WRITING IS AN ART #16

WATCH YOUR GRAMMAR!

 

Good grammar seems to be something that is slowly going out of fashion these days. For instance, did you see the recent reports about that nutty professor who wants to do away with good spelling, grammar and punctuation? Imagine the chaos that could ensue! How do these people get their jobs??

 

Poor grammar reflects badly upon your company. Customers would be entitled to think that if you can’t be bothered to write correctly, you might not pay too much attention to detail when developing your products.

 

Grammar was developed for a reason – so that people could understand each other more easily. It’s a bit like those old adverts for self-assembly furniture: life is much easier if you just follow the simple instructions!

 

Back to basics

I’m still surprised by how many people don’t seem to know the basics of grammar. I’m not really concerned with the intricate technical details, as long as the end result is clear, readable and makes sense.

 

Okay, some fashions change – for example, the split infinitive is now generally acceptable – so Captain Kirk would be permitted ‘to boldly go’ without most people raising an objection. However, we have to be careful that passing fashions (such as the terrible habits used in texting) don’t ruin good grammar.

 

Next time, I’ll focus on punctuation.

 

Until then, look after your grammar!

 

Phil

 

Freelance copywriter

 

Web: http://www.phila

Email: info@phila.co.uk

 

 

WRITING IS AN ART #15

 

WAFFLE, ANYONE?

 

In my last blog, I wrote about the curse of long sentences. A related problem – and one that seems to afflict many self-important senior managers – is waffle.

 

Have you ever read one of those articles (or even a web page) that just seems to rabbit on about nothing in particular? By the end of it (if you manage to persist that far), you’re left wondering what they were trying to say.

 

Clear and simple

A good way of avoiding waffle is to draft out the key points you want to make before you even start to write. Don’t get distracted by side issues that aren’t going to interest the reader. Make your points clearly and succinctly – as I’ve said several times before, Keep It Simple!

 

That also applies to jargon. Again, the self-important person loves to try and impress by using complex terms and convoluted sentences. It doesn’t impress – it just confuses. If you have to use technical words, make sure that you explain them. Don’t just assume that your audience will automatically know what you’re talking about (unless it’s a very specialist audience).

 

Now, who’d like a waffle for breakfast?

 

Phil

 

Freelance copywriter

 

Web: http://www.phila

Email: info@phila.co.uk