Category: writing advice

writing, writing advice

Five Articles That Are Easy to Create

These types of articles can be short enough to make your writing life easier, especially if you need inspiration just before a deadline.

1. Lists – Like this one! Sometimes referred to as “listicles,” you need at least three to five items for a decent list.

2. “How To” – Again, this type of article is usually specific, which often means your piece won’t be overlong (“How to Kill Fungus Gnats,” “How to Save $10 a Day”). And, you can make it into a list to reduce the word count.

3. Infographics – Aptly named, interesting information presented as an illustration looks appealing, and suits social media and blog posts, however, these can work well in print articles, too. You can easily convert a “how-to” into this format.

Example: How Does Rent to Own Work?  Facts and statistics on a topic also work well within this framework, as do histories and timelines. You don’t need to be a designer, but some sense of design helps, however, you can use an infographic generator instead.

4. Essays/Opinions/Blog Posts – They’re often based on personal experiences, which require little to no research. I usually feature this type of blog post, but this one is different. 🙂

5. Q&As – Question and answer format articles, such as FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and interviews are good examples of this style, which makes them easy to compile.

Example: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

These are among the easiest types of content to create quickly. Have more suggestions? Feel free to post.

And if you find creating content tough and lack time, read my free ebook, 14 Ways to Write More in Less Time.

writing advice

5 Writing Redundancies to Remove

1. Phrases with words that have similar definitions, such as “join together,” “free gift,” and “close proximity” — only one word is necessary.

2. “Legalisms”: “aid and abet,” “cease and desist”

3. Words that have already been defined: “ATM machine” (ATM = Automated Teller Machine”); “please RSVP” (RSVP is French for “répondez, s’il vous plaît,” or “please reply”).

4. Phrases that repeat the quality already stated: “oval in shape,” “larger in size,” “shorter in duration,” “a period of one week,” “blue in color,” “6 am in the morning.”

5. Words added to actions that are already implied.

Example: “She nodded her head.”
Revised: “She nodded.”

Quotes

“Redundancy is one of the carnal sins of writers.” ~ Sandy Tritt, Say It Once, Say It Right

“The first rule of Tautology Club is the first rule of Tautology Club.” ~ Seanan McGuire, Ashes of Honor

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

business communication, business writing, editing, editing your writing, writing advice, writing better

5 Useless Words and Phrases to Cut From Your Business Writing

1. are able to

Example: We are able to wash dishes, mow lawns, or do any of your other household tasks.
Revised: We can wash dishes, mow lawns, or do any of your other household tasks.

When you cut these useless words, you avoid using a “to be” verb (“are”) and a preposition (“to”). They bloat your writing. Use them only when they’re absolutely necessary.

2. as well as

Example: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate nutrition guide includes grains, vegetables, and fruit, as well as protein.
Revised: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate nutrition guide includes grains, vegetables, fruit, and protein.

People tend to use “as well as” in favor of “too” or “also,” especially if they’ve already used them, as a way to vary their word choices. They’re good alternatives, but you can also insert an “and” every now and then for better variety.

3. along with

Example: High winds and frigid temperatures, along with snow and ice, make for hazardous winter driving conditions.
Revised: High winds, frigid temperatures, and snow and ice create hazardous winter driving conditions.

Replace these useless words with plain old “and.”

4. there are/there is

Example: There are several action movies released during the summer.
Revised: Several action movies are released during the summer.

In many cases, you can trim these seemingly harmless phrases entirely.

5. in order to

Example: In order to finish processing your purchase, we need your payment information.
Revised: To finish processing your purchase, we need your payment information.

Trim the first few words to the essential: “to.”

Read more about cutting Filler Words in Your Speech at Ivypanda.

Quotes

“The best sentence? The shortest.” ~ Anatole France

“If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.” ~ George Orwell

writing advice

5 Ways to Get Customers to Love Your Writing

1. Edit.  Some of us don’t want others to see rings around our collars or dandruff on our shoulders because we want to leave a good impression. Likewise, the quality of your writing affects your business or organization’s image. Take care to rearrange jumbled words, remove unnecessary apostrophes, add any missing commas, and to downsize letters that shouldn’t be capitalized. It will make your writing easier on the eyes and the ears.

2. Be active. Sentences about actions done “by” someone or something are a sign of the passive voice.

You can’t always avoid the passive voice, but many times, your sentences will be shorter and people will read them more easily if you rework them. Too many sentences in this style can make people struggle to finish reading.

Example: The telephone pole was hit by a car.

Don’t be afraid to enliven and embolden your passages. “A car hit the telephone pole” is shorter and stronger.

3. Omit needless words.  Don’t use two words when one will do. These days, for busy customers, the fewer words, the less time it takes them to read. You don’t need to write a novel to get your points across.

4. Junk the jargon. Or, at least, explain it to those who aren’t in your industry; to them, it is like trying to understand a foreign language. Plain English should be the official language of bureaucrats and businesspeople in English-speaking countries.

5. Maintain your balance. Too much information, especially if it’s disorganized, can confuse readers and turn them away. With a length in mind, it’s better to plan the scope of your piece ahead of time. Use headings and bullet points to separate large blocks of text or use a table of contents to guide readers through longer works.

Quotes

“Good sense is both the first principal and the parent source of good writing.” ~ Horace

“Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That’s why it’s so hard.” ~ David McCullough

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

writing advice

5 Common Proofreading Errors to Avoid

1. Dates and times — When you refer to any of these, make sure that you include them. It’s easy to name an event and then not mention when it happens. Also, ensure they’re correct, and if you’ll include the day of the week, that it’s also right (e.g., Tuesday, not Wednesday), otherwise, no one will attend, especially if you host your grand opening on April 31st.

2. Math — Always check that all numbers you reference truly add up, which is important, not just for the mathematically-challenged.

3. Links — Whether your document is for online or offline reading, always check all links if you want your readers to get somewhere.

4. Incompleteness — If you’ve just hosted a successful fundraiser, and you’ve thanked staff in your newsletter, did you remember to thank any volunteers, and of course, your donors? To them, these are true “sins of omission.”

5. Missing pieces — If you forward someone’s email address to a colleague, it can be embarrassing if you fail to include that email address in your message. So, always double-check your writing and the details within it before other people see it.

Quotes

“Those who seldom make mistakes, seldom make discoveries.” ~ John Marks Templeton.

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” ~ Conrad Hilton

Comments? Suggestions? Need help? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
Classy Writing
207.332.8379
classywriting.com