The difference that a few words and phrases make in the overall tone
and character of your writing cannot be overstated. Think about the words
you select, avoid clichés, and use the FURY model to guide your choices.
EXERCISE 14: Select Words with FURY
Use the FURY principle to select powerful words as you revise Amanda’s
E-mail to add some pizzazz.
Amanda, a human resources manager for a large steel manufacturer,
needed to send an E-mail to supervisors informing them that performance
appraisals were due by November 15.
“It’s boring,” she explained, “and I couldn’t think of how to add a
little pep to such an ordinary business communication.”
Here’s Amanda’s original E-mail: