Category: writing advice

1. Print a copy of your piece. This is a good way to slow down; rushing can lead to carelessness. Take a pen and read your article thoroughly, noting any corrections or additions. Then read it aloud in a flat, monotone voice — sometimes our ears catch things our eyes don’t.

2. Set it aside (or don’t). Some grammar and writing experts recommend this, however, I find going over the copy regularly keeps it fresher in my mind and makes me more alert to spot errors. (And, frankly, sometimes, for a close deadline, I can’t let it sit for a week or more.) Experiment with both to find which way works best for you.

3. Reverse direction. Read the copy backward — start at the bottom and return to the top. This is another way to keep your mind alert to errors you might miss during a regular read through.

4. Have another pair of eyes look it over. If you’re open to constructive criticism and won’t take it personally, show a trusted friend or loved one your writing. Another set of eyes can help you see more clearly.

5. Spell-check. It isn’t perfect, but it’s useful for catching basic mistakes (passive voice, misspelled words, duplicate words), especially as you near the end of the editing process. Just don’t rely on it for all of your editing and proofreading; a good job requires more care, and your readers will notice a lack of effort.

Quotes

“There is no such thing as good writing. There is only good rewriting.” ~ Harry Shaw, Errors in English and Ways to Correct Them

“Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.” ~ Patricia Fuller, fantasy writer

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

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

1. Remove – Cut common words and phrases from your prose unless you’re using them to prove a point.

2. Recycle – Make a twist on a timeworn phrase instead.

Example: “The grass is always greener.”

Revised: “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” ~ Erma Bombeck

3. Research – Visit sites such as Cliché Finder for examples of clichés if you’re not sure if you’ve used them. Look up words or phrases in a dictionary or in a thesaurus to find fresher alternatives with the same meaning. Read more about your subject matter to get a better idea of what others have already been written about it.

4. Replace – Describe something in an unpredictable or an unexpected way. Modifiers, such as adjectives before nouns, are sometimes clichéd.

Example: A thin veil (a veil is already thin, so “thin” is unnecessary).

Revised: A black veil made of Victorian lace.

5. Reorganize – Clichés are often a symptom of literary laziness. If your document overall is clichéd and doesn’t offer a new perspective, restructure it to revitalize your approach.

Quotes

“Avoid clichés like the plague.” ~ William Safire

“Most of my clichés aren’t original.” ~ Chuck Knox

1. Commas placed outside of quotation marks. This isn’t correct in American English.

2. Apostrophes in words that shouldn’t have them.

3. Lack of commas when they’re necessary.

4. Lack of apostrophes when they’re necessary.

5. Comma splices. These happen when someone intends to make a pause in a statement that is really two complete sentences.

The Classy Writing Blog: How to Fix Common Punctuation Errors‏

“‘Punc — punc — punc — punctuation / They are the little marks that use their influence / To help a sentence make more sense.’…” Read more.

Quotes

“I want to change my punctuation. I long for exclamation marks, but I’m drowning in ellipses.” ~ Isaac Marion, Warm Bodies

“Punctuation, is? fun!” ~ Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

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

Michelle Troutman
Classy Writing
207.332.8379
classywriting.com

1. You are not your audience. Perhaps you become jumbled in jargon when you write and focus more on how you think you should sound. Talk about your article with a friend and record it or have someone take notes during the conversation. Apps, such as Dragon Dictation and iPhone’s Notes, can transcribe for you — these methods can humanize your writing.

2. Write to a friend (or pretend to). Some of us are self-conscious about being recorded.

3. Keep a journal. Some of my best, most open writing occurs when I jot in my journal. It’s like I’m talking to a therapist or a friend. It’s a great way to practice writing and to relax, and your words will flow more freely.

4. Read your writing aloud in a flat voice. Printing a copy helps. Sometimes what we see on-screen doesn’t match the printed page. Note any corrections or additions. Our ears can catch things our eyes don’t.

5. Let someone else read. If you’re open to constructive criticism, let a trusted friend or loved one read your writing. Another set of eyes can help you see more clearly.

Quotes

Incomprehensible jargon is the hallmark of a profession. ~ Kingman Brewster, Jr.

Even to a writer who is being intentionally obscure or wild of tongue we can say, ‘Be obscure clearly! Be wild of tongue in a way we can understand!’ Even to writers of market letters, telling us (but not telling us) which securities are promising, we can say, ‘Be cagey plainly! Be elliptical in a straightforward fashion!’ ~ William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style.

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

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com