for others? Enroll in this practical, hands-on, half-day workshop and gain strategies for writing in plain language. Learn how...
