Category: writing better

words, writing advice, writing better, writing more clearly, writing professionalism, writing redundancies, writing well, writing with clarity

5 Ways to Make Your Writing More Interesting

1. Variety – We all tend to repeat certain words. Repetition isn’t always bad, but if you use the same terms often and they seem redundant, try different ones. They can make your writing more interesting.

Example: “John’s Nursery and Greenhouse offers everything for your gardening needs in its new heated greenhouse.”
Revised: “John’s Nursery and Greenhouse offers everything for your gardening needs in its new heated store.”

2. Challenge yourself – Mix things up. Move from general to more descriptive terms, such as “German Shepherd” vs. “dog.” Adding minor details can make your writing less generic and more specific.

3. Cut the glut – If you’ve written several passages with the same meaning or that point to obvious information, remove them.

Example: “My conclusions are at the end.”

4. Rehab your vocab – Open a dictionary and point at a page and read about the word you land on. Do crosswords and other brain teasers. A game of Scrabble on your smartphone or with a partner can be fun. Read classic books such as “It Pays to Increase Your Word Power” and “30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary” to expand your verbal horizons.

5. Use more pronouns – When you refer to a person, place, or a thing more than once, use a pronoun (“him,” “her,” “it,” “them,” etc.).

Example: “George kicked the can down the road. George then hopped on his bike to go to the store.”
Revised: “George kicked the can down the road. He then hopped on his bike to go to the store.”

How do you make your writing more interesting? Feel free to comment below.

Do your newsletters, blog posts, and other content have all the ingredients they need to engage readers? If you need to add some “spice” to keep people coming back for seconds, contact me.

Quotes

“The key is using repetition deliberately, consciously, and strategically. If you don’t think it can be effective, imagine if Shakespeare had had Macbeth say: ‘Tomorrow, and the next day, and the one after that, creeps in this petty pace from one twenty-four-hour period to another.'” ~ Ben Yagoda, “How Not to Write Bad: the Most Common Writing Problems and the Best Ways to Avoid Them.”

“Duplicate, sequential words result from fairly common sentence constructions, and repetition is often recognized as a typo.” ~ Writer’s Relief

Comments? Suggestions? Need help with your communications? Contact me.

business communication, business writing, writing advice, writing better

The 5 Most Overused Business Words and Phrases of 2020

1. Pivot – Understandably, some of us have had to reorganize our work and our personal lives, which is why this is one of the most overused words and phrases of 2020. I guess people like “pivot” because it brings up an image of turning on a dime or spinning quickly. I prefer the terms “adjust” and “adapt,” however, there’s also the traditional “change.”

2. Unprecedented – Yes, the pandemic and the economic fallout left in its wake are unusual. Everyone knows that by now. Less common alternatives include “unparalleled,” “extraordinary,” and even “freakish.”

3. “New normal” – The definition of “normal” is debatable anyway. The mass media has definitely pounded this phrase into the ground. I like more forward thinking updates, such as “the next normal” and “the new usual.”

4. Disruptor/disruptive – These words appear often at marketing agency websites. Traditionally, a “disruptor” interrupts something to cause problems (as opposed to solving them). Apparently, simply being “creative” is too boring.

Perhaps “disruptive” applies better to the pandemic. I get that in using it, they’re trying to appear hip, artistic, or even edgy, more dynamic than their competitors. But, if it becomes too commonplace, come up with something more original. Why not focus on projecting a more positive image? Maybe you’re really a “creator,” a “rejuvenator,” a “producer,” or even an “activist.”

5. Tone-deaf – I’ve been guilty of using this a few times, mostly when I refer to behavior that would have been more suitable before the pandemic. An alternative with a similar meaning is “inappropriate,” but its proper use depends on the context.

What do you think were the most overused words and phrases of 2020 (or now)? Feel free to comment below.

Need help finding the “write” words? Contact me.

Quotes

“Overused, incorrect, and fuzzy words have plagued writing for centuries.” ~ Ann Gynn, Content Marketing Institute, Stop With the Overused and Incorrect Words in Your Writing

Published December 1, 2020

professional writing, writing advice, writing better

5 Hallmarks of Professional Writing

1. Flow – Professional writing is clear and error-free, peppered with a variety of words and phrases. The prose is also lively, written in an active voice, and flows with a rhythm that pleases the eyes and ears. Oftentimes, behind the writing, a skillful editor has sewn all of these parts together to form a complete work that communicates a powerful message.

2. Fewer “to be” verbs – You might not even need them. You can rely on “is,” “are,” and other “to be” verbs in a pinch, but doing so too often shows that you could use more descriptive wording. Varying your word choice requires more time and thought, but it can pay off in better phrasing. Too many “to be” verbs also signal a lapse into the passive voice. For example, below, the edited passage helps readers see the activity.

Example: The car is speeding up the street.
Edited: The car raced through the street.

3. Everything adds up – Your writing should be clear and make sense. When someone makes a statement and leaves out some information, it may be open to interpretation. For instance, you can skew statistics to confuse readers. It helps to explain complex statements, especially those that involve numbers, to put them in the proper context. It’s more honest and ethical to “write what you mean and mean what you say.”

Example: A high loss ratio on insurance claims signals that an insurer pays a lot of claims and has lost money, which can affect its financial stability and credit rating. The ratio might not be so important if the company has a low market share or amount of customers in a given area. So, if Payout Mutual has a high loss ratio in Tennessee, it’s easy to state that, but to frame a more complete picture, include the company’s market share and any other details necessary to explain the concept correctly.

4. Style – If you’re writing for a company or a publication that follows a certain style that specifies how to format certain words, punctuation, etc. — whether it’s their own or a guide —  make sure you proofread with those guidelines in mind.

5. Originality – In an era when plagiarism is common, we should value unique and professional writing more. If you can’t say it better than someone else, you may quote and give credit instead. You can use information from other sources, but write it in your own words. It’s harder, but the effort is more rewarding than stealing someone else’s wording and calling it your own.

What do you think are the hallmarks of professional writing? Feel free to comment below.

Quotes

“It is perfectly okay to write garbage — as long as you edit brilliantly.” ~ C.J. Cherryh

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” ~ Stephen King, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft”

Comments? Suggestions? Could your writing use a dash of professionalism? Contact me.

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com

improving your writing, writing advice, writing better, writing consultation

5 Lessons Everyone Can Learn About Writing

1. How to turn a phrase – Some people feel that they need to learn about writing. English could be their second language or maybe they got poor grades in school. Their problem areas include everything from proper grammar and punctuation to spelling, sentence structure, tone, and transitions. It’s helpful to learn about writing to improve, but you don’t need to know every technique to write well. For instance, spell-checkers like Grammarly help me correct errors in communications I draft quickly, such as emails, social media posts, and other memos.

2. How to shorten your writing and save time – Perhaps you feel you have too much to say — jotting everything down briefly and clearly becomes a chore. For detailed thinkers, it can take hours to accomplish. It’s possible to use fewer words to finish sooner.

3. How to sound like yourself – Some people think they speak better than they write. Others believe they have limited vocabularies that show they’re clueless about writing. They wrestle with writing in a way that sounds natural to them. Instead of talking down to their audience, they can use certain methods to speak to them in their own voices.

4. How to start writing – When you jot down your thoughts, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to begin. Perhaps you believe you have too many ideas or “overthink” concepts. Maybe you see things and fumble to connect words with them. In a few simple steps, you can ease into writing your first few sentences.

5. How to accept your writing – Often, we’re too hard on ourselves. Some people have told me they write poorly and can’t focus. They worry that their grammar is bad. They lack confidence in spelling some words and think they should already know how. They’re perfectionists; they organize paragraphs over and over or fight to find just the right words.

No matter the writing problem, when they must write, they don’t. Instead, they become prone to distraction and find excuses to delay writing, which can include bad timing or the need to get in the right mood. One of the first ways to get beyond procrastination is to stop judging and just write.

You can’t learn about writing through reading just one article. Coaching or consulting offers a deeper “dive” to give you a better understanding. It starts with a free 30-minute meeting. Learn more.

Quotes

“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” ~ Brian Herbert

“What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.” ~ Aristotle

What do you struggle with in your writing?

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

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

Michelle Troutman
classywriting.com