https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/Write clearer English emails and documents at work.enMon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/a-or-an-before-a-number-an-8-an-11-an-18-an-80/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/a-or-an-before-a-number-an-8-an-11-an-18-an-80/Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTUse an before 8, 11, 18 and 80 to 89 because you say them with a vowel sound; use a before the other numbers from 1 to 100, such as a 7 or a 1:1.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/a-historic-or-an-historic-a-one-time-a-user-a-european/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/a-historic-or-an-historic-a-one-time-a-user-a-european/Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTUse "a historic" in most modern writing. Also "a one-time," "a user," "a European," and "an hour": the article follows the first sound of the next word.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/its-vs-its-apostrophe-rule/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/its-vs-its-apostrophe-rule/Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMerriam-Webster's rule: it's means it is or it has, and its is the possessive with no apostrophe. Includes a read-aloud test and email fixes.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/farther-vs-further/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/farther-vs-further/Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMerriam-Webster says farther and further are interchangeable for distance, but only further means moreover, additional, or to promote.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/ensure-vs-insure-vs-assure/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/ensure-vs-insure-vs-assure/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe difference between ensure, insure, and assure, how Merriam-Webster explains the overlap, and a simple rule for business emails, with fixes.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/fewer-vs-less/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/fewer-vs-less/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhen to use fewer and when to use less, the accepted exceptions for time, money, and distance, and before-and-after edits for workplace writing.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/ie-vs-eg-in-business-writing/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/ie-vs-eg-in-business-writing/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat i.e. and e.g. mean, a substitution test to pick the right one, how to punctuate each in American English, and before-and-after email fixes.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/look-forward-to-hearing-from-you/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/look-forward-to-hearing-from-you/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhy "I look forward to hearing from you" uses -ing, how to spot the same pattern, and polite email closings you can use, with before-and-after fixes.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/me-myself-or-i/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/me-myself-or-i/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhen to use I, me, or myself in business emails, why "contact John or myself" sounds off, and a one-step test that fixes most pronoun mistakes.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/say-vs-tell/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/say-vs-tell/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhen to use say or tell in work emails, why "he said me" and "she told that" are wrong, and how to report instructions, with before-and-after fixes.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/since-vs-for-time-expressions/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/since-vs-for-time-expressions/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhen to use since, for, and from...to with time, why "I work here since 2021" is wrong, and how the present perfect fits, with before-and-after fixes.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/who-vs-whom/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/who-vs-whom/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow to choose between who and whom using a he or him test, when whom is expected in formal emails, and when who is perfectly acceptable.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/when-to-use-a-an-and-the-in-business-emails/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/when-to-use-a-an-and-the-in-business-emails/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTIt is "an email," since email starts with a vowel sound. The sound rule for a vs an, when to use the, and uncountable nouns in work writing.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/affect-vs-effect/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/affect-vs-effect/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTThe simple verb-or-noun test for affect and effect, the rare exceptions that trip up careful writers, and before-and-after fixes from work emails.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/konglish-words-to-avoid-in-business-emails/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/konglish-words-to-avoid-in-business-emails/Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTFour English-looking words Korean speakers often use with a different meaning, what they mean to native readers, and what to write instead.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/common-comma-mistakes-in-business-writing/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/common-comma-mistakes-in-business-writing/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTComma rules that trip people up at work: lists, introductory phrases, which versus that, and joining two sentences, plus a quick pre-send check.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/writing-a-clear-request-email/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/writing-a-clear-request-email/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow to keep a request email polite and direct: a simple structure, the right level of directness, short sentences and closing lines that get replies.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/polite-ways-to-say-no-in-business-english/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/polite-ways-to-say-no-in-business-english/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHow to decline requests, meetings, and deadlines in English using softened language that stays clear, based on dictionary grammar guidance.https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/short-sentences-what-federal-plain-language-guidelines-recommend/https://howlane.com/english-writing-tips/short-sentences-what-federal-plain-language-guidelines-recommend/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhat official US plain language guidance says about sentence length and structure, with a word count comparison of a before and after rewrite.