Write for Business - Blog

The word bound is another term that can have many different uses in English.

As a verb…
bound can mean

• tied or wrapped (past tense of bind).
  She bound her hair with a ribbon.
  The nurse bound the wound tightly.
• leap or bounce. 
  We watched the dog bound across the field.
  (The past tense of bound is bounded.)

As an adjective…
bound can mean

• connected or fastened.
  She was bound to her ailing sister by love and by guilt.
  Her long hair was bound with ribbons of red satin.
• headed for a destination.
  The train was Seattle bound.
• very likely.
  The storm was bound to hit soon.

As a noun…
bound can be

• a leap or a bounce.
  The victory put a bound in his step.
• a limit or a boundary (used in plural form).
  The action was outside the bounds of decency.

In idioms…
bound is frequently used in the following ways.

• Out of bounds points to a metaphorical limit.
  That line of questioning was out of bounds.
• Bound up, similar to caught up, indicates preoccupation.
  She was so bound up in the music that she didn't hear us arrive.

Conclusion
The more you immerse yourself in the English language, the more your writing will positively impact your readers. So take some time now and then to explore a dictionary or a thesaurus—just for fun. You're bound to enjoy it.

—Joyce Lee

Photo by Emery Way

Even simple English words can have several different meanings, table being a perfect example.

As a noun…
a table might be

• a piece of furniture with a flat surface supported by several legs or a pedestal, usually used for serving food or playing a game;
• any flat or level geographical feature, including a plateau or the level below which water wholly saturates the ground (a water table);
• an abbreviated list or an arrangement of related words or numbers in columns and rows, such as a table of contents in a book, a mathematical table displaying related data, or the periodic table of elements.

As a verb…
table is usually transitive, needing an object, and it has three separate meanings:

• to postpone discussion or consideration, as in The committee will table that proposal until the research results are finalized.
• to lay something on a table, as in Table your books so the staff can mop the floor.
• to enter in a list or table, as in After Dr. Ian tables his data, we can compare our findings.

As an adjective…
table describes whatever may be placed on a table:

• a table setting, for example, refers to a set of eating utensils for one person, and
• a table cover refers to a cloth placed over a table.

In idioms…
table appears in the following phrases:

• To turn the tables means "to cause a reversal that gains the advantage."
• Under the table has two meanings, the first being a secret transaction, as in They made the offer under the table, and the second describing inebriation, as in He drank his competitor under the table.
• On the table refers to an offer submitted for approval, as in Our proposal was on the table, awaiting the board's decision.

Conclusion
The simple word table, for its versatility, enriches the English language. What other such words can you think of?

—Joyce Becker Lee

Photo by dalbera

English contains many words that are used as different parts of speech, with different meanings. One such word is account, a term that often crops up in business and elsewhere.

As a noun…
account may mean

• a description, whether written or verbal: He gave an account of events that happened at the conference.
• a reason for one's actions: It was on that account that she decided to sign the contract.
• a financial tool, such as a checking or savings account in a bank, or a credit-card account.
• importance, often used in the negative to refer to something of low value: That detail is of no account.

As a verb…
account may be transitive (needing an object) or intransitive (not needing an object).

In the transitive form, the verb account may mean

• to analyze: After accounting the situation thoroughly, we will act.
• to consider: You should account yourself lucky to have escaped that situation.

In the intransitive form, account is usually followed by the preposition for, and may mean

• to cause: Her careful preparation accounted for much of our success.
• to provide a reason: He was asked to account for his extra hours.

In idioms…
account is often used in the following ways:

• The phrase on account of suggests a reason for something: On account of that embarrassing interview, I didn't get the job.
• Another phrase, hold to account, suggests blame or responsibility: She will hold to account anyone who arrives late.

Conclusion
As you can see, the word account can be applied in several different ways. Use the term carefully to ensure clear business communications.

—Joyce Lee

Photo by o5com

More than half of the U.S. workforce will be independent by 2020, according to a forecast by consulting firm MBO Partners. That's 70 million people, compared to a reported 16 million today. Members of this expanding independent workforce include

• people with fixed-term contracts,
• freelance consultants,
• people working through temp agencies,
• on-call workers, and
• business owners with fewer than five employees.

Nor is this increasing shift simply a matter of a depressed economy. Among those currently independent, the vast majority say they intend to stay so.

The 2020 forecast makes four further predictions:

1. The future workforce will reflect a "growing demand for experts and seasoned skilled workers," including people aged 55 and up, who are moving their on-the-job knowledge to independent careers.
2. "Independence [will be] fueled as new social communities and collaborative technologies continue to rise."
3. State and federal governments will respond with "increased regulation and tighter enforcement" of labor laws.
4. "Independent workers will require a 'passport for independence'" to carry benefits such as retirement and healthcare from project to project, employer to employer.

Seasoned Skills
Obviously, one of the "seasoned skills" mentioned is clear communication, especially given increased "social communities and collaborative technologies." Writing skills will be especially valuable. While increased bandwidth and interconnectedness will certainly improve videoconferencing, scheduling meetings won't be any easier (especially across time zones). Nor will need for textual documentation decrease.

As people use cloud computing and shared applications more extensively—working on project documents at whatever time best fits their schedule—they'll undoubtedly leave notes for one another, connecting in real time only for brainstorming or clarification. Naturally, the better the written communication, the less the need for clarification.

Implications for Individuals
Implications for individual workers are clear: Learn to communicate well, including in writing, and adapt to evolving technologies.

Implications for Businesses
Businesses will also need to prepare, of course. Beyond putting new technologies in place, they'll need to establish best practices for communicating with this independent workforce. Some of their own full-time employees may become independent contractors, so training invested in them will pay off in the long run.

As Ben Cashnocha points out in "When Talent Can Easily Find New Opportunity, How Do You Retain Talent?" by fostering employee skills—even knowing those employees may then move on—companies encourage an alumni spirit, create goodwill ambassadors, and expand their own business connections. Weigh the cost of training against these benefits, together with the reduced overhead of a smaller office, and the equation looks pretty simple.

Conclusion
This then is a glimpse at the working world of the near future. The Information Age is truly dawning. It's an era of networking and communication. Are you ready?

—Lester Smith

Photo by Ross Angus

In our increasingly interconnected world, English plays a dramatic role in business. Consequently, it pays to recognize that many English words can serve as different parts of speech, often with very different meanings. One such example is the word counter.

As a noun…
counter is commonly used in the following ways (among others):

• a flat marker used in games
• a long, level surface where transactions are conducted (e.g., a display counter) or where food and drink are prepared or served (as opposed to a table, which is generally lower and not as long)
• a person or device that counts
• a stiffener around or within the heel area of the upper part of a shoe

As a verb…
counter is typically used in one of the following ways:

• to oppose (as in working against a current trend)
• to defend or react (as in a debate or in the game of chess)

As an adjective, adverb, or prefix…
counter conveys negation, opposition, or reverse action, as in these examples:

• The results were counter to expectations. (predicate adjective)
• Jeeves acted counter to my express wishes. (adverb)
• We added a counterbalance to even the scales. (prefix)

In idioms…
counter can be used to indicate the sale of nonprescription drugs (over-the-counter medications) or a secret, perhaps illegal transaction (payment under the counter).

Conclusion
For both native English speakers and for those who use English as a second language, being aware that a single word can convey many meanings is helpful—especially as we strive for clear communication within a global business community.

—Joyce Lee

Photo by Thomas Bresson