Make Your Writing Look More Professional

Make Your Writing Look More Professional: Participle Clauses

Writing these newsletters, I have provided an increasing number of students with skills to transform their Business English communication skills.

What do you think of the above sentence? Hopefully, you found it:

• Easy to understand

• Concise

• Quite formal

Wanting to transform your business writing from good to great, professionals turn to participle clauses (highlighted in bold text) as their secret communication weapon.

Understanding Participle Clauses

Participle clauses help you write more clearly and concisely. They are a way to combine ideas in a sentence, making your writing sound more professional and direct. Think of them as a smart technique to express more with fewer words.

A participle clause uses a participle (a verb form) to create a more dynamic and efficient sentence structure. There are two primary types:

1. Present Participle Clauses (-ing form of the verb)

We use present participle clauses to:

• Show actions happening at the same time

• Demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship

• Create a sense of flow in your writing

Examples:

2. Past Participle Clauses (-ed or irregular form)

We use past participle clauses to:

• Emphasize completed actions

• Highlight results or conditions

• Add a formal, professional tone

Examples:

How to Form Participle Clauses

Participle clauses are formed using two main types of participles: present participles (verb + -ing) and past participles (often verb + -ed but some verbs are irregular).

To create a participle clause, start with the participle form of the verb, then add the rest of the description. The key is to ensure that the subject of the participle clause relates clearly to the main clause.

Using "Having + Past Participle"

The structure "Having + past participle" is used to show that one action was completed before another action. It helps to clearly indicate the sequence of events in a sentence. This form is particularly useful in business writing when you want to emphasise the completion of a task before describing its result.

Examples:

• Having reviewed the quarterly reports, we identified key performance trends.

• Having negotiated the contract, the team felt confident about the agreement.

• Having launched the new product, the company saw immediate market interest.

Putting it into Practice

Let’s look at an email and see if we can improve it using participle clauses.

With participle clauses:

Common Pitfalls and Pro Tips

These are some potential mistakes that students can make:

1. Mismatched Subjects: Ensure the subject of the participle clause logically relates to the main clause.

   • Incorrect: "Being late for the meeting, the presentation was poorly received." Note: The presentation was not late for the meeting!

   • Correct: "Being late for the meeting, John disrupted the presentation." John was late for the meeting.

2. Overcomplication: Use participle clauses to simplify, not confuse.

   • Use sparingly and purposefully

   • Maintain clarity as your primary goal

When to Use Participle Clauses

Ideal Scenarios

• Reports and Analyses: Condensing complex information

• Executive Summaries: Creating concise, impactful statements

• Proposal Writing: Demonstrating cause-and-effect relationships

• Email Communications: Streamlining professional correspondence

Practical Application Exercise

Can you rewrite these sentences using participle clauses?

1. The company experienced significant growth. It invested heavily in research and development.

2. She completed the market research. She was feeling confident about the presentation.

3. The project team worked overtime. They wanted to meet the critical deadline.

Challenge: Write your corrections and check the answers below!

Identifying Your Priorities

Over the past two weeks, we've explored the importance of keeping a diary to track your activities and ensure you're spending your time wisely. This week, we will delve into a crucial aspect of effective time management: identifying your priorities.

The Challenge of New Year's Resolutions

Many people set New Year's resolutions as a way to establish their priorities for the year ahead. However, I have never found this approach effective. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Time for Reflection: I prefer to take my time - more than just a few days - to determine what truly matters for my future. In fact, I dedicate over a month each year to this process starting at the beginning of December.

2. Sustainability: New Year's resolutions rarely stick for me. What about you? Have you managed to stick with them for more than a few weeks or months?

Instead of rushing into resolutions, I use the weeks leading up to Christmas to reflect on my priorities for the coming year. Additionally, I spend a few hours each quarter assessing my progress and making adjustments, if necessary.

Understanding Priorities

It is important to differentiate between long-term priorities that can transform your life and immediate priorities such as preparing for an exam or finishing a report. You need to make time for both in your weekly schedule.

In the context of annual planning, a priority is not the next important task on your to-do list. It involves thinking about the bigger picture:

• What do you want your life to look like in 3, 5, or even 10 years?

• What steps do you need to take to achieve this vision?

• How much time will these steps require?

Using Myself as an Example

I have had four long-term priorities over the last 10 years, in addition to running my businesses. In no particular order:

• Learning how to teach business English

• Learning about managing my own investments

• Personal relationships - making time for family

• Health - making time for exercise

When I started teaching in 2014, I did a teacher training course in Rome (CELTA) followed by hours of study putting the ideas into practice.

Managing my investments is an ongoing process that never stops. I still dedicate numerous hours each week to learning about investing and the financial markets.

Personal relationships and health are non-negotiable aspects of my life that I must find time for every week and, ideally, daily.

What are your long-term priorities?

Consider exploring these key areas:

• Skills, knowledge and qualifications

• Relationships

• Health and fitness (including mental wellbeing)

• Financial knowledge and goals

Example: Setting an English Learning Priority

Let’s consider an example to illustrate this concept:

• Goal: In three years, I want to be eligible for executive positions.

• Requirement: To achieve this, I need to attain English proficiency at the C1 Advanced level.

• Current Level: I am currently at a B1 level and so I need to progress two levels within three years.

To reach my goal, I need to dedicate:

• 1 hour of formal study with a teacher each week

• 1 hour of self-study and online exercises each week

In this scenario, studying English becomes a clear priority requiring a time allocation of two hours per week.

Action Steps:

1. Identify Your Long-Term Priorities and Goals: Start by determining your most important objectives and long-term aspirations.

2. Allocate Time for Achievement: Assess how much time you can realistically dedicate to achieving your goals.

3. Review Your Activity Diary: Analyse your daily activities and identify any that are not contributing to your priorities.

4. Prioritise Tasks: Set both long-term and immediate priorities for the upcoming week.

5. Regular Progress Review: Schedule regular reviews of your progress every 3 months to stay on track.

6. Limit Long-Term Priorities: Consider limiting yourself to three or four long-term priorities to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Conclusion

Identifying your priorities is crucial for achieving long-term goals. By reflecting on what truly matters and allocating dedicated time to your priorities, you can ensure that you make meaningful progress toward your future.

Will you make a start this week?

Word of the Day: Sparingly

Sparingly - adverb - in small amounts or without wasting any

Participle Clause Answers:

1. Having invested heavily in research and development, the company experienced significant growth.

2. Having completed the market research, she was feeling confident about the presentation.

3. Wanting to meet the critical deadline, the project team worked overtime.

Do you have any Business English Questions?

Please email me and I will do my best to answer them in future newsletters.

Until next Wednesday - have a great week!

Iain.

www.communicateenglish.com