The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

October 2, 2015 Don’t Make These Common Writing Mistakes People judge you by your writing, so getting a word wrong can make you look bad. Be sure to avoid these common writing errors in your next email: Affect/Effect: Affect is a verb; effect is a noun. It affected him. The effect was startling. All Right/Alright: Although alright is gaining ground, the correct choice is still all right. A Lot: A lot is two words, not one. Allot means “to parcel out.” Between You and I: Nope. Between you and me is the correct phrase. Complement/Compliment: Things that work well together complement each other. Compliments are a form of praise. Farther/Further: Farther is for physical distance; further is for metaphorical distance. How much farther? Our plan can’t go any further. Lay/Lie: Subjects lie down; objects are laid down. He should lie down. Lay the reports there. And remember: If you’re unsure about a word, just write the sentence another way. Adapted from “A Quick Guide to Avoiding Common Writing Errors,” by Mignon Fogarty.

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