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The Grammar Police

Published February 9, 2009 writing 11 Comments
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grammar-policeAfter reading some horribly written blogs this week I feel compelled to call in the Grammar Police (aka me).  Now to protect the guilty, I am not revealing which blogs brought tears to my eyes (even though I was seriously THISCLOSE to issuing some citations and naming names in this post).  Instead I thought I would just offer the blogosphere a grammar lesson of some things to avoid in your writing.  THIS time the Grammar Police did not issue citations. Next time you may not be so lucky.  Here are the citations – in order of how they got on my nerves this week:

1.  “S” denotes a plural, not ‘s.  People — not giveaway’s but giveaways.  Contest’s is also incorrect — use contests.  Even my third grader knows this basic English rule.

2.  Limit your use of exclamation points.  Please do not make matters worse by using double exclamation points after ever single sentence!!  Exclamation points are to be used for effect and use them sparingly!!  They are annoying me already in this paragraph!!  I will hunt you down if  you do this on your blog!!

3.  Use contractions sparingly.  An occasional contraction here and there is okay but please do not use a contraction in every sentence. I cringe when I see I two or more contractions in the same sentence.  Please note I won’t be reading your blog because I don’t like your overuse of contractions.

If you have any grammar citations you think need issued, leave them in a comment and the Grammar Police will be glad to write about them later.

How to Write a Winning Resume

Published January 15, 2009 writing 1 Comment
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pencils

With the current state of our economy and high U.S. unemployment rates, I wanted to write an article on resume writing.  It is a good idea to always have an updated resume, before you are faced with job loss.  Here are some tips to help you write a job-winning resume:

  1. Tailor your resume to the job for which you are applying.  Research the skills and qualities the employer is seeking for the position.  These can usually be found in the job advertisement or job description.  Don’t just send out the same old resume for every position.  Make sure your resume is written to show how you are qualified for the position you are seeking.
  2. Use action verbs to present yourself as a doer and achiever.  Action verbs such as managed, prepared, communicated, analyzed, organized, etc. show an employer that you have skills that would be an asset to their organization.  Avoid writing your resume using the passive voice.
  3. Remember that your resume is a marketing tool.  It is about you, the job hunter, not just about the various jobs you have held through the years.  It must emphasize your accomplishments, rather than merely list previous job duties.
  4. Double, triple and quadruple check your resume before sending it anywhere.  Typos can cause your resume to get thrown in the trash.  If you write a resume full of typos, an employer will perceive that you will perform sloppily on the job.
  5. Do not include personal information on your resume such as age, race, religion, marital status, children, or health status.  This information is illegal for an employer to ask you in a job interview so definitely don’t give it to them in your resume.

If you have resume questions you want answered in a future blog post, please feel free to leave them in a comment.  You can also hire me to write your resume and receive a discount if you tell me  that you read about it on my blog.  The Write Advice is my business writing and consulting Web site where I write resumes, Web site content, press releases, and other marketing materials.

I am an English Genius! What are you?

Published December 29, 2008 writing 2 Comments
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Since I LOVE English & grammar, I am always in search of the latest online quizzes to sharpen my abilities.  The latest one that I have found revealed that I am an English Genius!  Well you should get to be a genius if you can survive answering a whopping 40 grammar questions.  If you try it be sure and comment to let me know how you rate in the genius department!

Your result for The Commonly Confused Words Test…

English Genius

You scored 100% Beginner, 93% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 93% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can’t find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don’t. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you’re not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Take The Commonly Confused Words Test at HelloQuizzy

Are You a Good Speller?

Published September 2, 2008 writing 6 Comments
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Today in the writing class that I teach, my students are taking their first quiz of the semester, on grammar and spelling.  This had me thinking about how good of a speller I really am.  I guess I would say I am a good one since I am the teacher LOL!  I found this cute quiz online to test my spelling skills.  How did I do?  Well perfect of course!  I am The Write Gal after all.  Are you a good speller?  Take this quiz and find out!


Your Spelling is Perfect


You got 10/10 correct.Your spelling is excellent. You also have a great memory and eye for detail.

Avoid These Writing Mistakes

Published August 18, 2008 writing 12 Comments
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I don’t want to have to change my name to The “Giveaway Gal” or “Shopping Gal,” so I thought I would do another post about writing tips for my faithful readers out there who like to improve their writing skills. Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE all of my giveaways going on now and my gracious sponsors.  But I need to give writing some time too.

What I really wanted to call this post was “If You Make These Writing Mistakes I am Coming After You,” but that looked way too bunched as a blog header.  But believe me when I say that I will come after you if I catch these mistakes on your blog or Web site.  Now I know people listen to me although sometimes they don’t post my comment.  But they take my advice as I soon notice the error got magically corrected.  :)

Here goes..more writing tips from The Write Gal.  Grammar pitfalls to avoid:

  • Its or It’s- Its is a possessive personal pronoun.  The company values its customers. It’s is a contraction for “it is” or “it has.”  It’s the first day of school.
  • Between or Among – Use between when referring to two persons or things and use among when referring to more than two persons or things.  The prize was distributed equally between the two winners.  The workload was divided among all of the company employees.
  •  Who or Whom -  If referring to the subject of a sentence, use who.  Who won that contest? If referring to the object of a sentence, clause, or prepositional phrase, use whom.  This is the person whom I met yesterday.  TIP:  When using who or whom, rephrase by using the words he or him.  If the sentence makes sense with he, use who.  It is it makes sense with him, use whom.  He won that contest.  I met him yesterday. 

You might think the use of the above words is common sense, but believe me when I say it’s not.  If there are any words or phrases you would like clarified, leave me a comment and I will be glad to explain their usage in a future blog post.

Happy Writing!

Don’t Let Bad Writing Cost You

Published July 30, 2008 writing 8 Comments
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I have a rule when shopping online: If I encounter one mistake on your Web site I will not order from you. It doesn’t matter if you have the best product in the world or the lowest cost of something I am trying to buy, I will go somewhere else. Maybe it’s the writer or Journalism major in me, or maybe it’s just my being too much of a perfectionist. But the bottom line is that bad writing is just plain sloppy. Why would you want to lose customers after you have already been through all of the expense of establishing your online business?

If you are not in a position to hire a professional writer (like me!) to edit your site, try these tips to ensure your writing is in tip top shape:

  •  Print your text- It is easier to catch errors on the written page rather than the screen.  Copy all of your text (Control + C) and manually paste it (Control + V) into a standard wordprocessing program like Microsoft Word.  That way you will be able to more easily detect errors and take advantage of the software’s spell check program.  Many html editors I have worked with do not have a spell check capacity so this will enable you to use a spell check program.  Just remember that spell check is not fullproof so it is still a good idea to consult an online dictionary such as Merriam-Webster.
  • Read your text backwards – If you read your text backwards your eye will focus on the individual words rather than the sentence structure.  This will help you catch spelling errors you might have missed the first time.
  • Put some distance in between your writing and editing – If you allow some time in between your writing and editing it will enable you to look at your writing with a fresh eye.
  • Let someone else read it for you – Two sets of eyes are better than one!  Have a friend or family member review your Web site text for possible errors.

Remember, don’t let all of your hard work go to waste and take a chance that you could lose customers due to bad writing.  Time spent editing your writing will be time well spent.

Happy Writing!

You’d Rather Be Shopping

Published July 23, 2008 writing 4 Comments
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Apparently I have a lot more shoppers reading my blog than writers.  After blogging for one month now I can see a definite trend in my blogging statistics for my writing vs. shopping posts.  The difference is not as drastic as the picture above illustrates, but you get the point.  One day 50 more people read my shopping post than the writing one the day before. 

Does this mean there are more shopping bloggers than writers out there?  Perhaps people read blogs only on certain days of the week?  Maybe it means The Write Gal just has exceptional shopping ideas?   I hope it doesn’t mean that no one cares about The Write Gal’s Write Advice??  HMMM…..What do you think?

Happy Blogging (I think)!

Improving Your Blog

Published July 15, 2008 Blogging Tips , writing 1 Comment
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The more blogs I read, the more I want to educate people how to improve them.  Consider these few tips to make your blog even better:

  1. Update your blog regularly.  Don’t blog if you are not going to commit to regular updates.  If I happen to stumble upon your blog and the last post is two weeks old or more, I am going to skip it.  If you have a hard time deciding what to blog about, keep a notebook and jot down ideas when they come to you.  Also it helps if you decide how often to write a new blog post and stick to your schedule.  I try to post at least twice per week.
  2. Consider a blog header.  You can’t feel inspired by your blog if you are using a standard blogging template with a boring blog header.  Consider hiring a Web design company or graphic designer to create a unique blog header to inspire you and your readers.  The Write Gal was created by my fabulous Web designer, Billie, the owner of Molto Bella Designs.  Custom blog headers are an affordable alternative to companies out there who will customize your entire blog design.  Just make sure you select a template that allows you to download a unique header and doesn’t constrict you to the one that comes with that particular template. 
  3. Use pictures.  Insert pictures into your blog posts that are appropriate for your topic.  A site I like that allows you to download free photos is Stock.XCHNG.  Always make sure you check the image’s licensing agreement before you download.  While many of their photos are free, some require a small fee to use.  Just because a picture is on the Internet doesn’t give you free reign to copy it.  Doing so is considered copyright infringement and is illegal.  Make sure if you are going to post a picture of a product on a Web site you like that you obtain the owner’s permission first. 
  4. Include links.  Links are a helpful way to give your readers useful information and add variety to your blog posts.  As I have stated earlier, just make sure your links work by testing them out prior to publishing your post. 

 Happy Blogging!

Procrastination – 1; Writing – 0

Published July 10, 2008 writing 3 Comments
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Maybe it’s the summer or maybe it’s just me, but I can’t seem to get in to writing the things that I need to get done. I have an article deadline looming over my head and I still have the Introduction and Conclusion to write. The new semester is a little over a month away and I have to write one more course syllabus. Not to mention writing the coordinating lesson plans and assignments.

Why is it that we often procrastinate with the things we do not want to do but eagerly tackle the things we love?  Now don’t get me wrong; I absolutely love teaching and writing.  But for some reason ever since I started blogging I would rather write a new blog post than a homework assignment.  I used to think my piles of laundry were a result of procrastination but now I know that is just avoidance.  I have hope for my writing.  The laundry . . . not so much!

Happy Writing!

A Writer’s Tips on Blogging

Published July 4, 2008 Blogging Tips , writing 1 Comment
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You don’t have to be a writer to write a good blog post.  But just because you hated English in high school doesn’t give you an excuse to write a sloppy blog post, either.  Consider these tips from a writer to make your blog better than ever:

  • Keep it short- People don’t have all day to read your blog post.  If you have a lot to say, consider splitting into two posts.
  • Lists – Use bullets or numbers to break up text when making a list like this one.  It makes your blog easier to read.
  • Spelling- Please spell check your post before publishing.  It only takes a few minutes.  At WordPress we have a spell check feature built right in, although I have to say it is not foolproof as these types of programs never are.   If you are in doubt over a word or it looks funny to you, look it up online.  Merriam-Webster has a great online dictionary that is user friendly.
  • Titles are Important- Write an interesting title for your blog post.  Why?  Because if people aren’t interested, they won’t read it. 
  • Bad Grammar – Bad grammar is just bad.  Please consider proofreading your post carefully before publishing.  A good way to do this is by printing your text and proofreading from the paper.  There is a simple way to do this rather than printing the entire page using your print functions at the top of your screen and saves paper too.  Simply highlight all of the text in your post box and then paste it into a software program like Microsoft Word.  That way you are only printing the text you need to review.
  • Links- This last tip has nothing to do with being a writer but I thought I would throw it in for good measure.  If you include a link in your blog post please test it to make sure it actually works.

While these tips may sound like common sense to some, I have read enough blogs to know that everyone (including myself) could stand some improvement.

Happy Blogging & Happy Independence Day!

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