Category: writing advice

1. Over-capitalization — Sometimes business owners capitalize the first letter of every word in their copy, with the idea that it will get more attention. Not every word in your marketing materials should be or needs to be capitalized. Keep the caps for proper names, job titles, etc.

2. You or I — If you refer more to yourself and your services in your materials than to your customers and their needs, think again. Rephrase those passages with more “you” references and emphasize how your products or services benefit your customers.

Example: Let’s connect, so I will give a quick overview of what I do.
Revised: Let’s discuss how Theracare can relieve your pain and get you back on your feet again. Call 555-867-5309 today.

3. Mismatched words — Make sure singular and plural words match. Otherwise, reading can become an awkward experience.

Example: Do you have old postcards stored away and want to do something with them? It could be mementos from people you know and places you’ve been.
Revised: Do you have old postcards stored away and want to do something with them? They could be mementos from people you know and places you’ve been.

4. Punk-tuation — Do you use question marks when you ask a question. Maybe you just love to add exclamation points for excitement! Perhaps apostrophes are they’re, but there in the wrong places. These are some of the most distracting punctuation errors, as you’ve probably just noticed.

5. Redundancy — Cut unnecessary words.

Example: Please RSVP.
Revised: RSVP.

You’ll often see it on invitations. RSVP is an acronym for the French phrase “répondez s’il vous plaît,” which means “respond if you please.” Those of us who truly find French a foreign language might not know what it means, and if you often see the acronym only, you can easily forget the meaning.

Quotes

“If your ad is peppered with misspellings and grammatical errors, not only will it make the description difficult to read, the buyer might wonder if the seller is as lazy about the way she cares for and packs her items as she is about grammar and spelling.” ~ Dawn and Bobby Reno, The Unofficial Guide to eBay and Online Auctions

“Spelling is the clothing of words, their outward visible sign, and even those who favour sweatpants in everyday life like to make a bella figura, as the Italians say –- a good impression –- in their prose.” ~ Mary Norris, Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen

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

Michelle Troutman
Classy Writing
207.332.8379
classywriting.com

1. For your eyes only — Shut down your inner critic and write with the goal that no one will read your words. Dive into the middle, if necessary, without a beginning or an ending. If you dislike your writing, trash it. This session can also warm-up your mind before a bigger task.

2. Pen pal — If you’re drawing a blank page, pretend you’re writing to someone you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts with. Who knows? You just might like what you read, and if you’re ready, show your muse your piece for his or her feedback.

3. Just say it — Maybe the keyboard or the pen aren’t the best instruments to play your theme. Perhaps speaking feels more natural, and your voice will provide the perfect pitch. If so, record your thoughts alone or in conversation with someone and see if that frees your mind.

4. Reward yourself — Looking forward to something can make our days brighter. Give yourself a writing goal, and treat yourself for completing it afterward. For example, finish two pages today and later hang out with a friend, watch a favorite TV show, or enjoy some chocolate. This act can also trick your mind into complying and the anticipation of your reward can entice you to follow through.

5. Keep time — A la the Pomodoro Technique, write for a set time period, such as 25 minutes, then take a five-minute break. Continue writing for another 20 minutes and take another break, if necessary. A change of routine can refresh us, yield a better perspective, and make us more productive.

Quotes

“There’s no such thing as writer’s block. That was invented by people in California who couldn’t write.” ~ Terry Prachett

“Convince yourself that you are working in clay, not marble, on paper, not eternal bronze: Let that first sentence be as stupid as it wishes.” ~ Jacques Barzun

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

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

1. You’ll build R-E-S-P-E-C-T. If you keep your audience and their interests in mind, you’re more likely to write shorter, more focused attention-getting content. One size doesn’t fit all: if you’re targeting sneaker wearers, they’re more likely to feel comfortable dressing-down than those who don high-heels.

2. You’ll build believability. Readers tend to trust informative, stylish, and error-free text. Such content is also more memorable. In the 1980s, Coca-Cola’s slogan “Coke is it” reinforced its name and reputation among the biggest soft-drink sellers.

3. You’ll build credibility. You’ll look smarter if you consider how people will understand your writing. To use Coca-Cola as another example, when the company began selling their soda in 1920s China, shopkeepers translated their name phonetically on signs and among the variations was one that meant “bite the wax tadpole.” This funny misinterpretation has become so famous Coca-Cola even features a blog post about it.

4. You’ll make a better impression. Forethought cuts the effort required to create a piece compared to winging it until it fits your topic. This results in clearly structured, easier to understand writing.

5. You’ll build authenticity. Friendliness and approachability helps business. If you aren’t too pushy and take care to write truthfully with heart and some soul, you’re closer to connecting with customers. Overall, follow the first four steps and people will like your content more than if you ignore them. 🙂

Quotes

Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give. ~ William Arthur Ward

Before you speak, text, or write:

T: Is it True?
H: Is it Helpful?
I: Is it Inspiring?
N: Is it Necessary?
K: Is it Kind?

~ anonymous; sometimes attributed to Socrates (“Socrates’ sieve“)

Comments? Suggestions? Need help with your writing? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

The passive voice – Passive verbs, those in “to be” form tend to weaken sentences compared to active verbs. You can’t always avoid them, especially if you don’t know who did (or will do) something.

Example: “Your landscape plan determines how you want your lawn and garden to be designed.”

In this case, if the document isn’t specifically addressed to the do-it-yourselfer, the passive voice is a shortcut around whether the reader will handle the details him or herself or choose a professional.

Otherwise, knowledge of who will tackle the task yields a more direct revision: “Your landscape plan determines how you want to design your lawn and garden.”

Prepositions at the end of sentences – “With,” “for,” “on,” and “to” are among the prepositions some grammarians suggest you shouldn’t park at the end of sentences. But if you rearrange them, your sentences will sometimes sound awkward.

Example: “Which street are you on?” vs. “On which street are you?”

Conjunctions at the beginning of sentences – When I was in elementary school, my teachers advised me not to start my sentences with because, but, also, and, or other conjunctions; despite the formality, it was a way to make students work harder to word their sentences. To me, it’s fine if the sentences you start with those conjunctions aren’t merely fragments.

Example: “And vanilla ice cream.”
Better edit: “And I love vanilla ice cream.”

Split infinitives – The phrase Captain Kirk (William Shatner) says during the Star Trek TV series opening credits before the theme starts is a classic example: “To boldly go where no one has gone before.” (a la Grammar Girl.) Essentially, it’s the placement of an adverb — in this case, boldly, before a verb form (to go; the infinitive) — instead of after it, where some grammarians believe adverbs traditionally belong. Sometimes, it just doesn’t sound right to position adverbs properly, and we split infinitives to clarify what we mean.

Use of the second person – Depending on their audience, not everyone writes in a formal, grammatically correct tone. It’s more personal and direct to refer to you as you, instead of the more distant phrase the reader.

Quotes

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment, and education — sometimes it’s sheer luck, like getting across the street. ~ E.B. White

Arguments over grammar and style are often as fierce as those over IBM versus Mac, and as fruitless as Coke versus Pepsi and boxers versus briefs. ~ Jack Lynch

Comments? Suggestions? Need help with your writing? Feel free to contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com