Essential Skills
Punctuation
Comma - Use the comma to introduce, connect, or separate.
Apostrophe - Learn the best way to always get its/it's correct.
Colon - Use the colon properly: to point to things.
Hyphen - Know when and how to use the hyphen properly.
Interrupt - Know which marks to use when interrupting the reading.
Quote - Use quotes for special emphasis or to show words spoken.
Grammar
Match Verbs - Use basic techniques to fix verb agreement.
Match Pronouns - Make pronoun references correct and clear.
Match Modifiers - Change dangling and misplaced modifiers.
Pronoun Case - Recognize and fix problems with pronoun case.
Who Whom - Try the technique to always get who/whom correct.
Subjunctive - Use proper verb forms for wishing and wanting.
Usage
Capitalize - Learn the tricky rules for when to capitalize.
Numbers - Know the rules for spelling out numbers.
Further Amount - Be smart and use the right word.
Imply Awhile - Be smart and use the right word.
Homonyms - Try memory aids for similar-sounding words.
Idiom - Practice with the accepted ways of saying things.
Clarity
Redundancy - Remove redundant words from common phrases.
Verbosity - Edit out words that contribute nothing to a sentence.
Pomposity - Recognize and replace bloated words and phrases.
Active Voice - How to change sentences to active voice.
Alignment - Align grammar with story in each sentence.
Action Edits - How to bring out the action in your sentences.
Style
Drivel - Recognize and edit cliches and mumbo jumbo.
Negatives - How to keep them clear for your reader.
Parallels - Use parallel construction to improve readability.
Variety - Learn ways to avoid writing boring sentences.
Guidance - Use transitions and links to guide the reader.
Presentation - Loosen, layer, and list to make the reading easy.
Influence
Style and Tone - Adjust your style to achieve the proper tone.
Reader Focus - Talk with your reader and about your reader.
Compelling Edits - Change your words to truly engage your readers.
Custom Wording - Improve reader reaction by speaking their language.
Trusted Acceptance - Understand decision shortcuts used by your reader.
Effective Tactics - Subtle wording choices to influence your reader.
Send or Not - Know when not to send an email.
Request Etiquette - How to write effective requests.
Response Etiquette - Good habits for a productive workplace.
Being Assertive - Respond professionally to contentious emails.
Being Conciliatory - How to prevent misreading by upset recipients.
First and Last - Good habits for effective communications.
Author
The author of the Workplace Writing 101 series is Joseph W. Judge.
He earned degrees in engineering from Rensselaer and an MBA from Stanford. He worked in a variety of industries (power, petroleum, aerospace, software, government) in a variety of roles (engineer, analyst, manager, entrepreneur, consultant).
In the early 2000s, Mr. Judge taught a seminar, Writing with Clarity and Power in the Workplace, for the Stanford Continuing Studies Program. Since then he developed corporate workshops and now self-study workbooks to help people write better at work.