This is a short presentation about the importance of writing in Business Communication and the popular grammatical mistake we make in our everyday communication.

1. Basic
Grammar
and
Writing Style
David I. Adeleke
@DavidIAdeleke
adeleke.i.david@gmail.com
BusinessCommunicationWorkshop•Aug.10,2019

2. About Me
My name is David Iyanuoluwa Adeleke. No relations to
a certain musician.
I'm currently Head of Communications, Eko Atlantic
and a digital strategy and media consultant.
In my past life, I was a journalist. I was the Editor,
Business Insider Sub-Saharan Africa, Copy Editor,
Ventures Africa, and an Editor at Techcabal.com.
I host a personal finance online video series called
'The Money Show'.

3. Introduction
Writing is the foundation of all formal business communication.
Business communication is simply all communication -- verbal, oral, and non-
verbal -- that happens in or is related to the business environment.
The ability to present your ideas or state your intentions clearly in the
workplace places you a cut above the rest.
If good writing is the foundation of business communication, good grammar is
the foundation of good writing.

4. Popular
Grammar
Mistakes

5. Popular Grammar Mistakes
They're vs Their vs There: They're is a contraction of "they are", their is
used to show ownership (like mine, yours, ours), and there is used to show
location.
Hack: For ‘they are’, ask if it can answer the question “Who are they?” For
‘their’, ask if it can answer “Who does this belong to?” For ‘there’, ask if it
can answer “Where is it?”
Its vs It's: Its is used to show ownership (like their, mine, etc). It's is a
contraction of "it is".
Hack: "It is its own" or "It's its own".

6. Popular Grammar Mistakes, contd.
Who vs Whom: Who is the subject of an action or used to identify a living,
self-conscious being. Whom is used to describe someone receiving
something or the recipient of an action.
Hack: You can answer who with I, he, she, it.
Example: Who did this? I did, he did, she did, it did.
Hack: You can answer whom with me, him, her, it.
Example: To whom does this belong? Whom did you send to buy the
food? Whom did you fall in love with?

7. Popular Grammar Mistakes, contd.
Who vs that: Use who to describe people, use that to describe objects.
Example: Everyone who came out today is amazing.
Example: Her cup is the only one that is clean.
Whose vs who’s: Whose is used to request ownership. Who’s is a
contraction of ‘who is’, or you can use it to identify a person.
Example: Whose battery is this?
Example: Who’s the girl?

8. Popular Grammar Mistakes, contd.
Lose vs loose: Lose is a verb (it describes the act of misplacing something
or failing to win). Loose is an adjective (it means something that isn’t tight
or fastened).
Example: Did Arsenal lose again? OR Did you lose your watch?
Example: Loose grip, loose cannon, loose lips.

9. Popular Grammar Mistakes, contd.
I’m vs Am: I’m is a contraction of ‘I am’. Am is a verb like can, shall, or see.
I’m is in no way a replacement for ‘Am’. They are not interchangeable.
Example: I’m going to the mall (I am going to the mall).
Example: I am on my way, not ‘Am on my way’.
You say ‘I am’ just as you say ‘I can’ or ‘I shall’ or ‘I see’.

10. Popular Grammar Mistakes, contd.
Will vs Would: Will describes something that is expected to happen in the
future (or a certainty). Would can either be a past tense of ‘will’ or be used
used to describe something that is expected to happen in the future if
certain conditions are met.
Hack: Will can replace can or shall. Would can replace could or should.
Example: I will get back to you on that later. (I can get back to you on that
later; I shall get back to you on that later).
Example: I would have taken the job if they offered me more. (I could have
taken the job if they had offered me more. I should have taken the job.)

11. Tips to Improve Your Writing
Simplicity is god. Worship it and it will treat you well.
Write to your audience: If you’re writing for people within your
profession, it’s okay to use jargon sparingly. If you’re writing for a
general audience, never use words that they’ll have to look up.
Figure out what good writing looks like. Read, listen to audiobooks,
and think about the things you’ve read/listened to.
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12. Recommended Resources
Eight Letters to a Young Writer - Teju Cole (E-book)
Quick and Dirty Tips by Grammar Girl (Podcast and Website)
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Part 1
Sign up for Jeff Goins' daily 500 words writing challenge
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