Reader’s Digest WRITE better SPEAK better: How words can work wonders for you

How to write better. Good writing : a skill you can learn ; Secrets of good letter writing ; Handling your personal correspondence ; Give your letters the right look ; Social notes and invitations ; How to write for information ; How to complain and get action ; Writing your public officials ; Writing to newspapers, magazines, and TV ; Applying to schools and colleges ; Writing and your college career ; How to write a research paper ; Précis, book reports, and project reports ; Taking written examinations ; Applying for a job ; Good writing is good business ; Picture the people you are writing to ; Plan your letters before you write ; How to write sales letters ; How to say no with a smile ; How to handle delicate situations ; How to write business reports -- The tools of the trade. Good craftsmanship pays dividends ; Seven modern steps to word power ; Learning words by the "unfolding" process" ; Quick vocabulary builder : words from Latin and Greek ; Two keys to clarity : grammar and usage ; Good grammar in a nutshell ; Why spelling and punctuation are important ; Punctuation pointers ; How to become a good speller ; The simple rules of spelling ; Can you read what you write? -- How to speak better. Of cabbages and kings ; The secrets of good conversation ; The art of being a successful host ; When you meet a famous person ; Ten conversation problems and how to solve them ; How to handle an interview ; The five steps to successful selling ; How to run a meeting ; "Me? Speak in front of a group?" ; How to beat stage fright ; How to prepare your speech ; Start with a list of points ; How to sell your idea ; Use visuals to prove your point ; Preparing yourself to speak ; What makes a good speaker ; The secret of good delivery -- Learn to use your voice. Beware of these speech blemishes ; How to improve your voice ; Your child talks like you ; That bugaboo : correct pronunciation ; Three pronunciation pitfalls ; Recent trends in American speech ; Our wonderful, erratic language