Stephen Wilbers

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Stephen Wilbers

Columnist | Effective Writing

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Email: wilbe004@umn.edu

Stephen Wilbers teaches seminars in effective business writing. His column appears online every other Monday.

Stephen Wilbers: Brewing up a strong mission statement

Think I'll try something new. Something bold and exciting. I know. I'll start a business.

Updated: May 02, 2010, - 05:06 PM

Skydiving with nonrestrictive commas

I did something last weekend I've never done before. Not once, but twice. I jumped out of an airplane. I went skydiving, a birthday present from my son.

Updated: April 18, 2010, - 08:49 PM

When words don't mean what they say

I was on my way to the doctor's office when I realized it was going to be one of those days. I heard a commentator on the radio say, "That's blackmail really."

Updated: April 04, 2010, - 03:08 PM

A world where words are locked deep inside

I've been thinking a lot about words lately. Words in business writing, words in everyday discourse, words in literature. I've been thinking about the thrill of learning words and the tragedy of losing them.

Updated: March 28, 2010, - 03:35 PM

Precision can help brighten the days ahead

Almost day by day, the sun feels warmer as it climbs higher and higher in the bright blue sky. As the days grow longer, I'm also noticing more and more signs of economic recovery.

Updated: March 14, 2010, - 02:19 PM

Never neglect the power of telling a story

How do you tell someone who knows little or nothing about your profession what you do?

Updated: February 28, 2010, - 02:49 PM

Stephen Wilbers: Style turns ordinary writing extraordinary

What is style?

Updated: February 14, 2010, - 05:49 PM

Stephen Wilbers: Pop quiz! Put your writing to the test

What is your writing IQ? Here's a follow-up assessment. Ready?

Updated: January 31, 2010, - 12:21 PM

Stephen Wilbers: Proofreading puzzle for the new decade

With multi-tasking, constant interruptions and our hurried pace these days, proofreading errors are proliferating. Mean wile, we risk losing credibility in the eyes of our readers.

Updated: January 17, 2010, - 04:41 PM