|
|
Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! |  |
|
Want to Write Better? Strengthen Your Writing with Three Self-Editing Tips
| Guest post by: Melinda Copp |
Article Overview: The English language, like mathematics, has rules that make your message clear and understandable. In today’s era of e-mail and text communications, some may feel the rules of communication are largely unimportant as long as one gets the message across. But we know from verbal communication that how one says something is often as important, maybe even more important, than the actual words being said.
 |
Free Download - Four Secrets to Earning Income as an Author By Melinda Copp |
Want to Write Better? Strengthen Your Writing with Three Self-Editing Tips
The English language, like mathematics, has rules that make your message clear and understandable. In today’s era of e-mail and text communications, some may feel the rules of communication are largely unimportant as long as one gets the message across. But we know from verbal communication that how one says something is often as important, maybe even more important, than the actual words being said.
When you want to ensure your written communications are professional and clear, knowing the following three few self-editing tricks can enhance your prose.
1. Check Your Commas
One piece of punctuation that frequently trips up even the best writers is the comma. While the comma has many different rules and uses, one of the most helpful is this: don’t use a comma if two sentences divided by a period will do. Make a statement. End the sentence. Following this rule will help you avoid run-on sentences and keep your writing simple and easy to read.
2. Simplify Your Sentence Construction
Grammar rules are difficult to understand, even for English students. But knowing what a strong sentence looks like, and then not straying far from that construction, can be helpful.
Every sentence has nouns and verbs. For example, consider three parts of the sentence, “The boy runs to the store.” The most important part is the verb, or action word, “runs.” The other two parts are both nouns. “Boy” is the subject, the thing doing the action, while “store” is the object, the thing being acted upon. In effect, this structure amounts to noun, verb, noun, or “a something does something to something.”
An easy way to figure out if a sentence is strong and active is to make sure the answers to the following three questions are clear in the way your sentence is constructed:
• What is being done?
• Who or what is doing it?
• Who or what is it being done to?
Now consider this sentence: “It is the boy who ran to the store.” It has the same three parts from the first example. “Boy” is the subject. “Ran” is the verb. And “store” is the object. However, it has extras words that weaken the sentence’s meaning: “who,” “it,” and “is.” And adding these words broke away from the “a something does something to something” model, weakening the overall effect.
3. Activate Your Verbs
Another important rule is use the imperative verb form rather than the form with the suffix “-ing.” The imperative form is a verb’s un-conjugated form. For instance, “to deliver” is the imperative root of “delivers,” “delivered,” “will deliver,” and “delivering.” In many cases, “-ing” verbs are a sign of a weak or awkward sentence.
Now consider the sentence: “The boy runs to the store delivering apples.” While the sentence is not incorrect, the imperative form can be used with a stronger clarifying effect: “The boy runs to the store to deliver apples.”
Self-Editing Your Writing
Although it always helps to have your work professionally edited, you can use these tips to eliminate many of the grammar and style issues that weaken your writing. These rules make it easy to find unclear sentences and keep your writing active, concise, and professional.
How to Develop the Writing Habit-Even if You Don’t Have Time to Write
5 Ways to Add Your Personality to Your Writing
Writing Business Articles
Top 7 Steps to Increase Article Writing Speed if Internet Marketing Is A Key Marketing Strategy
Writing and Publishing eBooks Made Easy #02 - The Creative Writing Process
|
About the Author: Melinda Copp RSS for Melinda's articles - Visit Melinda's website Click here to visit Melinda's website   Top 10 Author Mistakes Write to Grow Richer |
Related Forum Posts
Business Tips
- How about:
Tips for managers to handle employees more effectively?
Tips on how to deal with difficult customers?
Tips on how to deal more effectively with suppliers?
The only three I have in mind right now, but will try to come up with something else.
Chris
Re: Quote of the Day - "Have the courage to follow your heart an
- [quote="GT Bulmer":102twzd2]Hi, Evan:
I haven't yet managed to capitalize on the longings of my heart as successfully as Jobs did[/quote:102twzd2]
Hi GT - I woke up thinking about this post and I have a challenge for you for May if you're up to it.
Here it is: Write the blog post / article you were born to write. Write something that you can pour your heart and all your passion into. Write something where you can change the life of the person reading it. Write something where if you look back in 10 years you'll be really proud of what you created.
Can you do that?
I'd love to read it (and I bet a lot of others will too!)
Re: What Do You Outsource Mostly?
- Writing, Article Spinning, Backlinking.
Re: Will 2009 be the year you write your book?
- Writing a book takes time but its sure rewarding! Thanks for the info.
Can a biz website help?
- Tara,
A website is just another vechicle to deliver your message and keep in touch with your customers. How? well for one your email address will have your web address in it - people judge your professionalism at that level too.
Some uses my clients have found beneficial when they thought it wouldn't:
1. Disseminating repetitive information to clients e.g. portfolios, FAQs.
2. Send out newsletters that link back to your webpage (costs practically nothing via email)
3. Writing articles for your industry. These articles will do two things: 1) establish your expert status. 2) Search Engine Optimize your site.
4. Run cheaper ads in print publications by directing them to your Sales message on to a page on your site.
5. Write a special report on "Logo branding" for business owners to download. You capture their email info as you have to email it to them or their mailing address and send them the report. After they have read it they will still be inclined to use your service even if you divulge every step it takes to create a logo brand. The psychology is that they fear they may still mess up and you won't. I did this with my old Web design business as a test (gave them step by step what they needed to do to setup a website) and I still got their business. I installed Trust in them that I could do it best.
Those are the major ones.
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.
by: 
4 Building Blocks of an Effective Talent Management System
Simon Fuller Quotes
Lesson #3: “Tell ‘em quick and tell ‘em often”
Searching for the Stars: How Yang and Filo Took Their Business to New Heights
Salesperson Wimp-Out: I Need Help 
Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
What Is The Foundation for Your Vision?
The Pure FUN of Learning & Using NLP
Good News Travels Fast
Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.