All of a Sudden or All of the Sudden—Which is Correct?

All of a sudden is an idiom that is a more poetic way of saying “suddenly.” A common mistake to make, especially for English learners, is to write all the sudden or all of the sudden. On a sudden is a historic but outmoded variant. Currently, all of a sudden is the only accepted usage.

Is It “All of a Sudden” or “All of the Sudden”?

Although all of the sudden has been used in centuries past, all of a sudden is the phrasing that eventually stuck. Perhaps it is because Shakespeare used of a sudden in The Taming of the Shrew in 1594, and centuries of grammarians couldn’t help but side with The Bard:

Tranio:

I pray, sir, tell me, is it possible That love should of a sudden take such hold?

Some say that on a sudden is an archaic Scottish variant, but consider that London-born Daniel Defoe used it in Robinson Crusoe in 1719.

My crop promised very well, when on a sudden I found I was in danger of losing it all again.

Whatever the evolutionary path of this phrase may have been, the only accepted use of it is all of a sudden. You may hear all of the sudden occasionally in informal speech, but don’t let it creep into your writing, since there is no need to attract the disdain of grammar lovers.

Rover had been quiet for hours when all of the sudden, he launched into a frenzy of barking.

Rover had been quiet for hours when all of a sudden, he launched into a frenzy of barking.

The favored horse looked like a sure win until all of the sudden, a dark horse from the back of the pack started gaining.

The favored horse looked like a sure win until all of a sudden, a dark horse from the back of the pack started gaining.

All of a sudden could be replaced with the adverb suddenly in both of these sentences and they would retain their original meaning.

Rover had been quiet for hours when suddenly, he launched into a frenzy of barking.

The favored horse looked like a sure win until suddenly, a dark horse from the back of the pack started gaining.

Why all became part of the phrase is difficult to say. Perhaps it is meant to underscore how completely sudden an occurrence is instead of being just a fraction of completely sudden, and therefore somewhat expected. Idioms are mysterious that way.

Of course, all of the sudden could be called for in a sentence under certain circumstances and be the correct phrase. It just shouldn’t be used to mean “suddenly.”

All of the sudden moves Bruce Lee made thrilled his moviegoing fans.

A small minority of people may use all of the sudden habitually to mean “suddenly,” and you might be tempted to use it if you are used to hearing it but you don’t. If you revert to it conversationally, no big deal—just be sure to edit it out of your writing.

What Is Plain Language? 5 Ways to Overcome Workplace Jargon

If your work consists largely of moving words around on a screen, being understood is essential. At no time is this more evident than when workplace communications fail.

Say your team has been coordinating a crucial media announcement for weeks. You’ve gathered input from scientists and software developers at your company to clarify the details of your message, you’ve run the language past your boss and a company lawyer—you’ve even sat down with an executive to make sure your tone is on brand.

That’s when the bombshell drops: somehow, parts of the story have leaked early. A journalist is calling—asking to interview your boss’s boss. Maybe that person is on the road. Maybe your boss has been preoccupied with high-level issues and delegated the details of the project to you. As your panic escalates, you notice this final dagger—an email from your company’s D.C. office that makes absolutely no sense to your bleary, uncaffeinated eyes:

“Hey there, WaPo is looking to intvw c-suite rn re rollout. Cheryl has the bug, can you grab? A quick statement would be clutch.”

Argh. When communication breakdowns happen, they can be devastating for you, your clients, and your team. While it’s fun to tinker with language, invent creative slang, and show off your wonkery with jargon, sometimes the best way to get things done is by using straightforward, plain language.

Here’s how to make sure your writing is easy to understand.

1Avoid jargon and strange abbreviations

Every specialty has unique terminology that separates insiders from the general public, but this separation leads to trouble when you need to communicate broadly. That’s true for emergency responders trying to coordinate with other departments that use different radio codes, and for military officials briefing the press on an upcoming deployment, as in this example:

General: “Our unit will rotate back in approximately seven months.”

Reporter: “Will that be enough time for the troops to rest?”

General: “We believe BOG-time will be sufficient.”

What the general means is yes, but he uses a term that most civilians have to look up; in this context, BOG is short for boots on ground. Unfortunately, the reporter probably can’t use this quote in her story without some added explanation.

2Try paraphrasing

When you spot a clunky turn of phrase in your draft, look for a more conversational alternative. In the above examples, you could just as well substitute rest time instead of BOG for the weary troops, as well as executive in lieu of c-suite, and is sick in lieu of has the bug.

While we’re at it, we might swap out the rarefied lieu in that last sentence for the more plainspoken in place of.

3Ask the experts to simplify

Whether you’re getting input from an engineer or a financial guru, you may find yourself searching for a delicate way to ask them to be, er, um, less technical. The quick-witted reporter in the above scenario might broach it with this followup: “For people in our audience who aren’t familiar, what is BOG-time and why is it important?”

Science writers use this tactic constantly with academics, asking them to distill the complexities of their research as they might when speaking to a bright but easily distracted fourth-grader.

It’s a sentiment echoed in a memorable scene from the 2011 film Margin Call, in which the CEO of an investment bank on the verge of collapse deadpans to a young analyst, “Speak as you might to a young child—or a golden retriever.”

4Don’t act like you know

Small misunderstandings have a way of compounding, if you let them.

It can be strange to ask people for clarification, especially if you feel expected to already understand what they’re talking about in full. In this situation, it’s worth remembering that if you’d mastered the subject perfectly, then discussing it further would only be a waste of breath. In other words, asking questions shows people you respect their time.

Also, putting such questions off for later won’t help, and may even set back your efforts, so it’s best to get it over with. You may be surprised: folks tend to value feeling well understood, so they may appreciate your questions more than you’d guess.

5What would George Orwell do?

The need to simplify convoluted language has been evident for decades. George Orwell hammered on it in his 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language” (PDF).

Some key takeaways can be summarized as follows: Don’t use played-out turns of phrase, the passive voice, or overly long, arcane, or unnecessary words. But Orwell’s final rule also acknowledges that it’s possible to go too far in pursuit of simplicity.

Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

While it’s tempting to substitute a plainer word there at the end, like awkward, editing Orwell would be outright barbarous. We’ll let it stand.

10 Words and Phrases to Never, Ever Use at Work

Every industry has its jargon. But some words and phrases can be unclear, unnecessary, or even offensive. Maybe some of these are phrases you like building into your business vocab, but use them with caution. If you’re going to offend or annoy someone, or if there’s a clearer way to say something, why not go the easy way?

Our little caveat: every office has different protocol. If you’re buddies with your coworkers, it’s not so strange to talk to them about personal issues. And if you’re in the thick of the consulting, tech, or business world, you might feel inclined to use the lingo and play along. But the joy of language is that there’s always another way to phrase something.

1 “Assume”

We’ve all heard it: “When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.” Cute. But even if the catchphrase earns your eye-roll, it’s a good point: don’t accept something to be the case without proof. For example:

“I assume you finished the report?” “I assumed Bob would run that part of the presentation.” “I assume you’ll be working on Saturday?”

From a boss, “assume” is a passive-aggressive way to show authority. From an underling, it looks like ducking responsibility. In both cases, there are ways to make your point without making an ass out of you and me.

2 “Like”

“I like these doughnuts” is fair game. But avoid using “like,” “um,” “sort of,” “basically,” and other weasel words that fill dead air. They make you sound less confident and can even sort of give the impression that you basically don’t know what you’re, like, talking about.

See what we mean?

3 “We made a $400K offer”

Or, “I finally got that $10K raise,” or even “I’ve never eaten there because it’s too expensive.” Good rule of thumb: avoid stating the amount of money you make or the pile of dough you spent on your trip to Iceland. If someone makes a lot more or a lot less than you, it could lead to awkwardness.

4 “Open the kimono”

Some business folk use this to mean “reveal information,” but it doesn’t necessarily come across that way. It’s a good idea to steer clear of words that could be misinterpreted or cause offense, even if they’re not meant that way.

5 “Hey, man”

Not everyone who works is a man, and even seemingly innocent phrases like “Hey, man” or “What’s up, dude,” when used between people who identify as men, can create an environment of exclusion. Nicknames in general can help build a bond of casual camaraderie—but when that bond is based on being the same sex, that means anyone who doesn’t fall under the category of “man” or “dude” is excluded from the camaraderie.

Most people who use these phrases aren’t being exclusive on purpose. But by calling out a connection based on something that other people in the office don’t share, these “dudes” might be making it harder for women to build the connections that will get them ahead.

6 “Let’s talk that”

“Talk about it”? “Discuss it”? “Have a meaningful and productive dialogue about the issue and its repercussions”?

Here’s why Grammarly doesn’t like this phrase: “talk” is not traditionally a transitive verb because it doesn’t take a direct object. You can talk about something, but that’s an intransitive verb with a prepositional phrase: a very different category.

While phrases like “we can talk it out” or “let’s talk things through” have shown the potential for talk to take on transitive qualities, “let’s talk that” is a step too far.

7 “That was a fail”

If you’re pointing out someone else’s mistake, you seem blaming and harsh; if you’re talking about your own, you risk undermining your coworkers’ sense of your abilities.

Here’s how to turn it around: if you messed up, find a task too tough, or aren’t sure how to address a problem, don’t start in with “I can’t,” “it’s hard,” or “I failed.” Find someone to ask for help and tell them what the problem is, what you’ve tried so far, and what you need to know or do to fix it.

On the flip side, some companies love talking about failures as opportunities for learning and growth. If you work in an environment brimming with that kind of positivity, kudos. But no matter whether your company embraces the word “failure” or avoids it like the plague, same idea goes: focus on next steps and ways to learn moving forward, not on who’s to blame.

8 “She was in labor for 20 hours”

Everyone loves kids, right? Sure, once they’re out and about in the world. The details of your experience are better kept to yourself. When it comes to labor, keep it to the kind you do with your coworkers in the office Monday to Friday.

9 “Over the wall”

In business, “throw it over the wall” can be translated as “send it to the client.” This is one of the cases where jargon gets in the way of clarity—and that can, in turn, lead to things not getting done. If you want to be understood, this is a phrase you can throw over the wall—as in, get rid of it.

10 “Think outside the box”

If your goal in the office is to think outside the box, why not do the same with your well-worn clichés? There’s nothing really wrong with this phrase, but it’s been used so many times that we dare you to find new ways to express the idea. You can keep it simple, like “innovate,” “find unusual solutions,” or even “come up with creative ideas,” or you can invent something totally new like “think one galaxy over.” (Though if you’re going for clarity, you might want to stick to “brainstorm.”)

Either way, if you’re trying to find creative solutions at work, you might as well think outside the box in how you use language, too.

Here’s How to Send the Perfect Farewell Message to Colleagues

If you’re leaving your job, you will need to tie up lots of loose ends. Leaving a positive impression on your colleagues is vital. How do you gracefully notify colleagues of your departure? Let’s talk about the perfect farewell message.

The Perfect Timing

Sending farewell messages too early is a bad idea. People will inevitably stop by your office to wish you well face-to-face, and that could interfere with finishing up your last work tasks. After coworkers have said their goodbyes, they may feel awkward when they see you lurking about for another week. On the other hand, if you wait until the last minute, they may not have time to say a proper farewell. When is the best time? A day or two before your last day, when you’ve completed the majority of your duties, is a fitting time to send out a parting email. Then, when your fellow workers bid you farewell, you’ll have a chance to spend a few moments with each one on a personal basis.

The Perfect Words

What should you say in a farewell message? It will set the tone for your entire departure, so it’s essential to get it right. Of course, you’re excited about your future, but harping on how prestigious or lucrative your next position is may create jealousy. However, if you sound bummed about leaving, you will give the impression that your next job is (or will be) a dud. Aim for balance. Tell your workmates where you’re heading, but make the focus of the letter about them. You might express gratitude for individuals who helped to train you, reflect on some of your team’s greatest achievements, and make everyone laugh with an amusing anecdote. Close with a few words of fun advice, such as a quote from a respected expert in your field.

Don’t Forget

For networking purposes, include several ways to contact you. For example, you can include a link to your LinkedIn page, a phone number, and an email address. (You’ll probably lose access to work emails and phone numbers, so personal contact information is best.) If you don’t have your next position lined up already, ask some key players if you can use them as references.

Keep It Short and Sweet

How long should a farewell letter or email be? Do you groan when an extremely long work email shows up in your inbox? Have some empathy! A brief, friendly note will bring feelings of appreciation rather than disgruntled sighs. However, you do want to say enough that your message doesn’t sound flippant. In other words, “See ya!” isn’t thoughtful enough to create the positive vibes you’re aiming for.

An Example Farewell

Whether you send individual or group goodbyes, you can follow the same basic template.

Subject Line: I Bid Thee Well

Adieu to you and you and you,

That line worked for the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music, so I thought I would borrow it to say goodbye to you, my fellows at La Compania.

These past seven years, first as an intern and later as a data scientist, have been fun and challenging. I will always remember when our team won the city baseball tournament! Each time I watch the highlights of that game, especially when Baxter hit that epic home run, I will remember you all with fondness.

My last day will be Wednesday, August 4th. And if I can leave one thought with you, I’d like to borrow the words of James Governor: “Data matures like wine.” I look forward to what we will all accomplish given a few years. I’d love to stay in touch. My contact details are below.

Best Wishes,

Lyn Giles

(555) 555-5555

LynGiles@emails.com

www.linkedin.com/in/LynXGiles

What To Do After Your Letter Is Sent

Don’t forget that actions speak louder than words. Besides writing a nice letter, you want to leave a positive impression with the coworkers you’ll be leaving and the new one who will replace you. Why not spend a moment on your last day to reflect on your work space? How should it look for the next person? After all, your working area says a lot about you and your feelings for the company. Make sure your desk is tidy. Remove all personal items from your work computer and the work space. If you want to go the extra mile, leave a note for your successor to welcome them and give helpful hints so they can jump right into the swing of things.

Leaving a favorable impression when you leave a job is an important loose end to tie. Give high priority to writing a brief, upbeat farewell letter for your colleagues. If you let your colleagues know about your departure gracefully, your transition will be smooth.

Bad vs. Badly—What’s the Difference?

Misusing bad and badly is a common grammatical mistake. The word bad is an adjective and should be used to modify nouns and pronouns. Badly, like most words ending in -ly, is an adverb and is used to modify verbs. The thing that trips most people up is that linking verbs such a to be and to feel take adjectives rather than adverbs.

Why do people use bad and badly incorrectly so often in their writing? The simple answer is that we hear them misused frequently in casual talk. The good news is you can easily determine which to use in your writing by looking at the function of the word bad/badly is describing.

Let’s say, for example, your friend Amanda has just taken a test and you find out that she has not done well on it. The test is something she has done, and to do is an action verb. So it would be appropriate to use an adverb ending in -ly to describe how she has done . . . and unfortunately for Amanda, it is badly.

She did badly on the test.

What would this sentence sound like if bad were used instead?

She did bad on the test.

That expression might occur in casual speech sometimes, but it has no place in good writing.

The tricky part is that if we word our sentence about Amanda’s test experience just a little differently, bad actually can become the correct word to use.

That was a bad test for Amanda.

In this sentence, bad is used because it is an adjective modifying the noun test. If a noun—a person, place, or thing—is what is being described as “not good,” we use the word bad.

This is a bad restaurant.

Mrs. Grumpsalot is a bad teacher.

Bad dog!

If you rewrote these sentences so that verbs were being modified (describing how the verbs were being done), we would use badly instead.

This restaurant cooks badly.

Mrs. Grumpsalot teaches badly.

My dog behaves badly.

An Exception: Linking Verbs

Linking verbs such as to be and to feel can be used with adjectives because they describe a state rather than an action.

My dog is badly.

My dog is bad.

.

Other linking verbs are sense verbs such as feel, seem, look, appear, smell, taste, and sound.

My dog smells bad.

My dog smells badly.

The only circumstance under which the second sentence could be deemed correct is an unlikely one: My dog, due to some kind of infirmity or injury, has a reduced ability to smell.

I feel bad.

I feel badly.

Again, it is far more likely that what you want to express is the negative emotional or physical state you are in (I feel bad). It is possible, but unlikely, that you are trying to describe that you aren’t very successful at reaching out and feeling the things around you (I feel badly).

Commas in Complex Sentences

Complex sentences are sentences that have two clauses. There can be two independent clauses (each having a subject and predicate), or an independent clause and dependent clause (missing a subject or predicate). Whether a comma is used between them depends on the types and positions of the clauses.

An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own as a sentence.

I have a cat.

It has a nasty temper.

Often, two independent clauses can be joined with a conjunction, such as and, but, or, so, yet, or any other conjunction. A comma is placed right before the conjunction in this type of complex sentence.

I have a cat, but it has a nasty temper.

Although you may have learned in school that you should never, on pain of death, place commas before words like and, this is a myth.

It is important to include a conjunction in the complex sentence above because without it, you will have committed a punctuation error often referred to as a comma splice.

I have a cat, it has a nasty temper.

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand as a sentence in its own right, such as before I left the parking lot. When a complex sentence contains a dependent clause like this one, a comma is not used unless the dependent clause comes before the independent clause.

Before I left the parking lot, I checked to make sure my groceries were in the trunk.

If the positions of the clauses were reversed, with the independent clause first, there would be no comma in the sentence.

I checked to see if my groceries were in the trunk before I left the parking lot.

Unnecessary Commas in Complex Sentences

Generally, if the dependent clause comes second in a complex sentence, a comma is not used.

I need to do the shopping, because there is nothing to eat in the house.

I need to do the shopping because there is nothing to eat in the house.

The second clause, because there is nothing to eat in the house, is dependent; there is no need to use a comma between the two clauses.

It makes no sense to study Advanced Pure Math, if the student will not use the math at a later date.

It makes no sense to study Advanced Pure Math if the student will not use the math at a later date.

If the student will not use the math at a later date, it makes no sense to study Advanced Pure Math.

In the last example, the dependent clause was used before the independent clause, so a comma was placed in this complex sentence.

I’ll put the book down and sleep, when I can no longer keep my eyes open.

This sentence contains an unnecessary comma.

I’ll put the book down and sleep when I can no longer keep my eyes open.

Exception: If the sentence is confusing or ambiguous without a comma, one may be used for purposes of clarity.

Louise didn’t call Jeff because she was angry.

There are two ways to interpret this sentence. One possibility is that Louise did call Jeff, and her reason for calling was not that she was angry. The other possibility is that Louise did not call Jeff, and the reason she didn’t call is that she was angry. A comma removes the ambiguity.

Louise didn’t call Jeff, because she was angry.

10 Expert Résumé Tips You Need to Land the Interview

Submitting your application and waiting for a response from employers can be an excruciating process. Especially when you’re not hearing back and wondering if something’s amiss with your résumé. These ten expert tips will help you freshen up your résumé so you can land the interview.

1 Modernize Your Résumé

It’s 2017, and we’re in a job seeker’s market. Employers are competing for top candidates. More than 60% of employers are investing in their company career sites and working on improving employer branding to attract you. It’s time to do some in-house improvements and modernize your résumé. Consider creating a visually engaging résumé that incorporates color, graphics, borders, and call-out boxes that really draw the reader’s attention to important metrics and figures. If you need inspiration, check out these visually engaging 2017 résumé samples.

2 Culture Fit Is the New “It” Thing

Having values and goals that mesh with those of the company you’re applying for makes you a cultural fit. Although we hear the term thrown around all the time now, you rarely hear it mentioned when it comes to résumé writing. Yet, 60 percent of recruiters in the 2016 JobVite Recruiter Nation Survey said the job seeker’s résumé was of high importance in their hiring decision. Your résumé is the perfect place to set the stage for showing that you’re a great culture fit for their organization. Values, beliefs, motivation, management style, and communication style are all attributes that employers use to evaluate culture fit, so bring these up in your résumé.

3 Include Your LinkedIn URL

Include your LinkedIn profile URL at the top of the résumé next to your contact information. If you’re using a networking résumé and not applying via an applicant tracking system (ATS), hyperlink the URL so the hiring manager can go right to your profile. If you’re creating an ATS-optimized résumé don’t hyperlink the profile URL because it will cause some systems to toss the résumé out as spam. Some 87 percent of recruiters report using LinkedIn first when it comes to searching for qualified candidates, so this needs to be the first place you direct the employer to so that they can learn more about your accomplishments and evaluate your culture fit for their company.

Here’s a tip: Before you direct hiring managers to your LinkedIn profile, make sure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors in it. According to Jobvite’s survey, 72 percent of employers view typos negatively, and it will affect their decision to interview or hire.

4 Use a Snapshot

Instead of using the top portion of your résumé to provide the employer with a generalized summary of your career history, give them a snapshot of your achievements. Numbers speak volumes. It’s hard to argue with metrics because they show the value you create for the employer. Create a quick snapshot of your key career highlights, biggest successes/results, awards, and top value created. Here’s an example.

5 Remove Filler Words

People love to use filler words when writing résumés, but they don’t really offer any insight into what sets a person apart as a top candidate. Words that would be considered filler include: accomplished, professional, results, or success. What represents success for a financial manager is completely different from what it would be for a project manager. Use job titles instead of the word professional, and explain results, successes, and accomplishments using percentages, dollars, or other metrics.

6 Get Rid of Slow Windups

It’s also a good idea to delete the slow windups that we so often find in résumés. Examples of these include:

• History of implementing …
• Hands-on knowledge and understanding of …
• Master at building, growing, and managing …

Instead say:

• Implemented or Implements …
• Software development: Lean, Agile, scrum, mobile architecture …
• Builds, grows, and manages …

7 Experience Comes First

Applicable experience is still the priority when employers review your résumé. Ensure that your résumé includes your most relevant experience for the position you’re applying to. Here are some pointers to help you:

• Determine which experience is most important to the position. Put this information first in each section of your résumé.
• Put the experience you have that is most related to the position in your career snapshot at the top of your résumé.
• Include related accomplishments and experience as bullets; list them first in your career history.
• Select keywords that connect to the experience the employer is seeking and list them at the top of your résumé.
• Quantify when possible, and share examples using challenge, action, result statements.

8 Consider Using Two Different Résumés

I always advise my clients to diversify their job search and not invest all their job search time on job boards. However, if the bulk of your job search is consisting of applying online, I recommend having a modern, visually engaging résumé that is ATS-optimized. You can use one version to get through the applicant tracking system and the other when networking, sending your résumé to someone via email, or tapping into the hidden job market. This way, you can cover both bases—getting past ATS and also catching the eye of the recruiter.

9 Follow Up

In the 2016 Recruiter Nation Survey, 59 percent of recruiters reported that they keep in touch with candidates after they apply. Recruiters want to build their talent pools so that they’ll have great candidates they can reach out to as new opportunities land on their desk. The majority of candidates will never follow up with a recruiter, so it’s to your advantage to do so.

10 Include the Right Soft Skills

Soft skills are personality descriptors that come from your character, values, attitude, and communication skills. LinkedIn’s recent 2017 Global Trends Survey revealed that 35 percent of recruiters stated soft skills assessment will be a leading factor affecting future recruiting trends. Employers are searching for ways to assess soft skills, so it’s important to talk about them on your résumé. I’m not talking about the overused phrases such as “excellent communication” or “team player” either. I recommend you incorporate the related keyword within the context of an accomplishment that demonstrates that soft skill. Here’s an example:

Recovered $2,000,000 missing revenue through attention to detail and meticulous review of 350 customer accounts.

“Attention to detail” and “meticulous” are soft skills, but possessing them enabled this candidate to locate a critical error and recover $2 million in missing revenue. Without her attention to detail, she would have overlooked the hidden error. You can do the same with any soft skill that you possess—simply insert the soft skill within the context of the accomplishment. As you sit down to freshen up your résumé and embark on your job search, consider the tips above to ensure your résumé receives a great response.

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About the Author: Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is President and CEO of Great Resumes Fast, a Certified Social Branding Analyst, and 10-time award-winning executive resume writer. She was named 2017’s Best Resume Writer. You can find her at greatresumesfast.com.