Are you a newbie writer? A seasoned pro? Grammar and style are important if you want to be published. So, newbies have questions, and published writers may have more questions as they delve into the details. The following questions are the ones asked of me over the years. What are style guides? The short answer? […]
Grammar and Style
Three B’s for Writers
Marketing has its Four P’s. For diamonds, it’s Four C’s. Leadership—Five L’s. Why should we not have a special alphabetical to-do list for the writing process? I’ve come up with Three B’s (or Three Be’s) for writers wanting to be published. Be original. Avoid clichés. They creep into our writing when we’re not looking. Tracy […]
Self-editing Tips
First draft is finished. Now what? It’s time to edit the manuscript, and it’s best that the first edit be done by the writer. We know what we wanted to say. We should be the ones to evaluate whether we said what we meant to say. During the self-edit, we can also look for grammatical […]
Style Errors That Scream “Amateur”
Writers, show professionalism by knowing your grammar and style—and by proofreading your work. Recently, I’ve noticed obvious grammar and style errors in both print and online publications. Either they aren’t using editors, or their editors are overworked. Make sure your work is free of these marks of the amateur. Plural for words ending with “st.” […]
Making Sure Your Writing Has Style
Does your writing have style? Most writers pay attention to grammar, the mechanics of language, which is not the same as style. “Style” means “a distinctive manner of expression,” according to Merriam Webster online dictionary. As you ground yourself in grammar, be aware that there are different style guides for different segments of the publishing […]