Ten Quick Tips for Inexperienced Writers

Written by V. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D.


One ofrepparttar biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is simply knowing how to get started. If you’ve unsure of your writing skills, then here are some quick tips to help you get started.

1.Get yourself a thesaurus—or better yet, two of them. These can be tremendously helpful tools when you’re struggling to findrepparttar 128721 right word. A thesaurus is no substitute for a solid vocabulary, but it is still helpful in a pinch.

2.Avoid usingrepparttar 128722 same word too frequently. This can make one’s work sound repetitive. Again, a good thesaurus can be helpful in this regard.

3.Keep your sentences fairly short, since longer sentences can sound unwieldy. I’ve found that 17 words or fewer is a good guideline. Do remember that this is just a guideline, though.

4.Even as you keeprepparttar 128723 sentences short, make sure that they flow together well. Sometimes, unskilled writers will simply chop longer sentences up into shorter segments that don’t blend together smoothly. If in doubt, try rephrasingrepparttar 128724 sentences or addingrepparttar 128725 proper connective phrases (e.g. “then,” “so,” “as a result”).

5.Get a copy of “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White. It’s a short book, but incredibly helpful. There is no better reference for aspiring writers.

THESE EMBARRASSING, COSTLY, TERRIBLE TYPOS

Written by Rolf Gompertz


Typo n. pl. -os. Informal. A typographical error. Typographical error. A mistake in printing, typing or writing.

That's what it says inrepparttar New College Edition of The American Heritage Dictionary ofrepparttar 128719 English Language. But it does not begin to tellrepparttar 128720 story of these mistakes - these embarrassing, costly, terrible typos. I know -- from collecting them, and from personal experience.

I have used these examples as warnings during 30 years of teaching at UCLA Extension, showing that typos arerepparttar 128721 bane of a writer's existence - whether you are a reporter, public relations practitioner, or author.

Years ago I came across a typo that I still consider to berepparttar 128722 funniest and most embarrassing typo in human history, as far as I know. Many considered it terrible. It was probably also one ofrepparttar 128723 costliest, if notrepparttar 128724 costliest.

It occurred in London, in 1632, withrepparttar 128725 printing of Baker's edition ofrepparttar 128726 Bible, known ever since asrepparttar 128727 "Wicked Bible." The Seventh Commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," suddenly appeared in a revised version, "Thou shalt commit adultery."

I suspect that this made a number of people in England very happy. But their happiness was short-lived. Whenrepparttar 128728 mistake was discovered, Parliament ordered all obtainable editions destroyed, finedrepparttar 128729 printer 3000 pounds, and forbade all unauthorized printings ofrepparttar 128730 Bible henceforth.

This delicious bit of news came to light in an article by Edward G. de Beaumont, about all kinds of typos. It appeared inrepparttar 128731 May/June 1980 issue of Editors Workshop. The author apparently agreed thatrepparttar 128732 "Wicked Bible" typo tookrepparttar 128733 prize, because he titled his article, "Thou Shalt (not) Commit Adultery."

"Proofread, proofread, proofread, again, and again and again," I harangue my students. "Read your stuff over, two, three times. Better still, get someone else who can spell and punctuate to proof-read what you have written, also."

I'm sure Pacific Bell wishes somebody had done that - one final time, some years ago. Their Yellow Pages carried an ad for Banner Travel Service, in Sonoma, California. The firm, which specializes in "exotic" travel, suddenly found itself specializing in "erotic" travel, due to a tiny typo. This not only resulted in unwelcome ridicule but also a substantial drop in business, as former clients stayed away. Pacific Bell waived its $230 monthly fee, but that did not preventrepparttar 128734 initiation of a $10 million lawsuit. I never saw a follow-up story, so I don't know whatrepparttar 128735 outcome was.

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