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What is Good English?

rules, conventions and realism for anyone who writes

What’s it really like?
‘Everyone came back last week saying how much fun the course was. There was a meeting in the next room and they couldn’t believe the amount of laughter going on in a grammar course!’
Delegate on an in-house grammar course for the NHS in Glasgow.

What IS ‘good English’ in 2009? As publishers and specialists we’re committed to it, but how do we reconcile writing persuasive copy or reports in ‘plain English’ with the grammar we learned (or didn’t) in school? When is it best practice to obey the ‘rules’, and when should we bend or even break them? Is it OK to split the infinitive (always assuming we can spot one) if the meaning is clearer, or will our audiences brand us philistines – or pedants if we avoid it?

This workshop tackles common pitfalls and contentious issues of grammar, punctuation and spelling head on. It’s designed to identify good practice for anyone who has to write ‘good English’ in a commercial environment, and boost confidence – big-time.

Who’s it for?
Anyone in publishing or related sectors who has to write promotional copy or reports. The very relaxed and inclusive style of the day means we guarantee you will be able to raise your own personal ‘blind spots’ without ever feeling foolish.

What’s covered?
Informal tutored sessions on grammar, punctuation and spelling
Use of apostrophes, semicolons and colons
Plurals and singulars; active and passive voices; tenses
Hot topics! Starting sentences with conjunctions, the split infinitive, when to capitalise, how to punctuate bullet points, use of dashes and hyphens ...
The importance of your audience and of house style.

This workshop is currently not available on our ‘open-to-all’ workshop programme for 2009, but can be tailored to run in-company for groups of 6 people or more. This topic lends itself exceptionally well to tailoring around precise needs, so if this is an area you’re keen to expand, why not take the first step by dropping us an email or calling us today?

Find out why our workshops are different,
and what’s included in the price. Click here

Check out our terms and conditions before booking if you want to.

‘Probably the most useful training day I have ever had.’
Delegate from Oxfam Publishing

‘I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned loads. It helped me recognise what I do actually know as well as where my blind spots are. I shan’t forget that ‘it’ doesn’t own anything – this resolved a lifelong confusion!’
Delegate on an in-house grammar course for the NHS in Edinburgh

‘Excellent. Easy to understand despite quite complex subject matter in places.’
Delegate from Oxford University Press

‘Excellent!’
Delegate from Cambridge University Press

Find out what other delegates thought here