“Formal” Ideas

We’ve all had to fill out forms on the internet and take surveys that ask for our input. Sometimes we’re just asked to check a few boxes, but other times there are whole sentences involved.

Here’s some advice you may find helpful:

Create a Draft

If you can get a look at the form ahead of time, or you are initiating communication with an organization through its website or portal, type your message in a blank email or in Word — rather than type into the form itself — and then copy and paste your message into the form when you are ready. I generally feel more comfortable getting my thoughts together in a familiar environment, and then reviewing my draft before adding it to the form.

Make a Copy

If you do type right into the form, consider copying what you wrote and pasting it into a blank email or a Word document before you send the form. Once you click "submit," you may no longer have a record of what you wrote and you might need it someday.

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Copy/Paste reminders:

Copy

Edit > Copy, or keyboard shortcut "Control + c" ("Command + c" on a Mac)

Paste

Edit > Paste, or keyboard shortcut "Control + v" ("Command + v" on a Mac)