Idioms

• An idiom is a word or expression that cannot be translated from one language into another.
  Example: Good neighbours always lend a hand when needed.

Biased language

• Biased language excludes people.
  Example: Ask your doctor any questions you may have about your medical condition. He will certainly be happy to help.

Noun chains

• Stringing nouns together creates complicated text. Examples:
  Buyer approach/avoidance expenditure patterns = buyers have trouble spending money.
  Information documentation production = producing information documents.

Pronouns

• Use the proper case of pronoun to clarify your meaning. For instance: who and whom and we and us. Who and we are subjects. Whom and us are objects.
  Example: “Who will ask for whom the bell tolls?”
• Use plural pronouns to avoid the awkward “he/she”.
  Example: “Customers...they” rather than “A customer…he/she”.
• Use you instead of “he, she or they” to involve readers.
• Address one person, not a group.

Verbs: singular or plural?

• The verb must agree in number with the subject.
• Find the verb (word expressing action or state of being), then ask “who” before the verb to find the subject. Do the subject and verb agree?
  Example: One of the musicians was chosen to represent the orchestra. Was chosen is the singular verb.
  Who was chosen? One. (Not musicians which is plural).