How do you reply to a letter of complaint?

This week one of your colleagues asked for help with the reply to a tricky letter. The writer was complaining about the cost of something. (I can’t tell you what or else you’ll know where Jim [let’s call him] worked). Ok, I guess the writer would have liked Jim to...

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Who and Whom?

A Stylus reader asked: When do you use who and when do you use whom? The easy answer is: You hardly ever use whom – don’t worry about it. The full and very correct answer is: Pronouns are words that come in different versions depending on the job they do in a...

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How pop songs can help you start a great briefing note

Pop song writers know they need to hook their audiences quickly. While it’s true that some songs build more slowly, for example Solid Rock by Goanna, many of the most successful songs sum up their theme in those first lines. You may never have heard of any of these...

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Eight steps to writing a media release

Often you need to write a media release to go with an announcement of a new program or initiative you have been working on. The purpose of the media release is to get the media to pay attention and so put your information in the papers (usually) so the community will...

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Tips for Writing a Fact Sheet

What is a fact sheet? A fact sheet is • one sheet of paper written on one side or two. • a simple but logical and rigorous explanation or description of a process or topic. • self contained, although it may be part of a series. • written in clear, plain English for a...

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