The Only Three Writing Resources You'll Ever Need

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Joe.Mc

Personally I still find it hard to believe people have yet to figure out Microsoft Word has a spelling and grammar checker. Just run all your articles through that first, combine the results with a bit of common sense, you shouldn't have any problems.

Edit: That isn't to say people won't benefit from the links you posted as well

I still don't get that, either. Especially with the "their/there/they're" and "your/you're" problems. I hate those!

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misterhu

14 years ago

I agree with your first two resources. Better check the last resource to see how it can help people write especially with the popularity of article marketing.

In terms of other writing problems, I believe its/it’s are also included with these confused terms.

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Rikki_Fawkes

14 years ago

Originally Posted by misterhu

I agree with your first two resources. Better check the last resource to see how it can help people write especially with the popularity of article marketing.

In terms of other writing problems, I believe its/it’s are also included with these confused terms.

Again, it's more of a style and clarity issue - which is something many IM'ers struggle with. And it's blatantly obvious.

In fact, case in point, the media company I work for demanded I read this book - and all they're interested in is SEO improvement. So it's very relevant.

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mikemcmillan

14 years ago

Thanks Rikki, I'd never heard of the Jensen title but I'll check it out sometime. I also like William Zinsser's "On Writing Well". The part about cutting the fat out of writing and stripping it down to the bone is wonderful. Haven't mastered that skill myself yet, but I'm working on it.

One thing I'm always amazed at is the fact that many of the $10,000 sales pages the big guys pay for to promote their products often contain a dozen or more glaring grammatical errors. Go figure. --Mike

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mcmahanusa

14 years ago

Originally Posted by mikemcmillan

One thing I'm always amazed at is the fact that many of the $10,000 sales pages the big guys pay for to promote their products often contain a dozen or more glaring grammatical errors. Go figure. --Mike

I've noticed the same thing. When someone is trying to sell me on their wonderful, success-creating product, it's hard to give much credence to it if they're either too cheap or too broke to hire a competent editor.

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JohnMcCabe 14 years ago

It pains me to say that the only one I'm familiar with #3 (E. B. White edition). I carried that little sucker around all through college.

As for things the spell checker won't catch, I'd like to throw loser/looser into the pot...
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Lloyd Buchinski

14 years ago

The one that I like is about as expensive as the 3 original suggestions put together, but I am totally impressed by 'The Chicago Manual of Style.' It is a bit massive, but straightforward and well organized. Finding things in it is much easier than getting around most websites.

I have noticed writing jobs posted that specified following it.

Originally Posted by mikemcmillan

The part about cutting the fat out of writing and stripping it down to the bone is wonderful. Haven't mastered that skill myself yet, but I'm working on it.

My all time favorite writing quote is a big help with that.

People think that I can teach them style. What stuff it all is. Have something to say and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret of style. - Mathew Arnold

Just paying a little attention to simple and clear is such a big help getting rid of the clutter.

I just realized that I put my second favorite writing quote in my sig today. There is a story to it and a point but I won't type that out right now.

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ccd

14 years ago

One other book worth having is 'Woe Is I' by Patricia T. O'Conner. It has replaced 'Elements Of Style' as the first book I reach for when I have a grammer or punctuation question. (If only I weren't too lazy to reach for it every time I need it!)

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Rikki_Fawkes

14 years ago

Originally Posted by ccd

One other book worth having is 'Woe Is I' by Patricia T. O'Conner. It has replaced 'Elements Of Style' as the first book I reach for when I have a grammer or punctuation question. (If only I weren't too lazy to reach for it every time I need it!)

I'll have to look into that one. Regrettably, I don't get much time for book reading anymore, but if I can't write it off as business improvement, I can more easily afford it. Thanks for the suggestion!

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tpw

14 years ago

Spell Checkers are unable to see past the spelling of a word...

If you spell the word correctly, but use it in the wrong context, then the Spell Checker will be worthless to you...

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Rikki_Fawkes

14 years ago

Originally Posted by tpw

Spell Checkers are unable to see past the spelling of a word...

If you spell the word correctly, but use it in the wrong context, then the Spell Checker will be worthless to you...

That's true, although Word will sometimes catch if you've used it in the wrong context based on the previous words - at least in Vista, anyway. And it never hurts to check anyway

But yes, you're right for most circumstances.

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Paul Buckley

14 years ago

My personal pet peeves:

quite/quiet
rogue/rouge

...and I prefer "dining" to "dinning".

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cindybidar

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Joe.Mc

Personally I still find it hard to believe people have yet to figure out Microsoft Word has a spelling and grammar checker. Just run all your articles through that first, combine the results with a bit of common sense, you shouldn't have any problems.

Edit: That isn't to say people won't benefit from the links you posted as well

Spelling maybe, but the MS grammar checker leaves quite a bit to be desired.

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Rikki_Fawkes 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Joe.Mc

That is where the "common sense" kicks in :p

Exactly. Whatever happened to manually proofreading your materials? I realize it takes time, but if it keeps you from looking like a moron...
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- ccd 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Rikki_Fawkes
  
  Exactly. Whatever happened to manually proofreading your materials? I realize it takes time, but if it keeps you from looking like a moron...
  
  Which I still manage to do on occasion even after proofreading oh so carefully!
  
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EvolBaby

14 years ago

Nice references! I grew up on the AP and Gannett News Service stylebooks. Worked in newspapers for many years.

You wouldn't believe the number of retired news writers and editors who don't know they could be making more money online than they did in the field.

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kenny5

14 years ago

These are awesome, thanks for the good links. I'm sure a lot of struggling writers out there will get a lot of use out of these.

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Anoopchawla

14 years ago

Rikki, out of all three books, I don't see any that is focused on Grammar.

Jason's punctuation is only focused on punctuation or grammar as a whole?

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Rikki_Fawkes 14 years ago

Originally Posted by Anoopchawla

Rikki, out of all three books, I don't see any that is focused on Grammar.

Jason's punctuation is only focused on punctuation or grammar as a whole?

I just PM'd you
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Colin Palfrey

14 years ago

Hi Rikki,

I find Grammarly - English grammar checker, proofreader & plagiarism scanner quite useful as it picks up contextual mistakes, and instead of just fixing them, explains the problem.

I don't think spelling should really be an issue for a writer, but if you're in a rush mistakes can happen. That is precisely why an editorial phase is necessary in any written project, but unfortunately most people skip this step in favor of speed. Different horses for different courses I suppose.

Regards,
Colin Palfrey

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Rikki_Fawkes

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Colin Palfrey

Hi Rikki,

I find Grammarly - English grammar checker, proofreader & plagiarism scanner quite useful as it picks up contextual mistakes, and instead of just fixing them, explains the problem.

I don't think spelling should really be an issue for a writer, but if you're in a rush mistakes can happen. That is precisely why an editorial phase is necessary in any written project, but unfortunately most people skip this step in favor of speed. Different horses for different courses I suppose.

Regards,
Colin Palfrey

Hey, thanks for the suggestion. Yes - it's the contextual mistakes many of us make, and they're probably the hardest to catch.

I find that typos are more of an issue than just plain spelling. This is true for a lot of writers, I imagine.

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Rough Outline

14 years ago

I completly unagree, your fine with out all of thoose resauces, donot your fink?