Tone Matching: What Is It, Who Uses It, and Why?

Have you ever texted your friend to share exciting news and been disappointed when they responded with a lackluster “Oh, cool.”? Or maybe you’ve written to your bank’s customer service department about a severe mistake on your credit card statement and felt irritated when you received an overly chipper message in return.

In each of these scenarios, the tone of the responses you received didn’t effectively tone match. Tone matching is the practice of adjusting your tone when responding to someone to acknowledge their feelings and show that you’re here to help. It’s a tactic often employed by people like customer service representatives and healthcare professionals.

Tone matching is an excellent way to demonstrate empathy and show people that you care. It can not only positively shape how someone feels about you, but also—if you’re writing in a professional context—how they feel about your company or organization overall. That’s powerful!

After all, tone conveys attitude and can leave a strong emotional impression. When tone matching, start by considering the other person’s emotional state and expectations.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

Identifying Emotion and Tone in Writing

In person, you can usually rely on visual cues like body language and gestures to get a sense of how someone might be feeling. Similarly, you can pay attention to the pitch of someone’s voice or words they emphasize when speaking on the phone. But in writing, it can sometimes be harder to identify someone’s emotional state—especially when you don’t have much information.

Familiarizing yourself with how words can trigger specific emotions and paying close attention to indicators like punctuation and subtle differences in word choice can help. Don’t forget to take cultural norms into account either, since they can significantly influence how tone is perceived.

Once you have a sense of what someone’s feeling, it’s time to tone match and develop an appropriate response based on the context of the conversation. Although there’s positive intent behind the frequently-cited phrase “treat others the way you’d like to be treated,” it isn’t actually the most empathetic practice. After all, not everyone will react to something the same way you would!

Instead, try to use the concrete clues left in someone’s message—like the specific word choice, punctuation, or any emoji used—to guide you as much as possible. To the best of your ability, put the other person at the forefront and think of how you could best meet their needs. Depending on the situation, you may also need to read between the lines of a message. Sometimes what’s left unsaid can be even more important.

Let’s dive into some examples of tone matching from Grammarly’s own Twitter account.

Tone Matching vs. Tone Mirroring

Keep in mind that tone matching doesn’t always mean mirroring someone’s tone exactly. For example, it’s usually best to avoid matching anger with anger, frustration with frustration, and worry with worry. In these cases, responding in kind can often make the situation worse and lead to negative experiences.

Hi, Rachel. Thanks for reaching out and sorry to hear things don’t seem to be working properly. Could you please let us know your email address through a DM? We would like to connect you with our support team, who can help investigate this issue.

— Grammarly (@Grammarly) April 12, 2019

In the situation above, someone was concerned about a serious issue. One clue that helps indicate the underlying emotion here is the emoji used, which suggests dismay.

In response, we’d want to communicate the next steps to address this issue as well as reassure this person to show that we take the issue seriously. That’s why a somewhat formal tone feels more appropriate than an extremely positive or casual one, which could come off as flippant.

Reading Between The Lines

In many situations, however, tone mirroring can be perfectly appropriate and even appreciated.

We didn’t mean to bread-shame you, Lianne. Keep doing what you want, especially when it comes to bread! pic.twitter.com/VDwe4hNPra

— Grammarly (@Grammarly) March 23, 2019

At first glance, the situation above could seem delicate—after all, this is a complaint. But reading the message more closely suggests this person doesn’t actually take this situation too seriously. The word choice appears more neutral than angry, and the gif conveys cheekiness rather than frustration.

Tone matching here by mirroring the playfulness of the original message creates a fun opportunity to connect on a more informal level and acknowledge feedback in a lighthearted and positive way.

Some people may find that they’re naturals when it comes to tone matching and can do it without even thinking, while others may have a harder time. The good news is that tone matching is a skill that can be developed and honed! So if you do find it initially difficult, don’t worry. With practice, you might be surprised at how quickly you can improve the quality of your interactions with others.

The post Tone Matching: What Is It, Who Uses It, and Why? appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/tone-matching/

How to Set Boundaries With Your Boss

Not everyone who steps into a managerial role possesses the skills and insights needed to lead an effective team. Rather, many bosses end up in their role as a result of their technical skills and expertise in a certain domain. When individual contributors step into leadership roles without the required foundational skills, members of their team can often find themselves dealing with an ill-equipped manager. If you find yourself dealing with a problematic manager, consider creating boundaries in the following ways:

When they micromanage…

Dealing with a micromanager is never a good feeling, especially for those seeking autonomy in their work. If you’re dealing with a manager who refuses to loosen their grip, create boundaries between by reducing the opportunities for them to intervene.

If you have a project you’re working on, rather than asking them how and when to execute a task, do the work, and update them on it later. If you know that they tend to overpower you in meetings, consider setting the meeting yourself, and always come prepared with an agenda that will allow you to lead the conversation. Consider only providing updates to them when absolutely needed. It is also important to let your boss know exactly how you enjoy being managed, as they may be totally unaware of your working style.

When they don’t respect working hours…

There are many industries that don’t allow you to ever “turn off.” With the ease of technology, we are expected to fire off emails at all hours of the day. However, if you’re not in the business of billing your hours, then it is up to you to create firm boundaries between what you are willing to accept when it comes to your time commitments outside of working hours.

If a boss constantly calls you outside of your working hours, simply don’t respond. You’re not obliged to answer their calls, nor are you obliged to answer their emails. While this may seem scary, you will set the tone for how your boss treats you. If you have a client that’s calling you late at night, simply follow up with a text or email letting them know when it’s appropriate to call.

If you find yourself in a situation where your working hours are constantly being abused, it is up to you to set your own boundaries and say no.

When they are unreasonable with their asks…

Your manager might assign you something larger than you can handle as an act of good faith in your abilities, or even as a stretch assignment. Self-awareness, in this case, is important—you don’t want to turn down work that could help you grow, but also don’t want to set yourself up for failure. If you’re constantly being asked to do work that is out of scope, let your manager know you’re feeling ill-prepared and would appreciate some help or further training.

When they are unprofessional…

Some people prefer to have a close personal relationship with their teams, which is perfectly okay! However, if you prefer to keep the relationship professional and your boss insists on getting personal, you may have to create some boundaries between you both. Do your best not to share personal information while at work. Steer clear of conversations about friends, family, and relationships. Don’t socialize more than you need and simply keep your focus on task-related conversations.

When they are rude or abrasive…

You may find yourself in a situation where your manager is just not nice. Don’t try and be rude back, rather keep your distance, and detach from the relationship as much as possible. Keep your conversations short and minimal and focus on the work. Remind yourself that you won’t have this boss forever, and if need be, explore the potential of switching teams completely if things get bad.

Knowing what is most important to you at work and being clear on your own personal values is the first step in developing boundaries with you and your boss. Be honest and specific with the people around you about how you’re feeling and what your expectations look like.

As you work with different characters and personality styles across your career, you’ll face the reality that you just won’t click with every boss. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll work with some people who make you cringe, and you’ll have to complete work that is below you. However, when boundaries are crossed, it’s up to you to set the tone between you, your leaders, and your team.

The post How to Set Boundaries With Your Boss appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/boss-boundaries/

Watch Your Tone! A Tone in Writing Quiz

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it!”

If you’ve ever thought about improving your writing, you’ve probably heard this phrase at one point or another. You may have also used to it to explain your reaction to a message, comment, or email from a friend. But what does it mean? What is the “how you say it” referring to?

Of course, the “how” could be referring to basic mechanics, conciseness, or your level of formality. But if you’ve sent a message and received an unexpected emotional response from the person on the end, it’s likely the “how” refers to your tone. 

As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, tone is the attitude of your writing. It only works if you and the person you’re writing to have a shared understanding of the emotions underneath certain words and phrases. This “reading between the lines” allows you to communicate subtle emotional cues without needing to dedicate space to stating your feelings explicitly.

Tone is nuanced, culturally specific, and can be difficult to master. But there are a few common tone markers that are relatively constant across groups of people writing in English. Can you spot them all? Take this quiz to see how well your tone senses are working, and check your answers at the end, teen magazine-style. And if you don’t agree with a question—let us know! We want to hear what our readers think about emotions, tone, and choosing the right words to convey what you mean.

Question 1: Which word in this message communicates joy?

“Great job! Your delightful presentation this morning was a masterpiece.“

A. Delightful
B. Great
C. Job
D. Masterpiece
E. All of the above

Question 2: Do these sentences show that the writer trusts you?

“I know you can do this. You’re so great at your job!“

A. Yes, if they’re being sincere.
B. No, it doesn’t.
C. I can’t tell.

Question 3: How do you know this person is angry?

“How dare you steal our dog, you lying scoundrel. I need to get Rufus back immediately, or there will be serious consequences, Ronald!”

A. They said “you stole”
B. They called their recipient a “lying scoundrel”
C. They said “immediately”
D. They mentioned “serious consequences”
E. All of the above

Question 4: Which word in this sentence shows that this person is afraid?

“I worry that this mistake will destroy my credibility.“

A. Worry
B. Mistake
C. Destroy
D. A and B
E. A and C

Question 5: Which word in this sentence shows more disgust?

“I despise the ground you walk on.“

A. Ground
B. Despise
C. Neither word communicates disgust

Question 6: Does this email communicate excitement or sadness?

“Hi, Tatiana! Welcome to Grammarly! We can’t wait to have you on the team. Excited to work together!“

A. Excitement
B. Sadness
C. A little bit of both

Correct Answers:
1.E. All of these words indicate joy, happiness, and delight.
2.A. Saying that they “know” something indicates this person is confident.
3.B. The insult in this sentence indicates anger, rather than sadness or fear.
4.E. The word “worry” shows this person is feeling worried, and the verb “destroy” indicates fear as well.
5.A. “Despise” is a strong indicator of disgust.
6.A. The combination of exclamation points and several positive words shows that this person is excited, not sad.

The post Watch Your Tone! A Tone in Writing Quiz appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/watch-your-tone-a-tone-in-writing-quiz/

What’s the Difference Between Tone and Voice?

How many times did you hear the phrase “tone and voice” in English class? You thought you didn’t need it, but now you’ve sent an email to your coworker that was supposed to be professional but apparently came across as passive-aggressive, or texted a friend with congratulations that read dry and unfeeling, or sent an email to your boss about a project and use just one too many exclamation points.

“Tone and voice” can be easy to mix up, especially when they’re said together so often. They’re distinct ideas, but they both point to the same thing: your way of expressing yourself. Unlike spelling, grammar, and punctuation, tone and voice have to do with how you express what you’re saying—not the accuracy of the rules.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

Speaking voice, writing voice

Think about the way people in your life speak. There’s something to the cadence of your mom’s voice when she greets you on the phone, the way your best friend uses big adjectives to describe small things, the consistent way the barista at your local coffee shop says “Good morning!”

These unmistakable style quirks are called voice when applied to writing. Your writing voice can consist of words you do or don’t use when you write, turns of phrase you’re fond of, the way you write a sentence, or the way you structure an argument—your voice is the fingerprint you leave on your writing so that someone can identify it as yours.

A company’s voice consists of the aspects of the brand that don’t change. This could be words or phrases the company should never use, or characteristics it always has, like “witty” or “friendly.” Think of how you associate with companies on social media, and you’ll get the idea.

You can write in your own voice, or you can adopt someone else’s—if you’re writing a press release at work, you’re likely to use the straightforward, businesslike voice that one would associate with a company. But on your personal blog, the voice you write with could be witty, informal, and totally your own.

Watch your tone

Now, think about different situations in which you’ve had to interact with people. How do you know when they’re annoyed? Eye rolls, short responses, visible disinterest, attempts to leave the conversation. Maybe they’ll inflect what they say so you can tell they’re being sarcastic.

These signs are more subtle, and they’re subtle when translated to writing, too. Signs of tone in writing can be translated in word choice, punctuation, even emojis.

Think about the phrase “Let’s talk soon.” How do these two read?

“Let’s talk soon.”

“Let’s talk soon! :)”

The first one reads more serious and urgent, and the second one reads much more playful and fun.

For a deep dive on tone, check out our explainer on what tone is and how to use it.

Finding your voice

Even if you only ever write for work, you have your own distinctive writing voice. Your emails, tweets, and texts all give the people you communicate with an idea of who you are.

There are several ways to hone your voice. If you just want to develop a writing voice, try keeping a journal and writing a page per day. Pick a topic and write about it until you fill up the page, not allowing yourself to second-guess the words you put down. Doing this every day will keep your mind used to expressing thoughts in writing, and eventually, you’ll find the sentence structures, words, and expressions that make your writing yours.

If you’re trying to be more aware of your voice, try reading your emails and texts out loud before you send them. They should sound as natural to say as they do to read. This will take some practice—you may find that when you read your own writing out loud, it sounds stilted or you run out of breath trying to read long sentences. When you run across these situations, think about how you’d convey the same information if you were talking, and try to write it that way instead (minus the ums and ahs, of course).

Honing your tone

If you find yourself wondering how your message comes across to others, try writing messages in many different ways, experimenting with punctuation, sentence structure, and word choice, and read them out loud, imagining to yourself how you’d read these messages if you received them.

You can also check out our explainer for advice on how to write in a way that’s both direct and compassionate.

The post What’s the Difference Between Tone and Voice? appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/tone-and-voice/

6 Ways to Build Confidence at Work

Whether you’re starting in a new role or facing challenges in your current one, everyone has moments where they might question their abilities. Building your confidence at work can go a long way to helping you be successful in your job.

It’s also the difference between career advancement and stagnation. If you show confidence in your everyday work, you’re more likely to achieve acknowledgment from your manager. This will put you in better stead for a promotion or increased responsibilities.

What’s more, being confident at work can have a positive effect on your colleagues, allowing you to build your working relationships both in and out of the office. This makes for a better all-around working experience.

So, here are six ways to build your confidence at work.

1. Ask questions

An inquisitive employee is usually one that learns the fastest. If you’re unsure about something, whether simple or complex, just ask questions. You’ll spend far less time asking questions than trying to figure it out on your own.

This is a sure-fire way for you to get to know the way the company operates. Growing comfortable with the company culture is very important and can help you to integrate with your colleagues. Alongside this, it shows your boss that you’re keen to understand how the work you’re doing impacts the wider business. Just remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question!

2. Focus on your strengths

Everybody has strengths in the workplace. Whether yours is copywriting, creating financial reports, or delivering a sales pitch, focus on it. You probably had to work hard to become great at those things in the first place.

Succeeding at the things you are good at will give you the confidence to attempt other tasks that you haven’t had much experience in or that require skills you aren’t comfortable using. Instead, consider ways in which you can develop in these areas to help build your confidence in completing them.

What’s more, if a colleague is struggling with a certain task you’re proficient at, offer to lend a hand. Teaching someone a skill can give you confidence and when the time comes, you can ask for them to return the favor by helping you.

3. Talk to your colleagues

Whether you’re socializing or discussing a task you’re working on together, talking to your colleagues is an excellent way to build relationships in the workplace. It’s easy to be friendly—make sure to greet your co-workers each morning and ask questions to get to know the people you’re working alongside every day.

Forging friendships at work is crucial, not just socially, but mentally as well. You’re far more likely to enjoy getting out of bed in the morning if you get on with your colleagues. In turn, working with people you like will help you to feel more comfortable and confident at work.

4. Stay organized

Staying organized is imperative. If you manage your workflow effectively throughout the week, you’ll be organized, prepared, and confident to overcome any task.

The best way to achieve this is by writing lists. A daily and weekly list of your tasks will help you organize them by priority, where you can also delegate more time to the tasks that you’re not 100% comfortable with. Knowing how your day will pan out each morning will give you confidence that you won’t be overwhelmed with your workload. Just ensure to make a few moments now and then to take a break and socialize with colleagues.

5. Don’t procrastinate

On top of staying organized, it’s equally important to avoid procrastinating your tasks. You will never gain confidence in completing a certain task if you always put it off. Address it head-on and if you struggle, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You never learn unless you try!

6. Build a relationship with your boss

Not only can building a relationship with your manager lead to growing confidence, but it can also increase your chances of career advancement. Every little detail will add up, so constant communication is key.

You’re far more likely to enjoy your role and feel confident in your job security if you have a good working relationship with your supervisor.

Stay engaged, organized and face your tasks head-on. And as a result, your confidence will grow as you get more proficient at your job.

Setting out a daily plan is an excellent way to stay on top of your work-load and avoid procrastination. Don’t forget to build relationships and friendships in your workplace with colleagues and managers, and have fun working hard to make a difference in your company.

The post 6 Ways to Build Confidence at Work appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/6-ways-to-build-confidence-at-work/

Watch Your Tone! A Tone in Writing Quiz

“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it!”

If you’ve ever thought about improving your writing, you’ve probably heard this phrase at one point or another. You may have also used to it to explain your reaction to a message, comment, or email from a friend. But what does it mean? What is the “how you say it” referring to?

Of course, the “how” could be referring to basic mechanics, conciseness, or your level of formality. But if you’ve sent a message and received an unexpected emotional response from the person on the end, it’s likely the “how” refers to your tone. 

As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, tone is the attitude of your writing. It only works if you and the person you’re writing to have a shared understanding of the emotions underneath certain words and phrases. This “reading between the lines” allows you to communicate subtle emotional cues without needing to dedicate space to stating your feelings explicitly.

Tone is nuanced, culturally specific, and can be difficult to master. But there are a few common tone markers that are relatively constant across groups of people writing in English. Can you spot them all? Take this quiz to see how well your tone senses are working, and check your answers at the end, teen magazine-style. And if you don’t agree with a question—let us know! We want to hear what our readers think about emotions, tone, and choosing the right words to convey what you mean.

Question 1: Which word in this message communicates joy?

“Great job! Your delightful presentation this morning was a masterpiece.“

A. Delightful
B. Great
C. Job
D. Masterpiece
E. All of the above

Question 2: Do these sentences show that the writer trusts you?

“I know you can do this. You’re so great at your job!“

A. Yes, if they’re being sincere.
B. No, it doesn’t.
C. I can’t tell.

Question 3: How do you know this person is angry?

“How dare you steal our dog, you lying scoundrel. I need to get Rufus back immediately, or there will be serious consequences, Ronald!”

A. They said “you stole”
B. They called their recipient a “lying scoundrel”
C. They said “immediately”
D. They mentioned “serious consequences”
E. All of the above

Question 4: Which word in this sentence shows that this person is afraid?

“I worry that this mistake will destroy my credibility.“

A. Worry
B. Mistake
C. Destroy
D. A and B
E. A and C

Question 5: Which word in this sentence shows more disgust?

“I despise the ground you walk on.“

A. Ground
B. Despise
C. Neither word communicates disgust

Question 6: Does this email communicate excitement or sadness?

“Hi, Tatiana! Welcome to Grammarly! We can’t wait to have you on the team. Excited to work together!“

A. Excitement
B. Sadness
C. A little bit of both

Correct Answers:
1.E. All of these words indicate joy, happiness, and delight.
2.A. Saying that they “know” something indicates this person is confident.
3.B. The insult in this sentence indicates anger, rather than sadness or fear.
4.E. The word “worry” shows this person is feeling worried, and the verb “destroy” indicates fear as well.
5.A. “Despise” is a strong indicator of disgust.
6.A. The combination of exclamation points and several positive words shows that this person is excited, not sad.

The post Watch Your Tone! A Tone in Writing Quiz appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/tone-quiz/

Effective Communication in an Always-on World: a Recap of Grammarly’s 10-Year Anniversary Panel

In honor of Grammarly’s 10th anniversary, we held a panel discussion about the role technology plays in our communication today. Together, panelists shared personal stories and offered insightful advice on navigating today’s complex, always-on world.

I spoke on the panel alongside David Rosenberg from GIPHY, Anna Soellner from Reddit, and Amanda Atkins from Slack. Katherine Boyle from General Catalyst guided us through a lively conversation about the many ways tech helps us connect, what it means to live in an on-demand world, and ultimately, how to find balance in effective communication.

We interact in so many different ways today, often instantaneously. And while GIPHY, Grammarly, Reddit, and Slack all approach communication in their own unique ways, the common thread we discovered was that, quite simply, people want to be understood.

We had a lot to say, and I’ve highlighted a few points that really spoke to me:

Building Clear and Confident Communication

Over the last ten years, a myriad of new communication channels have emerged, and the volume of writing has increased with them. At Grammarly, we focus on the substance and not on the methods by which we communicate. Instead of adding to the growing list of channels, we’re excited about helping people reach their goals, connect with others, and express themselves in ways that help them be understood by their audiences.  

Building Inclusivity

Amanda Atkins, director of internal communications at Slack, shared how more voices and perspectives can be heard with the speed and collaborative nature of Slack. Interactions that once took place around the watercooler can now happen online, reaching across teams at work and to unique individuals across communities. This type of communication also allows concerns or issues to be elevated more visibly and fixed more immediately. Employees have the opportunity to learn much more about their coworkers, workplace, and the world around them — both in a physical workspace and distributed workforce — than ever before.

Building Trust

Trust is critical to how we learn and communicate, and building trust in-person is very different from how we do so online. Anna Soellner, director of communications at Reddit, elaborated on how the company relies on user trust for its communities to thrive. By setting their own community standards, moderators have the power to determine what their culture is going to be. Establishing this autonomy and self-regulation allows members to interact freely without oversight from Reddit unless deemed absolutely necessary.

Building Responsible AI

As a research scientist, I’m very emphatic about the notion that artificial intelligence is only as reliable as the data set it’s trained on. While we continue to develop better algorithms, we can’t ignore the importance of human guidance and intervention. David Rosenberg, head of business development at GIPHY, discussed the challenging battle between algorithmic ranking and human editorial content when it comes to indexing a vast catalog of visual media. There is a layer of complexity that comes with assigning words to images and it becomes even more complex when you have to rank them in search. Algorithms can be continuously improved and trained, but for now, there is still a need for human editors to suss out meaning that accounts for tone, emotion, and even cultural sensitivity from images.

Effective communication, in all its forms, can build community, empower the voiceless and bridge the gaps between us. As Grammarly celebrates ten years in the world of digital communication, we look forward to another decade of progress!

The post Effective Communication in an Always-on World: a Recap of Grammarly’s 10-Year Anniversary Panel appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/grammarly-communication-panel/

5 Phrases for an English-Speaking Office

All jobs have some common phrases and expressions that are helpful to know. Here are some basic English office words and phrases to get you started in an office job.

When you are a new-starter:

If you have some qualifications or certificates you need to turn in, or some contract or visa documents to sign, then you will probably need to ask a colleague or your manager:

“Where can I find HR? I need to give them some paperwork.”

HR is a common abbreviation of “Human Resources,” the department that handles your contract, your pay, and any problems you might have with the company.

When you’re starting out, you might also need to pick up some pens or notebooks to help you do your job, which most offices will give to you. You can ask someone:

“Where is the stationery cupboard?”

Stationary means “not moving” but stationery, pronounced the same way, is also a collective term used to describe pens, pencils, paper, staplers, folders, paper-clips, notebooks and things like that.

Office equipment questions:

If you have a phone, you might not know how to dial a number outside of the company, so you could ask:

“How do I get an outside line on my phone?”

An outside line is what you would call a phone number that is outside of the company. You will often have to dial a specific number first before the rest of your number to reach it.

You might also have problems with your computer, especially when you are new to your company, so you might have to ask someone:

“Where can I find the IT department? My computer is not working.”

The IT department, said by pronouncing the letters I and T as opposed to just saying “it”, will handle computer-related issues. If you want, you don’t have to say the word department and colleagues will understand what you mean if you just ask for “IT”.

To your manager:

There are some things you might want to ask your manager.

“Can I book some time off?”

Ask this if you want to take a holiday or have some time out of the office. You could also ask to book some “annual leave”, but this is a bit more formal.

“Can we arrange a one-on-one, please?”

A one-on-one is a meeting that you have with your manager to check up on how you are doing and to give you a chance to raise any problems you might be having.

To colleagues:

Whilst you are working, you will deal with many different colleagues who will need your help with different things. Here are a few useful phrases:

“Can you email me the details?”

This is a useful phrase if someone is telling you about something and you are worried that your notes might have missed something out.

“Can I get back to you on that?”

You can say this when you are asked a question but are either busy with something else or need some time to think about your answer.

What about department-specific vocabulary?

Different departments, like marketing or finance, will have specific vocabulary and professional slang that you will need to pick up—and we will come to some of that in the future!

Have you had any experience with business expressions that you didn’t understand right away? Let us know in the comments!

A version of this post originally appeared on Kaplan International English. Join the Kaplan family and benefit from immersive English language courses, choose from over 35 schools located around the world.

The post 5 Phrases for an English-Speaking Office appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/english-office-phrases/

Grammarly IRL: How Erica Buddington Helps Kids Love Literature

If you love to write, you probably had someone in your life who encouraged that love in you, be it a teacher, a relative, or a friend. Not everyone has that someone—and for kids who don’t, there’s Erica Buddington.

A career poet, Erica Buddington has been performing since she was a teenager. She appeared often on HBO’s Def Poetry from the ages of 16 to 20, and did competitive poetry slams around the country to put herself through college.

Now, as a high school teacher herself and the founder and Chief Curriculum Officer of The Langston League—a nonprofit that helps schools develop inclusive curricula and professional development programs—she focuses on helping students find their love of writing.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

How Erica found her own voice

Growing up in Brooklyn, Erica joined Urban Word NYC, a non-profit for teens that offers poetry slams, debates, newspapers, and more ways for teens to express themselves.

“My parents would see me uninterested in school, but so engaged in poetry and performing. I really got to learn the mechanics and fundamentals of writing.”

Over time, she became a confident poet and performer. “I went from this girl that would never read their poetry in front of their friends to performing in front of everyone.”

She also learned how to tell stories so that people would understand them and see themselves in them. “A great storyteller can take something small and insignificant and turn it into this powerful moment of relation for someone else,” she says.

Now, through all the poetry she’s written, hours performed, and work she’s done for other kids, she’s ready to tell others they can do the same.

“You can own a business, be a dean by day, write four books on Amazon and sell out overnight, be an HBO Def Poet, teach at juvenile detention centers, travel the world, and perform. That’s the story I’m most excited to tell because that’s the story I needed to hear at that age.”

Finding inspiration in class

Think about the kinds of books you read in school and the books (if any) you loved reading on your own time. Chances are, you’d end up with two completely different lists, especially if you didn’t look or act like the writers of the books you read in school.

“Kids want to read about people who look like them. And that’s where we come in,” says Buddington. “We try to revitalize their curriculum, bring in awesome engagement strategies, and content where kids say ‘oh! I see myself here.’”

Erica aims to help kids not just read what they’re assigned, but to enjoy it.

“If you assign supplemental reading, normally the majority of students won’t engage with it. However, with our program, 90% of kids are going beyond that and reading ahead in their curriculum because they are developing a stronger love for reading.”

That’s not the only way she helps kids learn to love English. She uses her skills as a poet and rapper to engage kids in concepts, not just books.

“For example, to get kids to grasp homophones or remember where to put a semicolon or period, I would make up songs,” she says.

“There was a song we made up to teach kids the difference between they’re, their, and there. And I remember a friend of mine coming down to see me when I was working, and she told me ‘Quick! Come upstairs!’ The door was slightly cracked to the classroom and all the kids were singing the song. That’s when I knew it worked!”

All of this translates to writing, too.

“When we read authors we love, words jump out at us in a way that we can take them and make them our own,” says Buddington. “Now that they’re connecting more with the content they are writing about, the kids are finding more unique ways to express themselves.”

And she has the data to prove it. Despite deviating from traditional teaching pedagogy, she’s come to classrooms that are 20% proficient in reading and writing and left a classroom that’s 90% proficient.

How Erica uses Grammarly

Erica has been juggling several projects at a time for years. She found herself writing a lot, and like any good writer, she needed an editor.

“I’ve been using Grammarly since 2012,” says Buddington. “At the time, I was substitute teaching and I went to my dad letting him know I found this tool I wanted to buy, but I was broke. So I started listing all the things that I’m doing that I could use Grammarly for.”

Buddington’s father agreed to put the membership on his credit card, after telling her to promise she’d use it. She’s used it ever since, and she brought it with her to the Langston League.

Buddington’s team at the Langston League is always writing, whether it’s lesson plans, poetry, or curriculum. Because most of them have a day job in addition to their work at the Langston League, a tool like Grammarly is essential.

“Grammarly is installed on all of our computers and it ensures that all our content stays at a consistent quality,” says Buddington. “Grammarly makes us look tight as an organization—making sure our thoughts are well written.”

She uses it now for everything, but she remembers the first time she could get it on Microsoft Word.

“I remember thinking, Grammarly is everything now.”

Catch up on Grammarly’s “In Real Life” series:

How Jeanette Stock Empowers the LGBTQ Tech Community

How Matt Halfhill Made Kicks Nice to Write About

How Zain Ismail’s Writing Helps Him Make a Difference

How Ann Handley Helps Everybody Write

How Nicholas Barrett Uses Grammarly to Share His Perspective

How Melody Wright Turned Her Debt Into Opportunity

How John Pollock Talks Straight About Professional Wrestling

The post Grammarly IRL: How Erica Buddington Helps Kids Love Literature appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/grammarly-irl-how-erica-buddington-helps-kids-love-literature/

How to Congratulate Someone in Every Stage of Life

When you want to tell someone their life achievement is worth celebrating, it’s typical to offer a note of congratulations.

Saying ‘congratulations’ can take many forms. Sometimes, we shorten the word to simply, ‘Congrats!’ Other times, it may be more appropriate to pen a long, thorough message that showcases how proud you are.

Whatever the case—be it a finished marathon, a major promotion, a new baby, or even a small victory like pulling a grade up from a C to an A—writing a congratulations message is a fantastic way to express your feelings and give praise.

As long as you pay attention to the recipient’s milestone, your words of congratulations will let them know you truly care about their success. Who knows, your heartfelt message might just make their day!

Since we’ve been focusing on writing how-to’s all month long, here are our tips for giving hearty congratulations throughout every stage of life.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

Wedding Wishes

A wedding is a massive milestone in any person’s life, which puts the pressure on you to write something extra-special in your wedding card. Don’t worry! Here are some ideas to get you started . . .

• I’m so happy to celebrate this special day with the two of you. Congrats!
• You both are a wonderful example of what true love looks like. Congratulations on the start of your new chapter together!

New Baby Congratulations

There’s a new addition to the family, and it’s a small bundle of joy! Let your friend, coworker, or family member know how excited you are to meet the baby and, of course, see pictures. You could begin your congratulations message with . . .

• Congrats on your little miracle! Wishing your family plenty of love, health, and happiness now and throughout life.
• Wishing you and your newborn all the best—and plenty of sleep! Congrats on the safe arrival of your bundle of joy. 

Congrats to the New Grad

Graduating is a big deal at any age, as it’s often the culminating moment of years of hard work. How can you encapsulate a person’s educational achievements in words? Here are two good places to start . . .

• Congrats, grad! I am so proud of you for reaching this milestone and can’t wait to see what you do next.
• Congratulations on your graduation day! Wishing you all the success in the world as you begin your next adventure.

Still Stuck? A Simple Congratulations Guide

If you’re still lost for words, these tips can make it easier to write a message of congratulations, no matter who’s on the receiving end.

1 Start strong. There’s one word you can always count on as you begin singing your praises. You probably guessed it: Congratulations! By congratulating your recipient from the very start, your note will already be on target with what you want to say.
2 Be personal. Everyone loves a hand-written compliment! After you say congrats, tell the recipient how proud you are of them and remind them why they deserve this. Acknowledge the specific achievement and add in some extra congratulations words.
3 End with a heartfelt closing. Offer your well-wishes for their continued success or new chapter, and you’re all set!

The goal of any congratulations message is to show the recipient you care—and to make them feel extra-special! Words go a long way in expressing our deepest sentiments, and congratulatory words are no exception.

What are your favorite ways to say congratulations at every milestone?

 

The post How to Congratulate Someone in Every Stage of Life appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-congratulate-someone-in-every-stage-of-life-2/

14 Clever Birthday Wishes to Impress Your Friends

Every day is someone’s birthday. Today happens to be Grammarly’s 10th, in fact!

We’re celebrating with a few tips to make your birthday greetings stand out. Whether you’re dashing off a quick note on social media or putting an old-school physical card in the mail, these pointers will help you craft clever birthday wishes.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

First, a few basics:

1 Happy birthday!

Exclamations are easy to overuse but perfectly appropriate in this case. An exclamation might even do enough lifting that you don’t need the word “happy,” like so:

2 Birthday!

This could read as the sender endearingly overflowing with exuberance—or it might just look like an amusing typo. Alternatively, using the recipient’s name is sometimes enough to obviate the need for an exclamation, as in this heartfelt, seemingly above-the-fray option:

3 Happy birthday, Person’s Name.

Of course, be sure to get the name right; in your haste to avoid a belated happy birthday, you don’t want to step on your friend Dianna’s cheer by calling her Diane.

Can it all be so simple?

Sometimes, that’s all you need! But why pass up the chance to get creative?

There are endless variations on the theme of “happy birthday” that you can tailor to your unique brand of friendship. While synonyms for “birthday” are scarce, you can always dream up a new way of saying “I hope it’s a good one.” Some examples:

4 Fond birthday wishes for my friend, James –
5 Warm wishes and cold beverages for my birthday guy, Chad!
6 Hugs and sunbeams on your birthday, Alex.

You can also tinker with how you address your friend here. It’s okay to be earnest:

7 Happy birthday, you glorious champion!
8 Happy birthday to my role model.

But also, depending on your friendship, you might gently tease them a bit. For instance:

9 Happy birthday, you loveable curmudgeon.

That said, avoid going too far:

10 Happy birthday, you lurid pandemic.

You can also veer the opposite direction and lay on some schmaltz:

11 Happy birthday to the first daffodil of spring

You get the idea. It’s a celebration, so have fun with it!

Okay, so then what?

From this point, the conventional formula—which you’re hardly obliged to follow—tends to compliment the recipient about how great they are, then tell them what swell things you hope are in store, like this:

12 Happy birthday, Ruth. The blinding radiance of your friendship puts the sun to shame. I hope your day is replete with interesting smells, chasable squirrels, and delectable things to chew on.

Ruth, of course, is a dog. Note here that both the compliment and the fond wish are opportunities to flex your creativity, as well as your familiarity with the recipient. If they’ve passed a recent milestone, now’s a fine time to congratulate them, and then end with a look forward:

13 The happiest of birthday wishes to my friend, Joshua. From running your first half marathon to snagging a sweet new apartment, you killed it this year. Here’s hoping you somehow crush next year even harder.

This list is far from an exhaustive inventory of all the clever birthday wishes out there, but we hope it’s a starting point in deciding how to congratulate a friend on another successful trip around the sun. Here’s one more example:

14 Happy 10th birthday, Grammarly. Over the years you’ve put a lot of commas where they belong and saved more than a few drafts from repetitive phrasing. Your capacity to help people communicate clearly only grows better with time.

The post 14 Clever Birthday Wishes to Impress Your Friends appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/birthday-wishes/

Tone 101: How Words Can Trigger Specific Emotions

When the right tone is employed, writing can transcend the words on the page. It’s what allows writers to create complex characters, to build a world that feels real.

“Tone, to me, is like the Harry Potter house-elf of craft,” says author and sensitivity reader Dennis Norris II. “If I remember the language of something I’ve read, I am remembering the tone. It’s just there, and you’re benefiting from it. If the work was memorable, the tone played a role in it.”

Whether you’re writing a book, a tweet, or an email, emotion and tone help define the message. To help you master it, we’ve put together this guide to tone, emotion, and writing:

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

What is tone in writing?

Tone is the attitude your writing employs. Just like tone of voice, tone in writing gives much more context beyond the words used. It can reveal intention or conceal it. As memoirist and writing coach Adair Lara says, “Tone is what the dog hears.”

If, for example, your boss sent you a Slack message that said, “Do you have a minute to talk?” you might think, “Oh no, what’s wrong?” If she rephrased it as, “Got time to chat real quick?” you might be less alarmed. There isn’t a negative force lurking in the background. That contrast is because of tone.

And while the emotional response you take away from a message may not necessarily be the intention of the sender, it still exists, and people will seek it out when reading. “If the reader doesn’t respond the way you want them to,” says Lara, “you don’t have a reader.”

What informs tone in writing?

Tone, like language itself, works because people agree on the meaning behind words. Cultural norms often dictate how those are perceived. And it takes knowledge of those norms and expectations, as well as the context of the conversation, to be able to convey the intended emotions. The stakes are often elevated to match the importance of the message, so more attention is warranted. Norris II is well-versed in this phenomenon.

“When I’m doing a sensitivity read, I typically examine every single aspect of the work—the language, the content, the plot, the psychology of the characters, the [political and personal] context,” they say. “Inequity doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and neither does humanity. I have to mine the work incredibly closely if I’m going to help the author complete a piece that doesn’t further marginalize folks who are often not portrayed, or not lovingly portrayed, on the page.”

Even if you aren’t writing a book about complex topics like race, gender, and class, tone-based misinterpretation can still happen in everyday exchanges. If you’re texting someone you just met and are interested in romantically, the difference between “For sure!” and “Ok” can be painfully apparent. That has to do with the cultural expectations placed on words within the context of texting.

“Perhaps because we have become accustomed to exclamation points and emojis, when they are missing, the text can seem angry or cold,” notes Dr. Tchiki Davis, founder of the Berkeley Well Being Institute. In fact, that gap between the desired emotional reaction and perception is very common. And many readers will read text as slightly more negative than the writer intended.

What kind of tones are there?

Tone is as diverse as our emotions. It can convey the positive, negative, neutral, and everything in between.

Let’s say you were invited to someone’s party. Here are a few examples of tones that can be employed in a response:

Enthusiastic: I’d love to!

Casual: Sounds good [thumbs up emoji]

Formal: I would be happy to join you.

Irreverent: But I HATE parties [winking/smiling tongue out emoji]

Joyful: Yay! Yes!

Solemn/Serious: Thank you for the invite, but I’m afraid I can’t at this time.

Hostile: Why would you even invite me, Susan?

Cautious: …What time does it start?

Indifferent: kk

How does tone impact a reader’s emotional response?

This complex relationship starts in your amygdala, which is where your brain processes emotions. It’s theorized that it interacts with the visual cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex (a.k.a. where your decision-making comes from) to produce the relationship between emotion and the written word. So you see the words on the page, interpret their meaning, add a layer of emotional context, and that engenders words with emotional meaning.

Except the amygdala isn’t always as involved in language comprehension. It varies in strength from person to person. And not every word carries the same emotional weight. So in that way, there is an element of the unknown.

Still, there’s room for a scientific approach to mastering tone. According to Plutchik’s wheel of emotions, feelings can generally be calculated based on the combination of basic emotions. So to create a feeling of love, there must be both joy and trust. Or to make envy, you’d combine sadness and anger. (Think of it as the alchemist’s guide to emotion.) When combined with the NRC Word-Emotion Association Lexicon, which sorts words into corresponding emotional reactions, feelings can be reverse-engineered, word by word.

How to intentionally create tone and avoid missteps

Once you’ve figured out your desired tone, here are a few things you should keep in mind while writing:

Word (or emoji) choice: In general, it’s best to strive for positivity. If a word or emoji feels wrong, consider rephrasing, removing it, or using a thesaurus to find the word that best fits your intention.

Personal pronouns: Pay attention to the main subject in a sentence. For example, “you” puts the onus on the reader, while “I” or a lack of personal pronouns is less likely to make the reader feel called out. It’s not a bad thing to use “you,” and there are situations where it makes sense. Just make sure it’s the right call for the situation. Pronouns are also important when it comes to addressing people. Failing to use the correct pronoun (he/she/them) can create a tone of disrespect.

Punctuation: Lack of punctuation is more casual, which can make it tricky to pull off in professional settings. Punctuation isn’t always critical to tone, but keep in mind that it can have an impact.

Consistency: One tone-deaf sentence has the power to destroy all of your hard work. It’s especially important to look for consistency when you have strong feelings about the topic.

Honesty: It’s important to tell the truth—not just about what you say, but also in how you say it. If you aren’t true to yourself, the tone may become contrived or off-message. It’s like hearing your sweater vest-wearing aunt Linda use the phrase “it’s lit.”

Empathy: Once you have your sentence or message written, read it aloud and try to imagine your reader’s reaction, or run it by a friend or colleague. External factors, like the recipient’s personal or job circumstances, will certainly have an impact—you can’t control that. But you can dictate how thoughtful you are about what you write. And that kind of empathy is powerful.

The post Tone 101: How Words Can Trigger Specific Emotions appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/tone-and-emotions/

How to Write Concisely Without Sounding Abrupt

Have you ever written something you thought was concise and direct only to be told that your message seemed abrupt or rude?

If you have, the length of your message may not actually be the problem. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: concise writing matters. The truth is that most people appreciate when someone gets to the point quickly. Instead, what may have irked your reader was your tone—that is, your style or manner of writing. Although it’s often overlooked, tone can dramatically influence how you’re perceived.

Choosing the right tone is hard. That’s because different tones are appropriate for different situations. For example, you probably shouldn’t use the same tone when expressing condolences as you do when texting your friend about where to get tacos.

When writing, many of us intuitively add extra words in an effort to soften our tone and make our message more appealing. When editing for conciseness, we often remove these words—and that’s okay. You can still sound warm and conversational without cramming your sentences full of unnecessary words.

Here are some tips to help you master the art of using the fewest possible words to convey an idea without inadvertently offending your reader.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

1 Identify your message

Whether you’re writing an email, tweet, or blog post, nailing down your message—the essence of what you’re trying to say—is absolutely critical. Consider your reader and think about how much context they might need.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to say, it’ll be much easier to focus on how you want to say it.

2 Eliminate extra words

Once you’ve got your message and jotted some words down, it’s time to tighten things up. Eliminate redundant words, strengthen weak adjectives, and remove vague nouns. Stumped about where to start? Grammarly offers conciseness checks to help you identify what to cut.

Let’s say you need to write an apology. Here’s an example of how to eliminate extra words while taking tone into account:

Wordy: I’m incredibly sorry for the extremely last minute request. I’ll make sure I loop you in during earlier stages in future projects.

Concise: I’m so sorry for the last minute request. I’ll make sure I loop you in earlier on future projects.

Although you could cut even more words here, the edited message still conveys regret without being excessively wordy. Striking the right balance between the two can be tricky, and it’s okay to err on the side of saying slightly more if you’re concerned your message may be too abrupt.

3 Assess your tone

When it comes to identifying the best tone to use in a specific situation, a good rule of thumb is to consider the emotional state of your reader. Are they relieved to be finishing a long work week? Are they confused and looking for advice? Once you have a sense of what they’re likely experiencing, you can adjust your tone accordingly.

Read your message aloud and pay attention to places where it sounds curt or awkward. This can also help you identify areas where you could adjust your punctuation. Exclamation marks, for example, can help infuse energy into your writing if you’re particularly excited about or proud of something.

Using positive language rather than negative language also helps you sound warmer. One way to detect negative language is to look for words like “can’t,” and “don’t.” For example:

Negative: You can’t get a free bagel if you don’t stand in that line.

Positive: To get a free bagel, stand in this line.

Even though both sentences convey the same message, the latter is much more encouraging. It’s also shorter!

Whether your reader is someone you work with on a regular basis or a much broader audience, getting to the point quickly while striking the right tone is a fantastic way to both avoid inadvertent abruptness and capture—and hold—your reader’s interest.

The post How to Write Concisely Without Sounding Abrupt appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/concise-but-kind-writing/

Finding a Job with LinkedIn

Are you ready to embark on an exciting new career? This week’s article comes straight from the Kaplan Career Guide, Volume 1: The Job Hunt, a free eBook designed to help you choose a satisfying career, find the best openings in your field and build a network of contacts to help you take that next vital step. For a more in-depth look into the mastering the job search, download the full Kaplan career guide today.

Designed for professionals, LinkedIn is a social media platform for the business community. The basic functionality of LinkedIn allows users to create an online profile that represents their employment history and skills set. Through this profile, you can find jobs and business opportunities, network with professionals who can recommend you to their colleagues, and gain insights into your industry.

But how do you build the perfect LinkedIn profile to ensure that employers are finding you? If you’re thinking about working abroad, your LinkedIn profile might be the perfect place to start your job search. Here are our top tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile for your international career.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

Include a picture

Employers looking for recruits may scroll through thousands of profiles per week. These written profiles can often seem impersonal and artificial; so bring some life to your account by including a picture and showing the employer that you are the professional and presentable individual that you claim to be.

Your photo must represent you in a professional light. So no selfies, no photos of you drinking alcohol with your friends at that really great party, and no photos with your friends, parents, or pet. A simple headshot is all you need.

Choose a catchy headline

Many people simply use their job title as their headline. While this isn’t necessarily wrong, it’s a waste of an opportunity: you have 120 characters to use to describe your strengths and catch an employer’s attention. Use them to explain what you can offer. For example, “Marketing Consultant: Helping brands get noticed for the right reasons.”

Polish your summary section

This is the most prominent and important element in your profile. Don’t leave it blank or simply list your work experience. Write a sentence for each of your major successes; mention the principles and ideas that really motivate you. Back your claims up with quantifiable facts where you can, (e.g “increased click-through by 60%” or “reduced staff turnover by half”) and make sure to include any major qualifications or accolades you have received.

This is also a great place to mention if you learned English for your international career. Recruiters and employers looking for bilingual employees will see this section first, and mentioning language skills may encourage them to read on.

Create a custom URL

When you register with LinkedIn, it automatically assigns you with a URL that contains a combination of numbers and letters. But it’s possible to edit your URL so that it includes your name—this way when an employer (or anyone for that matter) Googles your name, your LinkedIn profile will be one of the top results. This makes you more visible to future employers and recruitment agencies.

Build your recommendations

Recommendations will convince employers that you’re not just a wannabe—you really can deliver on your claims. If you have worked closely alongside a colleague or employer, then offer them a recommendation for one in return. Choose a particular skill that you would like to highlight and remind your contact of times you have demonstrated that skill.

If you feel uncomfortable asking colleagues for recommendations, try writing recommendations for them without being asked. It is likely that they will return the favor.

Build a strong network

LinkedIn will automatically invite contacts to connect with you. However, we suggest you deselect this option. While it may help you to build a lot of contacts, it is likely that there are people in your contacts who aren’t going to be helpful to you and may even detract from your professional image. Instead, use the search function to manually search for connections. Once you have made your selections, LinkedIn will then suggest similar people.

Spend some time writing personal, tailored messages to each person that will explain why you would value them as a connection—they’re much more likely to respond to your request.

Be active in LinkedIn groups

Similar to fan pages on Facebook, LinkedIn has a “group” function that allows members to connect around a common interest or area of experience. This is a great way to build your network and increase your recommendations, so whether it’s an alumni group from university or an industry-specific group, join in, and start a conversation. The more groups you join, the more you can network with like-minded professionals—but you do have to be active within a group to reap the benefits. When possible, try to offer valuable input to the discussion that will benefit other people and demonstrate your passion for your chosen industry.

Include Keywords

When recruiters and employers search LinkedIn, they use industry-specific keywords to refine their searches. For example, if an employer is looking for a marketing assistant, they are likely to search keywords such as “marketing,” “SEO,” and “optimization” to drive them towards professionals that are skilled in this area. Visit the careers page of companies that you would like to be employed by and pick keywords that are used in their job descriptions. Work these words into your profile—but remember to be subtle about it. It needs to look natural.

Publish!

Once your LinkedIn profile is complete, proofread it for spelling, grammar, and accuracy—and then read it through again, trying to judge whether your headline is attention-grabbing, your summary is interesting, honest, and easy to read, and whether your personality comes across. If you’re happy with it, ask a colleague or mentor-figure to look it over and see if it conveys the message you want.

Now your LinkedIn profile should be a compelling portrait of who you are, and what you can bring to your next role.

A version of this post originally appeared on Kaplan International English. Join the Kaplan family and benefit from immersive English language courses, choose from over 35 schools located around the world.

The post Finding a Job with LinkedIn appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/what-to-include-linkedin/

What Is a Job Simulation & How Can You Prepare for One?

Job seekers, take note—the next time you head in for an interview, it may not be the typical question-and-answer format you’re used to. More and more companies are implementing creative interview strategies that go beyond the surface and dig deep into your skills, personality, and behavior. Case in point: the job simulation.

A job simulation is any task that is designed to give you an accurate preview of what the role you are interviewing for entails on a day-to-day basis. Job simulations are becoming increasingly popular among employers, as they help companies more accurately predict whether or not candidates would be successful if hired.

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

“For us, it’s all about being efficient and making the right hire the first time,” says Jeff Rizzo, Founder & CEO of product review sites RIZKNOWS and The Slumber Yard, who implements job simulations in his companies’ hiring processes. “We’ve been burned in the past when we hired candidates that interviewed well but weren’t nearly skilled enough when it came time to actually produce work. We are looking for fit, of course, but the simulator serves as our final test of acumen.”

Job Simulation Formats

Job simulations can take many different forms, such as in-person assignments, online exams, take-home assignments, role-playing, presentations, or even virtual simulations. Chris Chancey, founder of Amplio Recruiting, described some of the more common job simulation formats in depth:

In-basket exercises: “Here, the candidate is required to complete certain tasks such as responding to emails, taking phone calls, and handling grievances within a set amount of time. Often, these exercises are best for administrative and managerial positions.”

Situational judgment tests: “The candidate is presented with a work-related scenario and is asked to use their judgment to provide a solution that can amicably resolve the situation at hand. These tests lend themselves well to positions such as customer service and supervisory roles.”

Work sample tests: “These typically hands-on tests require the candidate to complete certain activities that are similar to actual tasks they would perform on the job. Examples include writing code, take-home assignments, collaborating with others to design a website, or completing an onsite construction task.”

Role-playing: “Role-playing is probably the most common of all job simulation formats. These exercises help to evaluate a candidate’s ability to navigate interpersonal challenges in a work environment.” This is far from a complete list, though. Because job simulations mimic the tasks of actual jobs, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Tips for Acing a Job Simulation

So, what should you do if you find out a job simulation will be a part of your job interview? First things first, you’ll want to do some research into what exactly it might entail. Turn to Glassdoor’s interview reviews section and look up the company you’ll be interviewing with to see if any other previous candidates have described what the interview process involves.

You can also “research types of simulation exercises by talking to employees in similar roles or work environments [or] reviewing industry journals,” points out Diana Brush, Associate Director or Employer Relations at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. And of course, you can ask the recruiter to provide some insight—odds are, they will be happy to share some basic information.

Once you know a bit more about what to expect, it’s time to brush up on your abilities.

“Review your knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position being assessed to identify your strengths and weaknesses,” then “practice and then demonstrate the task/issue that will be assessed,” Brush says. “Record yourself performing the task and ask co-workers to observe and provide constructive feedback.”

No matter your specific field—software engineering, consulting, sales, finance, etc.—a quick online search should reveal plenty of practice assessments.

And finally, try to relax.

“Candidates should always come off as calm and collected,” Rizzo says. “[Simulations] aren’t always about judging skill—most of the time they’re looking to measure intangibles such as critical thinking ability and emotional intelligence.”

Job Simulations: Beneficial for Employers & Candidates Alike

If you’ve never faced one before, a job simulation can be intimidating. But just remember: job simulations aren’t just for the employer’s benefit—they’re also for yours.

“Job simulations enable self-selection where, after being immersed in the actual job environment, a candidate can determine whether the job is the right fit earlier on in the process,” Chancey says. “Candidates who stick to the process and are hired are more likely to stay with the company longer, report higher levels of job satisfaction and demonstrate greater productivity.”

Related Links:

1. How to Write a Resume Objective
2. Professional References 101: Who to Ask and How to Ask
3. How to Get an Internship

The post What Is a Job Simulation & How Can You Prepare for One? appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/job-simulation/

How to Write a Review

Opinions: as half of the old saying goes, everyone’s got ‘em. Whether it’s on Twitter, on Yelp, or in Facebook posts from your great-aunt’s best friend, we’re constantly subjected to other people’s opinions—so if you want to share your take with a wider audience, it’s worthwhile to think about how to make it stand out. And if you zoom in on an opinion, build it out, and give it structure, you’ve got yourself a review.

You can review basically anything if you find the right outlet for it, but the best way to present your thoughts depends on what you’re writing about and who your audience is. But with most types of reviews, there’s a simple structure you can stick to in order to help you get started:

Your writing, at its best.

Be the best writer in the office.

Get Grammarly

1 A thesis

Before you write, make sure you know the general message you want to convey. A simple thesis will help keep your review from straying off-topic. This could be as straightforward as “I really liked this meal!” or as complex as “These shoes took a while to wear in.” Think to yourself: If I were telling a friend about this, what would I want their main takeaway to be?

2 Likes and dislikes

In the most glowing review, you may not include any dislikes. If the review is critical, try to find at least one positive to include, just to provide a break in between your incredible zings.

3 Your recommendation

A star rating may be the first thing most people see, but when folks skim your review, they’ll probably check the bottom for an idea of whether or not you’d recommend the meal, album, hike, or movie to others. You could also include a short explanation, like “I knocked it down one star because my utensils were dirty,” or “I’d recommend this play, but only if you’re as big of a musical theater buff as I am.”

If you need more direction, Grammarly has a few great places to start.

Writing a book review? Grammarly has tips and tricks for how to keep your review informative, enlightening, and kind.

Remember that you’re reviewing a book that another human poured their heart and soul into to write. Express your honest opinion, but don’t be nasty about it. Imagine if it were your book being reviewed, how would you want a reader to express their critique?

If you’re writing a movie review, Grammarly can help keep you from getting too stressed about how to rate the film you just watched:

Rather than grasp for an arbitrary value, state plainly what a movie called to mind, or how it didn’t quite land with you, and explain why.

Writing a review of your new favorite restaurant? You may need to paint a bigger picture of your experience than for the review of the tub of cheese puffs you ordered on Amazon.

Avoid vague words and phrases like “The service was bad” or “The pie was great.” Instead, provide specific details like, “The server was friendly but inexperienced and botched our drink order” or “The lemon meringue pie had a wonderfully flaky crust, a tart and tangy filling, and dreamy melt-in-your-mouth meringue.”

No matter what kind of review you’re writing, here are a few more quick tips:

• Judge the product, restaurant, escape room, or dog park for what it is. If you’re reviewing a McDonald’s, don’t complain about how you weren’t waited on hand and foot. Write your review based on reasonable expectations.
• Assume the best. You’re often assessing someone’s execution of their vision or product of their hard work, especially when it comes to art or food. You’re also more than likely writing this review on the internet, where the creator could probably find and see it in just a few clicks. We’re all human—assume the people who made this thing weren’t out to get you.
• Check your writing. Reviews reflect back on you, and readers might not take your opinion seriously if your spelling is all over the place or you use the word “ambiance” three times in one sentence. Grammarly can help you make sure your review is as effective as possible.

More from #HowToWrite:

How To Write a Tweet

How To Write a Joke

How To Write a Blog

How To Write a Book Review

How To Write a Complaint

How To Write a Bio

The post How to Write a Review appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-review/