Category: writing advice

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

1. Very.  It means “that much more so,” but sometimes less is more.

2. Pretty.  It looks good, but its beauty is pixel-deep.

3. Really.  It’s often added for emphasis, but remove it for true emphasis.

4. So.  It’s like the above, and is often added more for its sound than for its depth.

5. Somewhat. It makes sentences vague.

Quotes

“Death to all modifiers, he declared one day, and out of every letter that passed through his hands went every adverb and every adjective.” ~ Joseph Heller, Catch-22

“We often rely on qualifiers — especially intensifiers — because we either don’t know or don’t take the time to find the appropriate word.” ~ The Writing Center: Qualifiers, UNC College of Arts & Sciences

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

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

1. Assist — This word has positive connotations — its popularity isn’t surprising. It sounds a little stuffy, though. It’s good to keep it in your vocabulary, but alternate it with shorter and sweeter “aid,” “serve,” or “help,” depending on the meaning of the sentence and how it reads.

2. Utilize — It’s a little complex for plain English. As “Grammar Girl” Mignon Fogarty has said, “‘Utilize’ has some specific, appropriate uses. Biological organisms are properly said to ‘utilize’ nutrients. If you’re a general writer, however, it’s usually best to stick with ‘use.'”

3. Implement — It sounds important, and depending on its use as a noun or a verb, it can be hard to visualize its meaning. It’s not a verb for the lazy; it’s often used to mean “to put into use” or “to complete,” in the sense that a business has met a goal. So, for variety, “perform,” “complete,” “finish,” or if you’re not too harsh, “execute.”

4. Establish — It has its place. Sometimes “found,” in the sense that someone starts something, such as a business, works better.

5. Accomplish — Another lofty word, the simpler alternative, “achieve,” can also show results.

Quotes

“People who work in specialized fields seem to have their own language. Practitioners develop a shorthand to communicate among themselves. The jargon can almost sound like a foreign language.” ~ Barry Ritholtz

“There are two rules to good communication — say what you mean and mean what you say.” ~ Tim Phillips, Talk Normal: Stop the Business Speak, Jargon and Waffle

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

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com