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Write Better
The official blog of LousyWriter.com. Reporting on improvements in communication, business writing, and the English language.

• Free workplace English class for non-native speakers
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
16 Nov 2009 at 10:28am

English in the Workplace is a free class designed to meet the workplace communication needs of non-native English speakers.

Students will practice speaking, listening, reading and writing while studying pronunciation, workplace communication, vocabulary development and job search skills.

Enrollment in the class is open to the public. Classes are held Monday through Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p... ( expand article )

• Are You Up to Speed With Hyphenation? by Rich Talbot
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
16 Nov 2009 at 10:27am

It's neither a dash nor an underscore (_), the hyphen (-) is a punctuation mark most commonly used to join two words to make one - and for such a small character, it has an important role in any text document. In fact the hyphen has an entire function dedicated to its use in Word 2007.

Hyphenation deals with the role of the hyphen when used to separate words at the end of a line. A word that appears at the end of a line, but is too long to fit completely on that line, can be hyphenated. This is especially helpful if turning the word to the next line avoids unsightly gaps in the text on the previous line.

Obviously the difficulty is that, when inserting a hyphen in a word at the end of a line, it does not form a permanent part of the spelling of the word. The rules for deciding where to insert a hyphen, therefore, can sometimes cause confusion. Some prefer to divide words between consonants - for example 'splen-dour'; and some between vowels - 'appreci-ate'. Words of one syllable should never be divided - for example 'rhythm'. As a rough guide, the hyphen should be positioned in the word at a place that eases reading the text.

Word 2007 has a sophisticated hyphenation function, which undertakes most of the decision-making for you. The hyphenation feature can be used to prevent gaps in lines when text is justified, or to make text more equal on lines when using 'ragged' copy. Hyphenation also prompts a better understanding and awareness of the shape of the words on a line, and enables the author to create a more professional and polished looking document.

The hyphenation feature can be set to automatically or manually hyphenate text, insert optional or non-breaking hyphens, and set the maximum amount of space allowed between a word and the right margin without hyphenating the word.

By selecting Automatic Hyphenation, when a word is too long to fit on to the end of a line, Word 2007 automatically hyphenates the word over two lines. Automatic Hyphenation is a great facility if you are confident of where a hyphen will be inserted. If the text is edited, then Word automatically re-hyphenates the altered text as required.

Manual hyphenation gives the author more control to select where a hyphen should or should not appear. Again if you edit the text, Word will offer any alternatives to new line breaks, and will not automatically hyphenate words. This is particularly useful when using compound nouns and verbs such as 'in-house' or 'e-mail' and where house style dictates the spelling.

An optional hyphen can be used when you want to ensure that a word will only be hyphenated at the end of a line in a certain place. For example, to ensure that the word nonhyphenated is never broken as 'nonhyphen-ated'. An optional hyphen can be inserted after 'non' and before 'hyphen'. To insert an optional hyphen, use the keys 'CTRL+HYPHEN'. To view optional hyphens, select the function Show and Hide from the Paragraph group on the Home tab.

A non-breaking hyphen can also be inserted in words or phrases that you do not want to be broken at the end of a line. For example in the sequence of numbers, 'Telephone: 555-5555' the telephone number should not be broken over a line.

A non-breaking hyphen can be typed to ensure that the number will not be split over two lines. To insert a non-breaking hyphen, click where the hyphen appears and key 'CTRL+SHIFT+HYPHEN'. Now the entire number will move on to the next line and will not be split at the hyphen point.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Microsoft Word courses, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net/

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• English Grammar Rules - How We Got Lost on the Way to Grammar's House by Brad Nugent
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
9 Nov 2009 at 4:57am

There was a time, way back in the murky past, when understanding English Grammar was considered to be one of the fundamentals taught at schools in the English speaking world. For some reason, this has changed over the past few decades and a more holistic approach to literacy instruction has been advocated. However, even highly intelligent students now seem to struggle when it comes to the conventions of writing in English. Clearly, there are some things that just don't automatically happen via exposure to language and texts. There are still some basic elements of language learning, including those pesky Grammar rules, which must be actively taught.

In fact, it is somewhat misleading to refer to English Grammar rules as 'rules'. They are not rules in the same way that we have rules of cricket, for instance. If we wanted to know about the rules of cricket, we would simply consult the official Cricket Rule Book. However, we cannot do something similar if we want to know about English Grammar rules. There is no official English Grammar Guide that contains all the laws of the language. These rules are not so much 'rules' as they are 'conventions', agreed upon quite informally over time by the majority of those who use the language.

So if they are not really rules at all, then why do we need to follow them? It is not mandatory to follow conventions. People are allowed to differ from the norm. The supposed English Grammar rules are not laws! I will not go to jail if I tell the police, 'I seen the man what robbed the place!' I will not have to face an officious magistrate if I am overheard telling a friend, 'There ain't nothing I can do about it.' And, assuming I was not supposed to be at work all weekend, I will not be fired if I tell a co-worker, 'Me and Billy was just down at the pub on the weekend, wasn't we Billy?'

The police officer, my friend and my co-worker would all understand me. They would get the message I intended to convey. Does this mean that understanding English Grammar is unnecessary? This would be the case if it were only the meaning of our communications that were important. However, this is clearly not the case. Successful communication between two people involves not only the sender of the message, but also the receiver of the message. And the perception formed by the receiver of the message can be vitally important. This perception will be influenced by the manner in which the message is sent. If the conventions of Grammar are followed, the message may well be received more favourably since both the sender and receiver of the message are using the same system for communicating.

Consider the case when the communication is not made verbally, but in writing. Writing is a far more formal medium. The expectation that goes along with this is that English Grammar rules will be followed more closely in writing than in speaking. There is no doubt that if my written statement, 'I seen the man what robbed the place!' was distributed to a jury, then my credibility would be somewhat reduced.

The way language is used does matter. English Grammar rules may not be rules per se, but we are still bound by them. The effective communication of our intended meaning and the perception of our message by those that receive it depend upon communicators 'playing' by the rules. There are times that our communications need to appear professional and credible. This is why understanding English Grammar should be reinstated as a fundamental focus of our study of language at school.

Brad Nugent is a school psychologist from Western Australia. He enjoys helping others to improve their learning outcomes, particular with regards to written expression.

You can visit Brad for more information at his Understanding English Grammar blog.

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• The Great Grammar Book: Mastering Grammar Usage and the Essentials of Composition
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
9 Nov 2009 at 4:55am

Arch Press announces the release of "The Great Grammar Book: Mastering Grammar Usage and the Essentials of Composition." This stylish, witty, and ambitious book is ideally suited for high school and college students, business people, and anyone who wants to know the correct way to write something.

Practice exercises are filled with fascinating, quirky information, making this grammar book actual... ( expand article )

• New Online Tutoring Method Teaches Students Classroom Lessons
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
2 Nov 2009 at 5:44am

Tutorgiant.com presents a new format for online tutoring, The Ackerman Tutoring Method. Unlike traditional tutors, Tutorgiant.com enables students to watch classroom lessons in math and English before they receive the instruction in the classroom. Lessons can be watched at home on the same days that the lessons are being taught in school. Also, students can watch and participate in the online lessons after the concepts have been taught in school and any time before tests.

Tutorgiant.com provides about 400 videos 500 worksheets, and over 150 tips for learning. All worksheets are taken up in the videos so students will be able to immediately correct their work, see their mistakes, and improve their skills. Whether it is fractions, geometry, algebra, reading comprehension, writing, or grammar, students will be better prepared for classroom lessons using the Ackerman Tutoring Method.

According to Sympatico MSN technology expert, Marc Saltzman,

"Whether you're pulling your hair out over algebra or struggling with science, a unique, refreshing, and accessible new website, Tutorgiant.com, is trying to help students with on-demand instructional videos and accompanying printable worksheets. A site like Tutorgiant can really get a student up to speed...get some extra homework to help complement what kids have already received from their teacher. If you want your kids to excel in school, definitely have them check out Tutorgiant.com".

Tutorgiant.com also offers free online math and reading assessments and free advice and tips so that parents can get an idea of their child's weaker areas before it's too late into the term. Launched by education expert, Stuart Ackerman MSc.Ed, Tutorgiant.com video lessons are all curriculum based. Mr. Ackerman has compiled curricula from North America and Europe to create all the math and English lessons that students receive in school. Members have unlimited access to all videos in every grade twenty four hours a day. The Ackerman Tutoring Method also caters to homeschoolers, students with learning disabilities, and students with different learning styles.

Website: http://www.tutorgiant.com/

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• New Web Site Promotes Journalism For Kids
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
2 Nov 2009 at 5:40am

Remember when you were a kid and you had dreams of what you wanted to be when you grew up - an astronaut, a fireman, President of the United States, a business tycoon, a newspaper reporter? What do you think would have happened if you actually had a chance to try one of those jobs?

The Kidz Connexion has created an online environment where kids can find out what it is like to be a journalist, or a reporter. The mission of the Kidz Connexion is to stimulate young people's creativity, engage their minds, and increase their participation in the world, enabling children to give us a view of their experiences from their perspective while creating a platform and environment where kids can get a taste of what it is truly like to be more than just a reporter, but a place where they can interact, and share their views.

The main premise of the Kidz Connexion is to enroll school-age children to become part of the Kidz Connexion KidReporter Team. KidReporters get to write stories, take pictures and shoot video reports of their experiences at various venues, attractions, and events that are part of the Kidz Connexion network.

KidReporters can win prizes for themselves and their school, get incredible media exposure, create blogs and upload videos and photos, and more. The Kidz Connexion is a fun learning environment that is unlike any other.

"Compelling! Is the first word that comes to my mind when I think about the Kidz Connexion" says Ms. Sharon Summerlin, President and Editor-in-Chief. "Some of the stories that our KidReporters have written are so wonderful and written with such warmth from a kid's point of view. Stories about events, soldiers in the war and families top the list, and as we grow and more and more kids join our KidReporter Team, I am sure the stories that will come in the future will touch on all emotions, from laughter to tears."

Created in 2009, the Kidz Connexion is designed specifically for children ages 7 – 13. The site works with a network of over 11,000 schools, 200 attractions and many other national brand partners to bring a wealth of rich experiences and story possibilities to our KidReporters.

Website: http://www.thekidzconnexion.com/

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• Experts Offer Tips to Help Students Succeed in Their First Year in College
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
26 Oct 2009 at 5:42am

As students across the nation head back to college, they should be aware that, on average, one in three of them will not return to the same school for their second year.

But there are things each new student can do to improve their chances of success, say experts who have studied the issue.

Andrew Koch, director of Purdue University's Student Access, Transition and Success Programs, points out that students leaving for college are doing more than changing schools.

"These young people are now establishing their own norms," he says. "They are now responsible for their own physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and they have to balance academic success in the midst of all of this."

Although students think they are prepared for college-level courses, Koch says the difficulty still catches them by surprise.

"We asked 14,000 freshmen about their first year in college, and as a group they all said they didn't know they'd have to work as hard as they did," Koch says. "What was interesting was that they said this regardless of whether they had been successful."

John Gardner, author of "Your College Experience: Strategies for Success," the academic work "The Freshman Year Experience: Helping Students Survive and Succeed in College," and a senior fellow at the National Resource Center on the First Year Experience and Students in Transition, says simply leaving home is harder for students than they realize.

"Homesickness is a factor, particularly for men," Gardner says. "Believe it or not, men adjust less well to leaving home than women do. Men tend to be less mature at age 18 than women."

Koch and Gardner agree that students must focus on both the social aspects of fitting in at college as well as stepping up their academic efforts. They offer these tips for making a successful transition:

- Make friends with people who share similar goals

"The first item on your to-do list should be to make friends," Koch says. "Not to party, but to make relationships with your peers. You should attend as many orientation activities as possible, and if your school has an academic learning community where students in similar majors are housed together, you should join that. There, you'll find students who are going through the same things, taking the same classes. As I tell students, serendipity is too important to leave to chance."

Gardner points out that the single biggest influence on students is other students. "You should pay attention to who you associate with because you are going to become like them. If they like to party every night, you will, too."

- Don't go home for as long as you can

Although students may think that going home on weekends and staying in touch with high school friends is a way to ease the adjustment, the experts say the opposite is true.

"We have research that shows the more frequently you go home the less likely you are to survive the first year," Gardner says. "The worst thing you can do is stay in your room and text old friends from high school about what you are going to do that weekend."

- Join a club or group

Research has shown that students who joined at least one co-curricular activity were more likely to be successful in their freshman year.

"This is part of finding people who share your interests," Koch says. "This gives you a reason to be on campus on the weekends and gives you a group of new friends to enjoy. You have to find your niche, but it's also a great opportunity to try new things."

- Take care of your physical health, including managing stress

The enormous amount of life change that accompanies the transition to college produces stress, and often students try to deal with it in ways that actually increases the stress - by sleeping less, eating more or drinking alcohol.

"Overeating and drinking alcohol are not only damaging to your health, but they also lower a student's self-esteem," Gardner says.

- Go to class and do the homework

"Academics should be your first priority," Koch says. "This is why finding friends in your classes or through learning communities is important for student success. They'll literally drag each other out of bed to attend class."

Koch and Gardner point out that even the best high school students find they need to learn new academic behaviors in college.

"Students may be brilliant, so they never had to study in high school or really pay attention in class," Koch says. "They can find themselves on academic probation at the end of their first semester in college. They need to know they have to go to class, take good notes and read the assigned materials, even if they could get good grades without doing that before."

- Attend help sessions

In high school, help sessions may have been seen as unnecessary and may have even carried a stigma. University freshmen need to quickly understand that college is different.

"Students have to learn a new set of rules about getting help," Gardner says. "No one is going to tell your parents, and it doesn't mean you are a bad student or person. Ironically, it's the top students, the real fast burners, who seek out help first."

"Asking for help in college is like the old joke about voting in Chicago: Do it early and often."

This fall Purdue launched an online program called Signals that encourages students to seek help and recommends appropriate steps to take. Signals alerts students with a red, yellow or green stoplight when they log into their courses, depending on their predicted success, and sends the students messages from their instructor about how to improve.

"Signals offers a host of interventions," Koch says. "It alerts them when they are not being as successful as they could be, and it helps students make connections with teaching assistants or study groups."

- Maintain your personal standards

Life away from home has many opportunities and temptations, and many of these are exaggerated by immature peers. Students who put their personal values at risk can damage their self-esteem, which will have an impact on their college career. Poor decisions about drinking alcohol, sexual relationships or overspending and credit card debt can put students at risk.

"Students are going to be confronted with choices about doing things to belong, and they should not compromise their values," Gardner says. "If they do compromise their values, this can cause tremendous damage to their self-esteem."

- Parents should be prepared for a text or e-mail message saying things aren't going well

Parents have a role to play in students' success, too, Koch says, although it is less direct than when the students were in high school.

"You have to allow the student to grow and to let go, but not let go completely," Koch says. "Read the resource material for parents the college provides so that if the student calls and says they are struggling, you can offer good information about resources as well as emotional support. Both are important."

RELATED WEB SITES:

Purdue University Student Access Transition and Success Programs: http://www.purdue.edu/sats/

John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education: http://www.jngi.org/

Purdue Signals system for early intervention: http://www.itap.purdue.edu/tlt/signals/

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• New Definition-Free Dictionary Celebrates Webster's 251st Birthday
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
26 Oct 2009 at 5:39am

What would Noah Webster think? Two centuries later his name still sells a "Dictionary" and carries his portrait on the frontispiece-- YET doesn't provide a single definition! Pictorial Webster's: A Pictorial Dictionary of Curiosities,( Chronicle Books - retail $35) printed from nearly 4,000 images found in the original Webster's Dictionaries of the nineteenth century. Compiled from 100-year-old block print images discovered in the basement of the Yale library, artist John Carrera created a curious visual collection, a "timeless" best-seller picture book for the ages that Carrera hopes will be used as a springboard to creativity.

Pictorial Webster's serves as reminder of the impact Noah Webster had on our cultural landscape. Born 251 years ago on October 16, Webster's name has sold tens of millions of dictionaries. A patriot whom George Washington himself respected, Noah Webster hoped his dictionary would help unify and strengthen our then infant American Culture. In 1806 he published the first American dictionary titled "A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language." The dictionary became so widely mimicked that Webster's name literally and legally became a synonym for "dictionary" because copyrights were not then what they are now. It was Noah Webster who championed the strong copyright laws that we now have, and his cousin Daniel Webster, a United States Senator, introduced and helped the bill through Congress. After Noah's death, his heirs sold the rights to George & Charles Merriam and their company, now called Merriam-Webster is still producing dictionaries today.

Pictorial Webster's selected by Indie Booksellers for September 2009 Indie Notables

"The greatest oddity resurrected in reference books in a generation, this fascinating image-based dictionary adds new meaning to the phrase, 'Let's look it up.' Pictorial Webster's is a phenomenal follow-up for fans of everything from The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet to The Professor and the Madman." -- Alex Green, Back Pages Books, Waltham, MA

Perfect for conversation, reflection, celebrating Webster's birthday holiday gifts, Pictorial Webster's editions include: limited run of 26 hand printed and bound collector's copies $4,600 (win one in a contest held by Chronicle Books); an artist's edition of 100 books, $2,600; and the best-seller trade-edition, Chronicle Books, $35 (ChronicleBooks.com). The artist's site http://www.quercuspress.com/ contains production process, video footage, media images and more Pictorial Webster's information.

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• Number One Press Release Writing Mistake: NO KEYWORDS
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
19 Oct 2009 at 5:29am

Writers can use these 5 tips so that their optimized press releases pull more traffic, redirect that traffic to their websites, and turn website visitors into customers. They can learn how to write a press release using keywords by signing up for a teleseminar Oct. 21. SEO expert Janet Thaeler will be the guest.

Press release writers who don't use keywords within their copy are making a mistake, says publicity expert Joan Stewart. Her new teleseminar teaches writers how to write a press release that pulls targeted traffic to a web site and blogs.

Stewart, of http://www.89pressreleasetips.com/ says the most frequent mistake she sees in press releases is the absence of keywords—that is, words and phrases that people who are searching for information online are most likely to type into the search engines.

"Keywords are like magnets that flag the search engines. Whether you sell coaching services or dog toys, using the right keywords will help your ideal customers find your press releases online. Journalists use search engines to find stories. Your customers use search engines to find products and information. An optimized press release sends people to your web site long after the news is stale," Stewart says.

Many writers, she says, spend hours crafting the perfect headline, sub-head, copy and quotes. Those elements are all important. But they could be ineffective if people can't find their releases online.

5 Tips to Writing Optimized Press Releases

Stewart recommends these five tips:

1. Before you write, do keyword research to learn what words or phrases relate to your news, industry or brand. Wordtracker and Google's Wonder Wheel help simplify and arrange search results.

2. Identify from one to four different but related keyword phrases to use, and include them within your release.

3. If your business serves a local area, use regional keywords. For example: "Los Angeles yoga studio"

4. Don't assume you must use your company name in the headline. That's one of the first places the search engines look for keywords. People who are searching for the type of product or service you sell, and don't know about your company, won't type your company name into the search engines. Use the same keywords they'd use, based on your research.

5. Use keywords in the first paragraph of your press release.

Learn more about Keywords
Stewart will host a telephone seminar at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Oct. 21, on "How to Use Keywords, the 'Magic Magnets' That Pull Consumers and Journalists to Your Press Releases" Guest expert Janet Thaeler, a search engine optimization expert, will walk participants through the entire process of writing a press release, from keyword research to how to submit a press release online.

Each person who registers will receive a copy of the MP3 recording and sample press releases. They will also be eligible to enter to win a free release, written by Thaeler and distributed through PRWeb. Registration is $39.95 and includes links to three videos that demonstrate how to do research and use keywords.

Register for the press release teleseminar now.

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• Online Foreign Language Word Teaching Service
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
19 Oct 2009 at 5:27am

12word.com (http://www.12word.com/) has launched a free online foreign language word teaching service. With the service internet users cannot avoid learning thousands of words from any foreign language while surfing the web. The free, custom made web browser toolbar keeps on showing the animated words whenever the web browser is used.

The free service is available at no costs to any person, scho... ( expand article )

• EBSCO Publishing Expands Literary Coverage
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
12 Oct 2009 at 12:32pm

EBSCO Publishing expanded its literary resources with the release of Literary Reference Center Plus, a database that builds upon the content of EBSCO's existing Literary Reference Center by offering additional reference works, literary journals, contemporary literature titles, study guides, audio content, and videos. Literary Reference Center Plus includes all of the existing content of Literar... ( expand article )

• The history of reading over 5,000 years
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
12 Oct 2009 at 12:30pm

When did the written word first appear, and how has it changed the course of human existence? How do you make peace when all you want is revenge? And why does the most polarizing scientific theory of all time still matter 150 years after its publication? This November, TVO explores these questions and more through a thought-provoking range of documentary, drama and current affairs programming.

Wednesdays at 10 pm starting November 25 on The View From Here, TVO presents the world premiere of the four-part documentary series Empire of the Word. The jewel in the crown of TVO's season-long programming commitment to literacy, the series is an eye-opening, epic journey into the origins of reading and its impact on more than 5,000 years of human history. At the heart of the series is the question of why reading has survived throughout the ages. Host and renowned Canadian-Argentine writer Alberto Manguel takes viewers around the globe to meet the characters and revisit the events that create the story of the written word, including the genesis of the alphabet, the world's first novel, role of religion in reading; the invention of the Gutenberg press, and the technological revolution.

Online at tvo.org/empireoftheword, starting Wednesday October 28 visitors will be immersed in the world of reading through a compelling interactive mystery unfolding over eight weeks, as well as a variety of educational games, relevant links, and video interviews with Canadian authors.

To mark Remembrance Day, TVO launches a week of programs offering different perspectives on war. Wednesday November 11, look for the North American premiere of Paris 1919. Inspired by Margaret MacMillan's acclaimed 2003 book of the same name, this feature documentary reveals the diplomatic gamesmanship behind the most ambitious peace talks in history. Watch also for The Last Day of World War One with host Michael Palin (November 9), who revisits the battlefields in France and Belgium to learn what actually happened on the final day of conflict; Occupation (Thursdays November 12 - 26), a three-part drama about three British soldiers in Iraq and how their lives are transformed by their experience; and Your Voice: When Mom or Dad Comes Home, a special edition of TVO's parenting program shot on location at CFB Petawawa that explores the challenges of reintegrating back into family life when a soldier leaves the battlefield.

Also in November is the Canadian premiere of Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (Tuesday November 24). David Attenborough marks the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal evolutionary work, On the Origin of Species by sharing his personal insights on Darwin's theory of evolution.

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• 5 Myths of Article Writing - Dismissed, Dispelled and Debunked by Mike Griffith
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
6 Oct 2009 at 2:41pm

You're a victim of the myths of article writing if you don't think you have what it takes to write a great article that can drive hundreds, or even thousands, of targeted visitors to your website. Let's take a look at 5 of these myths -- and dispel them -- right now.

1. You have to have dynamic writing skills.

WRONG. The truth is that many of the most popular and effective online articles are written by "rookies", and not by someone who has a degree in journalism. And the main reason they're successful is because they happen to cover a popular subject. Learn what people who found out what's hot and wrote about it.

2. You have to know your subject.

NOPE. While it is true that you need to know something about your topic, writing articles isn't about what you know. It's all about expanding on current knowledge. And you can find everything you need to know about any subject in a matter of minutes by surfing the internet.

3. You must have something fresh to write about.

WRONG AGAIN. This is one of the biggest myths of article writing. The only thing that must be "fresh" about your article is the way you express yourself in it. In fact, you should be elated if someone else has written about the same topic you're covering. It only proves that there's a market for it. Just go on and write your article, remembering that there is nothing new under the sun.

4. You have to please your English teacher.

I don't have anything against English teachers; proper English has it's place. But keep in mind that online writing is a very informal place where people from all walks of life need to understand what you have to say. Keep your writing style chatty and you'll appeal to the majority of them. Be more concerned about communicating with people than about grammar. But be sure to watch your spelling.

5. Your articles must be long.

HOGWASH. Keep your articles between 350 and 450 words and you'll be ok. Why? Because the most popular articles tend to fall within that range. These days internet surfers are busy and don't have time to read long, drawn-out articles.

Writing articles is by far the fastest and most effective way to build an online business with real foundations. Debunk these myths of article writing and you'll be on your way to real online profits and success.

Mike Griffith is an internet marketer specializing in showing online marketers how to explode their business with article marketing. For Free Instant Access to his new article marketing course, visit http://www.awesomearticlesonline.com/

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• Top 3 Resume Editing Tips by Jason Kay
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
28 Sep 2009 at 7:12am

It can be daunting to write a killer resume. It's the first impression a hiring manager will have of you and your only chance to compel that person to invite you in for an interview. Too many people focus solely on resume structure and buzz words, allowing sloppy editing to curtail their chances of scoring an interview. You can have all of the right ingredients-experience, skills, education-and still not hear back from companies because your resume isn't edited well. We all make mistakes, but in a tight job market when employers can afford to be choosy, they're not going to green light a resume with two spelling errors over one with zero. The tips below can help you put the finishing touches on your resume and give you a leg up in the hiring process.

Tip #1: Read it Out Loud

Not because the hiring manager will, but because reading a document aloud-word for word-is one of the best ways to spot common grammatical errors. It forces you to really pay attention to everything on the page, helping bring to light mistakes like subject-verb agreement, which will hopefully sound "off" to your ear; words that were left out or mistakenly inserted during rounds of revisions; or any inconsistencies with dates or job descriptions.

It's also a great way to hunt for mistakes that aren't caught by your computer's spell check. You would be amazed at how many human resource professionals receive resumes from experienced "mangers" (rather than managers).

Lastly, reading your resume out loud can help you get a feel for whether your resume is too long, which is much more common than one that's too short. Many people think that longer equals better, but it simply tells readers that you don't know what's important or how to write concisely-not exactly a great introduction. If you get to the end and think, "That took longer than I thought it would," you might want to think about tightening it up a bit.

Tip #2: Don't Leave Room For Doubt

Your resume needs to be concise, but it shouldn't be so bare that you leave questions in the mind of the hiring manager-or worse yet, a bad taste in her mouth. When it comes to abbreviations or acronyms, the rule of thumb is "when in doubt, spell it out." Extremely common business-related terms like CEO or HR are fine, but anything that gives you even a moment's hesitation should be spelled out-especially in a job title. One hiring professional recently complained about the number of resumes she sees with "ass. manager" as a job title. It's pretty clear that writing out "assistant" is a classier move.

Worse than that, however, is the possibility that someone on the receiving end of your resume isn't familiar with the acronyms or abbreviations you use. Even if you assume correctly that everyone in your industry knows what TSR means, the human resources professional who first looks at your resume may not. And if he doesn't know that producing a high Total Shareholder Return is a good thing, he might move on to someone who takes the additional three seconds to spell it out for him.

Tip #3: Wait a Day

This tip is similar to the advice given to jilted lovers who want to mail an angry letter to their ex: sleep on it. No matter how many times you review your resume the day you finish it, it's wise to take another look at it the following day. After you've read the same material over and over, you begin to lose the ability to pick out flaws, but when your eyes are fresh, you may be amazed at what you find. Similarly, always ask a trusted friend to look over your resume before sending it. No matter how firm your grasp of grammar, there's always someone you know who has a firmer grasp. That's the person you want to review it.

Jason Kay recommends you read use a professional resume editing service if you need additional resume help. Read reviews of the top resume services to find the best service for your needs.

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• 10 Spelling Blunders to Avoid in Your Copy by Nikki Cooke
by noreply@blogger.com (Brian Scott)
28 Sep 2009 at 7:10am

If the proofreading fairy hasn't visited your office lately, you might be blissfully unaware of grammar gremlins or spelling slip-ups in your sales writing. Not only do you risk confusing your audience ... but you also risk your business reputation.

In short, poor grammar or spelling errors portray an unprofessional image. To avoid unnecessary copy blunders, open your eyes to the following.

What are homophones?

Whether you snoozed through English lessons or simply can't remember, the term homophone is a useful one to know. Homophones are word which sounds the same but are spelt differently and have different meanings. No wonder people have problems with them!

Common spelling mix-ups include:

Affect and Effect

Affect is a verb - to change or influence something. Business is affected by...

Effect is a noun - or a result of something. Marketing can have a huge effect on...

Its and it's

This is a biggie! It's is a contraction or a shortened word for it is. The apostrophe always goes between the t and the s.

Its belongs to or relates to something. 'The company increased its profits.'

Principal and principle

Principal can refer to the first of something. 'The principal reason for...' You can also have a college principal.

A principle is a matter of honour or relating to an idea. You might have business principles or agree in principle with something.

Stationary and stationery

When you're not moving, you are stationary.

Your desk, on the other hand, might be littered with stationery. (Writing materials)

Too and to

Too is an adverb for 'more' and is placed before an adjective to emphasise something positive or negative. 'It's too expensive.'

To is a preposition used before and after verbs. 'A copywriter can help you to...'

Compliment and complement

You might give someone a compliment. 'I'd like to compliment you on your...'

Complement is used when you want to show that something goes with something else. 'Strawberries and cream complement each other...'

License and licence

License is a verb when something is allowed or permitted. So, you can be licensed to fly a plane.

A licence is noun for a permit or permission to do what you want. You might have poetic licence, for example. Or 'Licence to Kill' - if you are James Bond, of course!

Precede and Proceed

Precede means to come before something. You might precede the report with a short introduction.

When you proceed, you continue as planned or go forwards. 'Proceed to the exit...'

Weather and whether

Brits are obsessed with it! The weather is all about the climate.

Whether is a conjunction used when asking questions or expressing doubt. It's another word for 'if' ... whether you like it or not.

Right and write

When you are right, you are correct. Right is also a direction and reference to a political persuasion. And of course, you should know what your rights are by now!

To write is all about writing words or recording something.

Copy clarity

Has that cleared up some confusion for you? The trick is to read your copy several times, ask someone else to read your copy for you or if in doubt, organise a professional proofreader to give it the once over instead!

Since we often can't see our own errors, another pair of eyes can make all the difference.

Nikki Cooke is founder of The Word Well, a freelance copywriting service based in Oxfordshire. Along with her technical director Jean, she provides first-class on and offline marketing solutions to small and medium sized businesses. When she's not knee-deep in copy, she can be found blogging away on her 'Copy Break' blog, or submitting articles to various online article sites.

Visit The Word Well at http://www.thewordwell.com/ to find out more.

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