8 More Wondrous Winter Idioms

Feeling under the weather? Walking on thin ice with your vocabulary variety? These idioms will have a snowball effect on your language use this winter. And they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

Take a chill pill

If you’re going to tell someone to calm down, why not do it in rhyme? “Chill” means a feeling of coldness, as in, “there was a chill in the air.” Sometime in recent decades, probably the 1970s, the word also came to mean “relax”—just imagine a hippie flower child flashing a peace sign and saying “Chill out, dude.”

Eventually, “Take a chill pill” emerged. It might have shown up in the early days of ADD and ADHD medications like Ritalin, which were designed to calm hyperactive folks and therefore very logically dubbed “chill pills.” Other sources attribute the origin of the phrase to 1990s slang, specifically, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you’re stressed about the actual origin, we’ve got one thing to say: take a chill pill.

Cold shoulder

If Cher turns her back on Dion, Dion will see Cher’s shoulder. And the act shows dismissal or indifference to Dion, so it’s pretty unfriendly, or “cold.” Boom: an idiom is born.

Some unsavory sources claim that a custom back in Shakespearean times was to serve unwelcome guests a “cold shoulder of mutton”—i.e., not the tastiest meal, and a hard-to-miss sign of “would you be so kind as to get out. Now.” But etymologists are chilly on that origin, tending to favor reports that Scottish author Sir Walter Scott coined the phrase “cauld shouther” in 1816. With that literary proof, you can turn a cold shoulder on the meat story.

Cold turkey

Let’s say you love turkey. You eat it all the time. Then, the doctor tells you it’s bad for you. You better stop eating it—right away. Really? You can’t just slowly ease off it, eating a little less turkey each day until you’re down to none? NO. No more turkey for you.

That’s called “going cold turkey”: abruptly stopping a habit that’s bad for you. People often use this term when they talk about ways to stop smoking or taking a drug, but you can also use it when you’re talking about diet or other habits. The phrase may come from addiction doctors in the 1970s, noting the “cold, clammy feel of the skin during withdrawal,” while its earlier uses (back to the 1800s) have to do with straightforward talk or a sudden occurrence.

(Note: Grammarly is not licensed to give medical opinions about turkey.)

Under the weather

Weather can be nice and sunny or cloudy and miserable. In the case of this idiom, the idea is the latter. If you’re under a raincloud, chances are you’re not going to feel 100% healthy, happy, and ready to party. So if you’re feeling sick, “under the weather” is a way to say so.

If you ever forget, just visualize getting followed around by a raincloud. That should remind you to feel sick. Etymologists believe that the first folks to say it were probably sailors in the 1800s. If you’re feeling sniffly, consider yourself lucky you’re not also on a ship at sea.

In cold blood

“In cold blood” means without mercy or emotion, suggesting that a cruel act was committed in a calculated, unfeeling way. It’s usually used pretty violently: “The victim was murdered in cold blood,” or “Darth Vader killed Obi-Wan in cold blood.”

Etymologists trace the idea to the 1700s or even 1500s. Medicine back then wasn’t exactly what it is now, so people thought that blood got hot in the heat of passion. Therefore, to do something dispassionately was to act “in cold blood.”

If you go on a diet cold turkey, you might feel like you did this to yourself in cold blood. It’s just that painful.

Snowball effect

If something has a snowball effect, that means it might start out small, but keeps growing in importance. Just picture it: a snowball is rolling down a snowy hill, and as it rolls, it gathers more and more snow, getting bigger and bigger. Next thing you know, you’re running from an avalanche.

While an avalanche is usually bad, a snowball effect can be a bad thing or a good thing. You buy an Xbox, and then a trip to Cancun, and then a car, and then go into debt: that string of purchases has a snowball effect on your finances. Bad. One black woman becomes an engineer, and she paves the way for other minorities to get similar jobs, and that creates a snowball effect that leads to equality in the workplace. Good. (Also the plot of Hidden Figures). One person protests a government, the government arrests him, then more people protest, and back and forth until the government makes reforms or gets overthrown. Could be bad or good, depending on the government. But either way, that first person started a snowball effect.

When hell freezes over

Most notions of hell are that it’s a pretty hot place to be. So the chances that it would freeze there? Pretty much zero. “When hell freezes over” is basically a way to say “never.” There are variations on the “freezing in hell” phrase, too. Here are examples of each: “I suppose you think you can go on living on [the Union] till hell freezes over.” —Guy Wetmore Carryl, The Lieutenant-Governor (the first-recorded use of the phrase was in this book in 1903) “My first writing teacher told me it would be a cold day in hell if I ever won a National Board of Review award.” –Terence Winter (writer of The Wolf of Wall Street) “I don’t think the president’s plan has a snowball’s chance in hell of succeeding.” —General James Conway

Walking on thin ice

Again, this one gives a pretty clear mental picture: you go for a walk on a lake that’s iced over, but if the ice isn’t very thick, you might crack it and fall to a shivery doom. It’s a metaphor for being in a situation that might be dangerous or lead to negative consequences. If a kid is whining a lot and refusing to go to bed, her parents might tell her, “you’re on thin ice.” If an employee has been late to work every day for two weeks and is caught asleep at his desk, he’s probably walking on thin ice with his boss. Variations include “treading on thin ice,” “skating on thin ice,” or just “on thin ice.” The idiom’s first recorded use was in 1841: “In skating over thin ice our safety is in our speed.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson, Prudence

The tip of the iceberg

Less than 10 percent of an iceberg’s mass shows up above the water’s surface. That’s why they spell disaster for a fair number of ships, including the famous, Oscar-winning Titanic, which had an accident with the mass that was lurking below. As an idiom, “tip of the iceberg” means a small or visible part of a much bigger issue, and it usually has a negative connotation. For example: Sherlock finds the first clue to a murder, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg in unraveling a grand conspiracy. A classroom is using outdated textbooks because the school can’t afford new editions. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg where funding for education is concerned. On a brighter note, in the musical words of the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma: “I’ve always thought the sound that you make is just the tip of the iceberg, like the person that you see physically is just the tip of the iceberg as well.” That may just be the tip of the iceberg where winter idioms are concerned, but now if you’re put on the spot for a frigid phrase, you’ll have more than a snowball’s chance in hell.

Grammarly Is Now Available for Microsoft Edge 15+

As previously hinted during the recent Microsoft Edge Summit, Grammarly has, in fact, made its way to Microsoft Edge 15+.

Grammarly’s browser extension for Edge will make sure your messages, documents, and social media posts are clear, mistake-free, and impactful. Adding Grammarly to Microsoft Edge means that your spelling and grammar will be vetted on Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr, and nearly everywhere else you write on the web.

Once you register your new account, you will start to receive weekly emails with personalized insights and performance stats (one of our most popular new features). Working on a large project, an essay, or a blog post? No sweat. You can create and store all of your documents in your new online editor.

“Our goal is to help you write everywhere you want to work,” said Grammarly product manager Nicholas Stanford. “Support for Microsoft Edge was a top requested feature from our users. Our users on Microsoft Edge can now bring Grammarly with them.”

Why you should download Grammarly for Microsoft Edge:

Contextual spelling checker

Grammarly detects correctly spelled words used in the wrong context. You can stop worrying about misusing homophones like lose/loose, affect/effect, lie/lay, there/their/they’re, and many other commonly confused words.

Grammar checker

Grammarly can fix hundreds of complex grammatical errors, including problems with subject-verb agreement, article use, and modifier placement, to name just a few.

Trusted by millions of users

Grammarly is trusted by students, writers, business professionals, bloggers, and plenty of people who just want to write better. Grammarly adapts to your needs and writing style, giving you the confidence of mistake-free communication every time you write.

Grammarly Premium

If you want to supercharge your writing performance and leave no error unchecked, Grammarly Premium is your answer. Here’s what you can do with Premium:

• Check for over a hundred additional types of errors
• Get vocabulary enhancement suggestions
• Detect plagiarism and get citation suggestions
• Get suggestions for different writing styles, including academic, technical, and creative

5 Basic Proofreading Habits for a More Productive 2018

Well, here we are, a new year and a clean slate. That’s great news, particularly if you’re still holding onto some embarrassment about an ill-timed typo or grammar gaffe you may have committed in 2017. Fear not! Things can be different in 2018, especially if you commit yourself to developing these five proofreading habits.

1 Make a list of your personal bugaboos.

What trips you up? Maybe you always second-guess yourself about the spelling of acknowledgment. Or maybe you accidentally type the wrong homophone when you’re in a hurry. Perhaps you can never quite remember whether or not to use a comma before and.

Start a list of things you have trouble with and include the correct spellings, rules, definitions, etc. Make sure to keep your list somewhere visible. When you have easy access to the answers, you’re more likely to double-check what you’re writing. And, after a while, you may just find that these snags don’t really trip you up the way they used to.

2 Read it. Wait a minute. Then read it again.

You probably know about this one already, but you may not always do it: before you hit send, go back and read what you just wrote. Check for obvious typos. Make sure no words are missing. Run spell-check.

If you can, walk away and do something else for a little while. Then come back and read it again. The more time that passes between writing and proofreading, the better you’ll be at spotting mistakes your brain skipped over the first time through.

By the way, there’s no shame in tracking the words with your finger when you go back to edit. There’s a reason kids are taught to point at each word when they’re learning to read. Finger tracking forces you to slow down and actually look at each word instead of just scanning for big words and filling in the rest by guesswork and assumption.

3 Read backward.

It may sound kooky, but reading backward is an effective way to spot errors. When you’re not distracted by the meaning of the sentences, it’s easier to spot mistakes in your writing. Start with the last word and work your way forward, word by word, until you reach the beginning. This technique is particularly good for helping you spot repeated words, misspellings, and weird formatting.

4 Change the view.

Do something to make your writing look different. Zoom way in so you can see only one sentence at a time. Change the font. Print it out.

The idea is to make the text feel unfamiliar so that your brain is less likely to fill in gaps and blind you to mistakes. If you don’t have time to let your writing sit for a while before going back to edit, this technique can help you see it with fresh eyes.

5 Read it out loud.

Shut your office door (or hide in a broom closet if you have to) and read your writing aloud. It feels a little silly at first, but it’s one of the best ways to make sure your writing is correct and clear. Take your time and pronounce every word carefully—it’ll help you spot misspellings. Also, try reading each sentence in a flat monotone. Pause only at the commas and periods. Remember, your reader won’t be able to take cues from your facial expression, vocal emphasis, or conversational pauses. Reading your message like a robot can help you spot missing punctuation and wording that might confuse your reader.

Now, get out there and make 2018 the year you vanquish writing mistakes for good!

Do you have a favorite proofreading technique? Tell us about it in the comments!

Ellipsis

What do you call three periods in a row? Take your time, we’ll wait . . .

The Ellipsis

Those three little dots are called an ellipsis (plural: ellipses). The term ellipsis comes from the Greek word meaning “omission,” and that’s just what an ellipsis does—it shows that something has been left out. When you’re quoting someone, you can use an ellipsis to show that you’ve omitted some of their words. For example:

Hamlet asked whether it was “nobler . . . to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles.”

In the sentence above, the words “in the mind” have been omitted from the quote. Occasionally, you might need to leave out part of a quote because it’s irrelevant or makes the quote hard to understand in the context of the sentence. The ellipsis shows that you have left something out.

You can also use an ellipsis to show a pause in speech or that a sentence trails off. This technique doesn’t belong in formal or academic writing, though. You should only use the ellipsis this way in fiction and informal writing. For example:

Andrew, can you, um . . . never mind, I forgot what I was saying. So, do you think we should . . . ?

How Many Dots?

How many dots are in an ellipsis? The answer is three. But, if the ellipsis comes immediately after a grammatically complete sentence, that sentence still needs its own period. So you would end up with a period, plus an ellipsis, which looks like four periods in a row. For instance:

“Call me Jonah. My parents did, or nearly did. They called me John.”

might be shortened to:

“Call me Jonah. . . . They called me John.”

Spacing

Whether you put spaces between the dots or not is a matter of style. The Chicago Manual of Style calls for spaces between each ellipsis point. The AP Stylebook says to treat the ellipsis as a three-letter word, with spaces on either side of the ellipsis but no spaces between the dots. You can use either style; just be consistent throughout your document.

7 Useful Tips on How to Write a Perfect Professional Email in English

It’s an exciting day—your first at a new job. And it’s the kind of gig you could get used to: Sitting in a comfortable chair and handling emails isn’t exactly backbreaking labor, right? But parts of it may not come naturally to you, at least not right away.

Maybe you want the emails you draft to project confidence and control, but are nervous about arranging each part in the right order. Maybe you’re uncertain as to the best way to say hello. Maybe you didn’t grow up speaking English at home; maybe it’s still not the language you dream in.

Whatever the case, you needn’t worry, because with some practice, writing the perfect professional email will start to feel easy, even automatic. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1Greet the person you’re writing to.

It may seem odd to address a stranger on the Internet as Dear, but it’s standard in formal correspondence. Other respectable but less commonplace options include Greetings and Salutations.

When possible, it’s best to put the recipient’s name. Follow it with a comma or colon, as in these examples:

• Dear Chad,
• Dear Mr. Oswald:
• Dear Ms. Picard-Mimms:

If you’re not sure whether a woman you’re writing to is Ms. or Mrs., then Ms. is usually the safer option. Another solid, gender-neutral approach is to simply put the recipient’s full name:

• Dear Alex Lee:

By contrast, the generic Dear Sir or Madam seems impersonal and should be avoided.

2Are you thanking the recipient, or are you responding to a recent message from them? If so, start there.

(If you’re reaching out to a stranger you’ve never corresponded with before, begin the body of your email with Step 3.)

What you choose to write about first tells the reader what you think is important.

If you have something to express gratitude for, you want to do so at the beginning, so it doesn’t feel like an afterthought. Similarly, if you’re already in the midst of a back-and-forth conversation, you want to stay on track and not change the subject. Some examples:

• Thank you for your kind contribution to Red Panda Conservation International.
• Thanks for your interest; my client would be more than happy to chat at the time you suggested.
• The replacement parts you requested for your DeLorean are scheduled for delivery this week.

The key here is to get to the point quickly; you don’t want to keep a busy reader wondering.

3Explain what you’re writing about.

There are two questions you need to answer plainly. What are you hoping to make happen, and how can the person you’re writing help? For instance:

• I’m writing to inquire about your research on how cats groom their coats.
• I’m a local radio producer looking to schedule a live interview ahead of your performance in Oakland next week.
• My architectural firm is in need of expertise on treehouses, and several colleagues tell me your insight is unrivaled.

In stating your purpose, you want to be direct, but not to the point of seeming brusque or rude. If this feels like an awkward balancing act, err on the side of formality. Just as it’s better to be slightly overdressed at work than too casual, it’s usually better for your first email to a new contact to be exceptionally polite.

4Remember to keep it short.

Professional emails shouldn’t be epic in length. Be respectful of your readers’ time, because if they feel your message is unduly long, they’ll likely start to skim.

If a weighty subject requires lengthy discussion, look for better ways to communicate about it than email. Use your message as a way to set up a meeting or discussion, rather than a venue for a dense treatise on the subject.

5Wrap up with a closing line.

Your email should conclude with one sentence that makes your meaning clear and sets up whatever’s next. It might nudge the reader to take action, or be a way of gently winding down the conversation.

• I’ll look forward to discussing this with you further at 11 a.m. Thursday.
• Please look over the draft manuscript I’m attaching, and let me know what revisions or questions come to mind.
• Your guidance has been extremely helpful, and I look forward to being in touch.

Just as your message might’ve begun where a previous email left off, you want this one to end by setting up future correspondence.

6Sign off with an appropriate closing

There are lots of ways to end an email before putting your name, but in the interest of professional decorum, it’s probably best not to get too creative. Many people gripe about distracting email sign-offs like “cheers” and “VR” (very respectfully), so choose one that won’t feel out of place. Some of the most reliable options are:

• Sincerely,
• Yours truly,
• Thanks again,
• Appreciatively,
• Best regards,
• Respectfully,

At this point, you’re nearly done—there’s just one last important step.

7Take a moment to proofread.

Looking back over what you wrote before hitting send shouldn’t be a time-consuming chore: Remember, the ideal email is concise.

Make sure your greeting looks right (nothing feels worse than realizing the name of the person you just emailed was misspelled) and that you say thanks when it’s appropriate. Double-check that any request you’re making is straightforward and easy to understand, but not abrupt or presumptuous.

Also, this is your last chance to catch any subtle typos; we’ve watched more than one email thread jump completely off the rails when someone meant to type “now” but accidentally put “not” instead—as in, “We’re not trying to have the presentation ready by Thursday.” Be vigilant.

Grammarly is here to help.

10 Autocorrect Text Fails You Need to See Right Now

Does your phone’s autocorrect drive you crazy?

Maybe it’s never caught on that you’re “doing well”. . . not “doing we’ll.” No matter how many times you type “gave” it still insists you meant to say “have.” Or it may even think that swapping words like “baked” and “naked,” or “stapler” and “stalker,” is a good idea. (It’s not.)

That feeling when autocorrect does the wrong ‘its’ in a reply to someone with a huge following… pic.twitter.com/gWy8m1zbGl

— Young Moooooan �� (@ThrupennyBit) October 7, 2017

Not cool, autocorrect. Not cool.

Confusing, error-filled messages should not be the de facto norm of smartphone communication (or any type of communication). That’s why we’ve created a mobile keyboard that finally brings the magic of Grammarly to your iPhone—embarrassing texts, tweets, and posts can become a thing of the past.

But first, let’s take a trip down memory lane with these ten hilarious and cringeworthy autocorrect fails.

1“Luke, I am your badger.”

Hey autocorrect, I’m dressing up as “Yoda” for Halloween . . . not “Yoga.”

2Emily? Hello?

Tired of autocorrect sabotaging your romance? Typing on a tiny touch screen is tough, and it’s inevitable you’ll hit some wrong letters along the way. When autocorrect jumps to conclusions about your word choice, the meaning of your message can get even more garbled (and potentially embarrassing).

3Give ’Em the Ginger!

Autocorrect wants me to say I gave someone the ginger so here you go. pic.twitter.com/dAWEE9PVKl

— JoyceEerie������⚰️�� (@quirkisms) October 11, 2017

You deserve accuracy when describing your latest adventures. Which is why we’ve been working hard to develop an improved autocorrect feature for our new mobile app.

4Any Barking Dads on the Loose?

Things can get pretty confusing (and silly) when autocorrect chooses the wrong word.

So if it’s truly not clear which word you meant to type, the Grammarly keyboard will suggest a correction (which you can accept or reject), instead of automatically changing your misspelled word to something totally different. (So long, barking “dads”!)

5It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses a Kidney

Wouldn’t it be great if your message was understood the first time around?

6Sir-Auto-Correct-A-Lot

My banana Fonda don’t want Nuns unleashed you got bunnies hung.

– Sir Auto-Correct-A-Lot

— ..And Justin For All (@Staggfilms) October 20, 2017

Sometimes autocorrect has a life of its own. Fortunately, you don’t have to let Sir-Auto-Correct-A-Lot commandeer your writing. You can take back control.

7“We Hates It, Forever!”

Put an end to the confusion and feel free to express your inner nerd. Our new mobile app recognizes the names of your favorite fictional characters.

8Something’s Gotta Give

i spell something wrong so much that autocorrect doesn’t even suggest the right spelling anymore pic.twitter.com/lh2juQNaNe

— loo (@laoorentubbe) October 10, 2017

The struggle is real. But don’t worry, with hundreds of types of grammar and spelling checks, the Grammarly Keyboard provides accurate corrections and feedback for your common mistakes.

9So Much For Good Parenting…

Okay, it’s time to get a better keyboard! Avoid misunderstandings and show up as your best self at home, at work, and in romance.

10What’s My Name Again?

Stop trying to anticipate what I’m going to say, autocorrect. You are always wrong.

Sincerely, Annex ….I mean ANNETTE

— Annette Christie (@MsAnnetteMC) October 3, 2017

Flawless writing is a beautiful thing. Ready to experience the Grammarly Mobile Keyboard firsthand? Click here to download the keyboard for iOS.

4 Networking Email Templates That Will Get You Noticed

Networking is an artform. When you’re good at it, you become a Michelangelo, finely crafting relationships that will advance your career. But when your skills need work, you’re that guy on the street corner hawking pictures of Elvis painted on black velvet. Nobody responds to that guy’s email.

I’ve been writing and sending networking outreach for twenty years as a business owner, freelance writer, and media relations expert. With each carefully crafted email, I’ve increased my level of artistry. Networking does take work, but the results you’ll achieve by applying that effort are like the difference between a black velvet oil painting and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

First, We Research

Before you begin networking, you need to get a sense of the person you plan to reach out to. In order to not sound like the black velvet Elvis salesman, you need to be authentic. The key to authenticity lies in doing research and learning more about the person you’re hoping to connect with.

Find the person on social media.

The easiest way to research is to look for the person’s public social accounts. Check LinkedIn, for starters. Note the person’s background and professional experience and the recommendations and endorsements they’ve given. Their volunteer activities will help you understand their interests and passions.

Does your potential connection have a Twitter account? The things a person tweets can tell you a lot about her. Less obvious but equally valuable social sites like Quora and Instagram can also help you gain insight.

Lay some groundwork

Lay a little groundwork as you’re browsing public social accounts. Follow your potential contact. Have they shared something interesting and relevant? Like, reply, or retweet. Upvote or comment on Quora posts. Do they write a blog? Post a comment when a blog post speaks to you. We humans like to be noticed.

As you research, look for common ground. Maybe you share the same home state, or you attended the same college. Although it’s not related to professional pursuits, maybe you like the same hobbies, or you both love dogs. These are all things you can use to help break the ice and establish a relationship. You don’t have to be a creeper, just find a few relevant things you can build upon once you make a connection.

Doing some early reconnaissance will allow you to approach your contact in a way that shows genuine interest. We tend to like people who sincerely want to know more about who we are and what we do.

Email Networking Tips

We’ll get to the networking email templates in a moment, but first let’s cover some important tips for crafting an email. There are a few guidelines that email experts agree upon.

• Keep it short. Research by Boomerang (the email productivity app) showed that emails between seventy-five and a hundred words long yielded the best response rates. But the rate of return dropped off slowly after that, so don’t be too concerned if you need more words to get your point across.
• Personalize it. If the stakes are high and getting a response is important, take the time to customize your email so that it doesn’t look like a template. You’re more likely to get a response if your recipient feels that your email was meant for him and only him.
• Use emotion. Boomerang also discovered that emotional language nets better response rates. Instead of writing Would you be interested in meeting for lunch next Tuesday at noon?, write It would be wonderful to chat with you over lunch. Does noon next Tuesday work?
• Don’t ask for anything right away. It’s much better to start with a warm-up if you can. Send a hello and a sincere compliment. Wait until your second email to ask for anything.
• Ask for just one thing. When you do ask for something—whether it’s for feedback, advice, or a meeting—ask for it clearly and confidently. Don’t cloud your email by presenting multiple options or by asking for more than one thing at a time. If getting to your goal will involve multiple steps, ask for step one and wait for an answer before moving to step two and beyond.

Four Networking Email Templates

If you’ve read this far, you already know that you shouldn’t use stock templates for outreach—a personal touch can mean the difference between getting a response and having your email summarily sent to the recipient’s trash folder. But these examples will give you a good starting place so you can craft an email masterpiece of your own.

The Getting-to-Know-You

Hi Lucy,

I’ve been following your blog for a while. Your new post inspired me to finally get in touch. I loved how bold you were in stating that serious writers should look into traditional publishing before going the self-publishing route. The reader comments about this controversial topic were also fascinating to read. Quite the spectrum of opinions!

You communicate with your reader base masterfully. I aspire to do the same with my blog, The Unknown Author, someday. Thanks for showing us how great blogging is done!

All the best,

Charlie

Why It Works:

• It’s personal and offers sincere praise.
• It’s short (85 words.)
• It makes an introduction without asking for anything.
• It uses emotional language (inspired, loved, fascinating.)

The Ask

Hi Lucy,

It’s been awesome to have an email conversation about blogging and your experience on both sides of the publishing industry. I feel like I’ve learned many useful things from you already.

I’m hard at work revamping my blog strategy to boost my pageviews and reader engagement. You’re clearly doing all the right things with Lucy’s Five-cent Blog—I’m so impressed by its popularity and influence! I’d love to meet you for lunch and dig into some serious shop talk. You mentioned that you live downtown. Would you like to meet at Ivar’s at noon on Tuesday?

Of course, I understand if you’re busy. In that case, we can make it another time or just continue the conversation in email.

All the best, Charlie

Why It Works

• It builds on the existing relationship.
• It includes one clear call-to-action (CTA).
• It gives the recipient an option to say no, making her twice as likely to say yes. (A classic copywriting technique supported by forty-two studies.)

The Follow-Up

Hi Lucy,

I got in touch last week to see if you’d like to grab lunch with me to talk about blogging. I didn’t hear from you, but I headed down to Ivar’s anyhow and had some jumbo prawns in your honor!

I’d still love to connect. Is there a time or place that works better for you? Of course, if you’d rather stick to email, that’s fine, too.

All the best, Charlie

Why It Works

• It’s very brief.
• It uses a touch of humor.
• It maintains the “out clause.”

The Thank-You

Hi Lucy,

Thanks again for a great lunch. The food was tasty, but the conversation was even better. I left feeling energized. I’m already mapping out my next steps to revitalize my blog.

Let’s keep the channel open! I sent you an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. Maybe, once I get the new content strategy you helped inspire in place, we can collaborate on a guest post exchange or some other project.

Talk to you soon, Charlie

Why It Works

• Everybody likes to feel appreciated. (Thanks for lunch.)
• Everybody likes to know that their contributions have had an impact. (“I left feeling energized.”)
• It lays the foundation for future collaboration. Networking goals achieved!