I came across this: “10 Words You Need to Stop Misspelling” from TheOatmeal.com and nearly busted a button laughing at the great illustrations. It got me thinking about what other bad habits writers should focus on eliminating in 2010. STOP: Ignoring the difference between lay, lie and laid There is a difference. It is important. If you need help, for Pete’s sake look it up! Here are a few resources that explain the difference in several different ways: Grammar Girl.com GrammarBook.com (a great little quiz to help you get it in your head) Miss-Ink.com STOP: Relying on spellcheck Spellcheck is [Read more…]
Online AP Stylebook Resources
October 17, 2009. 3 Comments
We just bought a house and I’ve spent the past few weeks moving. I snail mailed a contract to a new client because my printer isn’t hooked up. My office is filled with boxes and baby clothes (which need to get shuttled into the attic closets in our new cape) and I have 15 + years of magazines in Rubbermaid containers stacked in corners of the room. Why am I sharing all this? I jumped in as FWJ’s Grammar Guide in the midst of a hectic week and began tossing grammar rules at you. I hope you didn’t mind and [Read more…]
Writing Tip of the Day: Know your style guides
November 17, 2008. 5 Comments
I love my AP Stylebook. It’s worn and scribbled up with notes and stains and Post Its with changes from the latest editions, etc. It makes me feel like a real writer and I browse through its pages just for fun. On the other hand, my Chicago Manual of Style guide is less than loved. I don’t have to use it often, but in an effort to be all the writer I can be, I’ve been trying to cuddle up to it and you should do the same. Get to know your style guides. Writers faithfully follow the “don’t guess, [Read more…]
