In one of my freelance editing gigs, I often edit work submitted by newbie writers. And, while some of them regularly impress me, I find myself a little surprised by some of the simple mistakes made by others. If I’m being honest, I reject and request revisions on more initial submissions than I actually publish.
I can almost always tell when someone’s an amateur writer. There are certain telltale signs that scream “I am totally new to this whole writing-for-publication thing!” in the work of some newbie writers. It doesn’t mean they’re bad writers or that they don’t have any talent–just that they need to sharpen the saw a little and tighten up their techniques.
So what can you do to avoid looking like an amateur when you submit your next article, query or story?
Don’t Count On Your Word Editor or Spellcheck
While your word processor’s editor will catch simple spelling, grammar and punctuation errors, it’s far from perfect. I can’t tell you how often I see articles written by new writers that are full of misused homonyms (they’re vs. their, presents vs. presence, etc.) A spell checker won’t always pick those up–so read over your work to ensure that all of your word usage is correct. Same goes for punctuation, grammar and spelling. Trust me, it matters.
Read, Learn and Follow the Writer’s Guidelines
While this should be a no-brainer, you might be surprised to know that many new writers don’t even read the writer’s guidelines. Sometimes it’s because they’re not aware that the guidelines exist or they don’t know where to find them; other times, they think they already know how to write and just don’t bother to read them.
This can get pretty frustrating for the editor. For example, if the publication calls for AP Style, use it. No editor wants to waste her time deleting the extra commas in a series or correcting your abbreviations. If the publication calls for a particular word count, certain references, specific types of links, etc., be sure to follow those guidelines to the letter. I have rejected more articles than I can count simply because the writer didn’t follow the publication’s guidelines–and I know I’m not alone.
If you don’t know what something in the guidelines means, don’t be afraid to ask your editor to explain it to you. Remember: the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.
Stop Trying to Sound Like a Writer
I notice that a lot of newbie writers love their thesauruses. For example, instead of saying “Some people think cats are mean,” they will say “A quantity of individuals postulate that creatures from the feline species are malevolent.”
I read a book in college called If You Can Talk, You Can Write by Joel Saltzman, and the title says it all: Write as you speak. Remember that your readers aren’t likely to pull out their dictionaries in order to understand what you’ve written, and the work needs to flow easily. Stop trying to sound like a writer and just say what you mean.
If you’re not sure what I mean, try reading a sentence out loud. If it sounds awkward when spoken aloud, consider rewriting it.
Say It Succinctly
Don’t use too many words. Many newbie writers add unnecessary words to their work. Whether they’re doing it to pad the article to meet a word count or they just think it makes them sound smarter, it doesn’t work. It makes the work seem very amateur and it disrupts the flow. Say what you need to say in as few words as possible.
For example, instead of:
“John reached out to Jane, pulling her into his arms and encircling her waist, giving her such a tight hug.”
Try:
“John hugged Jane tightly.”
Lose the Exclamation Points!!!
While an exclamation point can be appropriate in certain cases, especially with fiction or opinion pieces, it is almost never appropriate in non-fiction, factual or news-related articles. One of my former editors said that an exclamation point should only be used once in every 100 pages–or less.
Use your best judgment, of course, but when in doubt, skip the exclamation point. Seriously!
So, how about you? What would you add to this list of typical newbie mistakes? Tell us in the comments!
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Great article! I do a lot of editing work and the things you mentioned come up all the time. I could go on to list all sorts of grammatical errors that I commonly see, but I have to say the one that absolutely irks me the most is the flagrant abuse and misuse of the apostrophe. So often I see written works peppered with apostrophes thrown in any time the letter S appears or used with plurals. One of the most commonly seen ones is incorrect use of the apostrophe in the word it’s because this little word is one of the exceptions to the rule. Where usually an apostrophe is required to show posession, in the case of it’s, it is only correct to use it when the word is a contraction for it is. When used to show possession, it is correct to leave the apostrophe out of it’s. For example: “The car left its mark on the driveway in the form of an oily puddle.”
You are a woman after my own heart! I absolutely cringe when I see improper apostrophe use. Great tip, thank you for sharing it!
“John reached out to Jane and pulled her into his arms, encircling her waist.” (Original just had too many words – essentially restating the hug.)
(Then continue with something like, “His lips teased the fine hairs on the top of her ear…” – which can’t be done from a distance – so you imply things like distance and body position through action.)
“John hugged Jane tightly” is flat.
“The car proved her assertion that it was a beast by re-marking its territory with oil every time she parked it in the drive.”
The greatest sin in writing is to be boring because no matter how important the thing you have to say is, be it fiction or non-fiction, it will not be read. It will be snored over.
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Maybe the John and Jane hug was a bad example–I’ll give you that. And, I agree–in many cases, it’s appropriate to get creative with wording to some extent.
The writing to which I was referring in the post is comprised of primarily clinical information, and as in the case of news writing, there’s only so much “flowery” writing that could be considered appropriate.
But, of course, your comment proves that there are two sides to every coin, and that there really are no “hard and fast” rules that apply to every instance. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Under the right circumstances, I agree with Angela. Short and to-the-point is usually best. However, I also agree with m. picray who said the short sentence was “flat.” If I was engrossed in a torrid love story, I would greatly prefer the more descriptive prose vs. “John hugged Jane tightly.”
Cheryl, I agree that the sentence was flat, and also that m.’s sentence would be better in a romance novel. Definitely.
Good points that apply to most general writing. As an editor often dealing with sales and marketing materials, I’d also suggest losing the hyperbole. Is your product really cutting-edge, at the forefront, best-in-breed (whatever that means – I’ve seen it used in “our people and processes are best-in-breed” which makes me want to rethink the corporate culture!), unique and innovative? Better to just prove your product’s value to existing customers.
And for any kind of writing, I would also suggest re-reading after it’s done. Surprising what you find yourself saying sometimes.
Steven
Great tips, Steven! Thanks so much.
While not an editor, I taught undergrads for two years during my History M.A. program, and it’s staggering to me how woefully unprepared many incoming freshmen are in constructing arguments. The funny thing is, I’ve observed that when someone doesn’t really know what they’re trying to say–even in an single sentence–their overall prose suffers as a result. Some people get more long-winded, some get overly simplistic, and some sound like they’re trying out the thesaurus too much, as you mentioned in the article.
I’ve seen that tendency in my own writing as well, and I’m in the camp that gets more formal and long-winded while I try to figure out the main point of my sentence or paragraph. Although it’s not necessarily a “newbie” mistake, I think issues with clarity (both in terms of content and sentence mechanics) impact people’s writing at all levels, and in many types of applications. Not enough people revise their work as often as it needs in order to smooth these areas out.
But I agree wholeheartedly with the anguish we all feel in seeing the same punctuation and grammatical mistakes over and over. Confusion with “me” and “I” is one of my pet peeves, but it’s nowhere near as bad as the prevalence of sticking an apostrophe into plurals, including with people’s last names (i.e. “the Browns” now look like “the Brown’s”). The apostrophe has to be the single most abused punctuation mark in our language today, and I wish I understood why so many young people are coming out of high school without understanding how to properly use it. And I’m speaking as a woman in her early 30s, who had some basic grammar taught in middle school and again in high school, but probably not as much as my parents had in their secondary educations.
Rebecca,
I can only imagine the types of work you were looking at during your M.A. program! I do think that every writer, no matter the level, can and does make silly mistakes sometimes–I know I do at times. And I am with you on the apostrophe thing, as well as the “me and “I” business. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment!
I too teach at the college level. While I am also appalled at some of the writing I’m seeing in my assignments, I also realize that for many of my students, English is a second (or third or fourth) language for them, so I try to cut them some slack. I don’t imagine I’d be perfect writing papers if I went to university in Barcelona or Bombay either.
Hello Angela,
I am a newbie. Your article is an eye opener. I will surely in corporate all these points in my writing.
Please, keep sharing your experience with us.
Regards,
Ananya
Hi Annaya,
Thanks for the comment, and have a great day! 
I’m so glad you found the post helpful! I’ll definitely continue to share.
Ananya, being a newbie can be intimidating. And learning from people like Angela is the best way. Don’t forget her first tip, and that echoed by Stephen Laird above. Re-read and recheck grammar / spelling. In that vein (and knowing I am as guilty as the rest) it should be one word, “incorporate.”
Have a great day and never stop writing.
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Charles,
Thank you for your comment and for encouraging our fellow writer! Have a great day.
Angela:
Great blog post. Not only have you delivered your message succinctly, you’ve embraced all the “rules” of blogging. Love the way you create conversation with your ask, and your prompt replies.
I’d add two more pet peeves left over from journalism school. Amateur writers, and many professional writers as well, often split verbs. While it has become common practice, I prefer “always has been” over “has always been.”
The second pet peeve is excessive use of intensifiers such as very, really, totally, completely and truly. Is a very empty bottle any more empty?
Thanks for your great work. Yours is the first post that I retweeted. Can’t wait to share more.
Terri,
I sincerely appreciate your compliment as well as your tips! I agree, especially with the excessive use of intensifiers. I really, totally, completely and truly do! Haha.
But seriously, thanks so much for the RT! I’m looking forward to interacting with you more.
Good article. And I agree with your points.
Unfortunately they are being over-ruled by the current mindset of “as long as the message is received, how it is accomplished doesn’t matter”. I deal with this every day. I am not happy about it. I try to correct and instruct only to be admonished as being archaic. Perhaps it is Mr. Saltzman’s book title taken to the extreme?
While your points are relevant to quality publications, today’s world is about message and speed of delivery.
A few specifics:
• You hit the nail on the head about homonyms, especially they’re/there and you’re/your.
• There are people that find the spellcheck squiggly underlines annoying, and therefore, do not use one of the most useful tools available to them.
• Newspapers (and lately several AP written articles) appear to not edit any longer; see homonyms.
• People from the Oregon school system appear to have never been taught the correct usage of then/than. I specifically pick on Oregon because, having lived and worked in other states, this lack of understanding is most prolific in this state. I see it multiple times daily, even verbally.
• For whatever reason (my guess is the speed and multi-tasking required of today’s workplace) people do not reread or edit their documents. To bend a phrase: the message is the message. U undrstnd, rite
It’s not just the newbies anymore. Of course, in business, the “art” of writing gets trumped by the need to move quickly.
Maybe we will be looked back on as artists more than communicators.
Keep up the good fight.
Lew,
Thanks for your comment. I couldn’t agree more with you. I haven’t lived in Oregon, but I often see the same issue with then/than. It’s enough to make me cringe.
I also personally know writers who don’t use spellcheck at all, and it’s especially frustrating when I’m the one editing their work.
And you’re right–it’s not just newbies. But for some reason, it annoys me more when someone calls himself a writer and still makes such obvious mistakes. Still annoying when it’s a “non-writer,” of course, but far less so for me.
Thanks again for your thoughtful comment! Have a fabulous day. And thanks for keeping up the good fight with me!
Let’s add my un-favorite – the substitution of “impacted” for “affected” and “effected”. I guess I’m just an old fart because I still think if “impacted” as a medical condition, and “impacted” as what you have when something gets hit by something else.
That’s one I don’t know if I’ve noticed as often, but now that you mention it, I’m sure I’ll be on the lookout!
Hello, Angela!
Kudos on a great article. I’m sure that any writer will find these tips useful reminders.
Whenever I find errors on direct mail postcards, brochures, and such — especially if they are from local businesses or organizations — I will contact them and offer them some Complimentary QC so they can correct the errors before reprinting the item. Occasionally, they will turn into a client.
Also, when I’m writing, one of my online resources for checking those troublesome homonyms is Common Errors in English Usage, http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html Of course, it always feels great when I find out that I am using a word correctly.
Have a delightful day!
Hi Cat,
Thanks so much for your comments! I especially appreciate the link you provided as I think this can be a great resource for all writers.
Also, really great tip about contacting local business organizations with the offer of QC. That’s a very smart way to grab new clients! Smart thinking, and thanks so much for sharing the idea!
Hi Angela,
I am a newbie and am always looking for good resources and information. Your article, along with all the great comments, are such a resource. I am not a good proofreader so I now have a friend who helps me with this. Also, my son told me to goto the end of whatever I write and read it backwards. This has helped a great deal. Thanks again for this article and discussion. Sally
Sally, I am really glad that you found the article and the comments useful! It’s always a great idea to have someone else take a look at your piece before you submit it. Personally, I think it’s always harder to edit your own work because you’re closer to it. I like your son’s tip too! Thanks for your comment.
It is a Very good, useful and succinct article. I did heavily rely on MS. Word editor to write my letters. Publishing the document to a PDF format had always helped me see mistakes in my syntax. I would also say that I had fallen the trap of dictionaries, too. However, I say that in order to improve my writing, I had to improve my speaking which proves the book you read.
There is one newbie mistake that you might want to add. It is about saving the electronic work from washing away because of refreshing the page or simply a sudden shut down ot the computer. Saving a copy of your work once you open the file will save you the frustration and time.
Finally, I have learnt a rule from one of the best writers in the Middle East, Tareq Al-Suwaidan. It is to review and proofread you work for 6 times before publication. He takes it as a rule for his books, I take it for any serious writing attempt.
Hi Aliaa,
Thanks for your comments! I am glad that you found the article helpful. Great tip on saving your work, as well as the tips for ESL writers! Thanks again!
Great tips and advice, Angela! These are perfect reminders to us all. I especially like your “Say It Succinctly” … right on!
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Thanks Ally! I appreciate your comment.
The overuse of parenthetical statements tells me one of two things – an amateur, or an established writer who hasn’t taken the time to either edit or just rewrite all those “asides” into workable text.
Great article, Angela!
Oh, good one, Linda! Thanks for sharing your tip, and thanks for the comment.
If you need to do some grammatical teaching in a hurry, here’s a great, fun resource from another grammar nut (in comic form).
http://theoatmeal.com/tag/grammar
Great link, thanks Karen!
Angie, let me just say I make every single one of these errors every single time I write anything. Really, looking everything over and having a good eye for what stays, what goes, and where makes a tremendous difference. Thanks for providing these tips for us all as reminders.
You’re absolutely right, Shakirah. Very rarely, if ever, is the first draft perfect. Proofreading is so important. Thanks for the comment!
I’m horrified to learn that these are actually common enough to warrant an article like this… Then again, I’ve been in advanced college courses with fellow students who cannot write, let alone speak, very well at all. Public education really needs to step up its game. You shouldn’t be allowed to graduate high school if you’re making “they’re-their-there” mistakes. Sorry.
Interesting enough read, though. Thanks for raising awareness!
I agree. It’s very shocking–and that’s part of the reason I felt like it was important to write this one. I’m hoping some of the writers I edit will read it too.
I am a newly published writer (just on-line so far). Your editor’s viewpoint is helpful. I tend to proofread and re-work my material quite a bit to get it polished. Since writing is a part-time hobby for me, I choose quality over quantity. Too much hurried stuff out there. I would appreciate any comments you have on my work. I published this: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8006389/dying_woman_receives_a_picture_from.html?cat=41 that was soon picked up by Yahoo News. They edited a little bit, and it was clearer. It was a hit, with over 640,000 views in 2 days…
Sean, that was a very powerful story that brought tears to my eyes. Congrats on the huge response! That in itself should tell you that it was an excellent story. Keep up the great work!
Hi Angela,
Thank you for posting this. I’m fairly new at this writing game and it’s a miracle I’m even here at all since English was my worst subject in school. I have often found myself feeling intimidated by writers who try to say too much with words too big.
Your points are well said, simple and clear. I glad I found this! You’ve given me the courage to just be myself – “to write like I talk.” I’ve always been a story teller. It’s been fun putting those stories down on paper.
Hi Jackie, thanks so much for your comment! I’m really glad the post gave you the courage to be yourself when you write. That’s the ultimate key to success. Thanks again!
Thank you for posting this, Angela. My experience with this regards to, too, and two. I’m glad you mentioned their, they’re, and there. Verb tense is another one. Also, I appreciate your bravery in saying that Spell Check and Grammar Check do not catch everything. I have seen that often, so I know to let my work “cool off” when I think I’m done. When I go back to it, I see things my bias missed.
Deidre, I’m so glad you liked the post. I actually wrote an entire post (linked in the post above) about misused homonyms. I am SO with you on that one! And as for the spell check, it does help, but definitely doesn’t catch everything. I am like you too–I will go back and edit my own work later and I’m more likely to see any mistakes. Thanks for your comment!
I’ve been active on Critters.org editing submissions by other writers for several years now. Thankfully, the quality of the writing seems to be improving overall. That may reflect that more of the authors have been working with Critters for a while now or other help sites.
But even when you think you’ve got it cleaned up pretty darn well, I’d wager there’s a few ‘oops’ in there somewhere. My novel, ‘Mankid’s Worst Fear’ has been out since August 2008 and ebook since July 2009. I’ve updated my ebook at Amazon and Smashwords 3 times since then after editing for typos and the such and solid feedback from reviews.
I just completed another edit this morning and uncocerved more misplaced commas, extra spaces and other minor ‘oops’ than I am comfortable with. Could have sworn I had it down perfect -:).
But, to your original post, yes it is pretty obvious when someone hasn’t been writing long, for the very reasons you mention. I thought my first novel would be a blockbuster, until I collected 66 rejection letters, set it aside and started on my next and next. It wasn’t until I ‘d completed by fourth novel and took another look at my first that I realized just how much my writing had grown and how ‘newbie’ it read.
David, I know exactly what you mean about looking back at old work and thinking WOW, was I wet behind the ears! Haha. And you’re right, everyone, even the most seasoned writer, makes mistakes now and then. We’re all human.
Thanks for your comment.
If you are writing in English, determine whether the article/story is to be published and released in American English, Canadian English or UK English. Working with professors prior to retiring, this was one of the major issues between which journals were involved.
As a Canadian I often find that I’m criss-crossing the two styles of writing, especially when replying on a blog.
Great point, Betty! I edited a novel for an Australian author and she had decided to leave the UK English in place. As an American, I found myself doing double takes quite often–especially at words like “defence” and “sceptic” which are not only sort of “foreign” to my eyes, but even to my spellcheck. LOL
I`d say you nailed it with the third pointer. I often read articles I wrote on my blog about 3 years ago, and I see how I`m always trying to sound like a writer instead of just writing like a kid, as I was back then. It reads a little stupid but I`ve grown with time. It`s better to sound like yourself as it keeps the audience interested rather than portraying a voice of some non-existent entity that no one wants to read.
Very true, Abdul. And I think that every good writer gets better with practice. I know that when I look back at things I wrote five years ago, I occasionally find myself cringing! LOL.
Thanks for your comment!
Hi Angela, bad habit that I’ve struggled to overcome as a newbie is writing too long sentences. I have had to retrain myself to edit these appropriately, but still something I have to look out for.
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I had the same habit in my early days, Paul! Great point too. I think a lot of writers struggle with this. Thanks for your comment!
Fantastic pointers. Another short list of tips (extracted from George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language”):
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
You can find the whole essay here: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm
All excellent advice from someone who knew what he was talking about! Thanks so much for sharing.
Joe, thanks for mentioning Orwell’s list – most appropriate. But calling it “another short list of tips” is like calling a Lambhorghini “another car”.
Hah! Great point, Gideon!
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How about the overuse of the word “that”? So often the word is unnecessary and only adds to the word count. You will be surprised how many can be deleted. Interesting post and comments.
Agreed, Marie. I often see people using the word “that” instead of “who” when referring to people, as in “someone that talks too much” instead of “someone who talks too much.” Drives me batty!
Thanks for the comment.
Writing in passive voice instead of active voice, dull and unengaging.
Write in active voice to engage your audience.
Another excellent point, Sandy. Thank you for the comment!
Angela Atkinson recently posted..Paying It Forward- 10 Ways to Increase Your Freelance Writing Income
This is a wonderful article. A great refresher.
Thanks, Kiki! I’m so glad you enjoyed the article, and thank you for the comment. Have a great weekend!
Angela Atkinson recently posted..Paying It Forward- 10 Ways to Increase Your Freelance Writing Income
Thank you for the article! Many words of wisdom.
No prob! Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth.
Thanks for the great article and thought provoking replies. Pronouns are one of my bugbears. Well educated people often say or write, “Just between us,” and in the next breath, “Just between you and I.” In an ebook I recently read: “He gave a gift to she who promptly returned it.” Is it okay to write, “It is me,” instead of, “It is I,” as ordered by the old suject/object rule? Tips for those of us who sometimes misuse pronouns would be greatly appreciated.
Benni Chisholm
Benni, thanks for your comment. Pronouns can get complicated sometimes, but in general, there’s a certain amount of flexibility in most genres. A good rule of thumb is that if it sounds weird when you read it out loud, it might be ok to bend the rules. For example, you wouldn’t necessarily say “a man with whom I used to work” in real conversation. You’d be more likely to say “a man I used to work with.”
It really depends on the publication you’re writing for–read the writer’s guidelines. If they ask for an informal tone, you can write more like you speak–but if they’re strictly formal, use more formal grammar, if that makes sense.
Pick Me!!! (oops just sounded like a newbie) Great advice. I am actually new to freelance writing, however I always do the things you suggested. It makes sense. Thanks for the great tips.
Haha! Thanks for the comment Rhonda!
Lovely stuff, Angela. A creative writing professor of mine said, “You get one exclamation point per semester.” I think your point applies to nonfiction as well.
Here are a few smaller things that make writers seem amateurish:
-Using “alot” instead of “a lot”
-In some cases, using “a lot” at all, since it’s vague
-Pronoun-antecedent agreement, e.g., “The user loves their software.”
-Not hyphenating compound adjectives, e.g., “User generated content is good.”
-Incorrect use of “e.g.” and “i.e.” – a mistake I just made and corrected, heh
Thanks again for the stellar post!
You and I must be cut from the same cloth, Bryce. I absolutely agree with you on all points. Thanks for the comment!
I am not a writer (forgive me) but a transcriptionist. One of my most valuable tips is to read each document aloud. It is a wonderful way to catch errors, including the common ones.
Another tip is word expansion software. The abbreviated words or phrases can be changed as the subject of your content changes. It speeds up your work. The words that are expanded are always correctly spelled (if entered properly) and can be skipped over while proofreading.
Thank you so much for your insights.
Deb, I agree wholeheartedly on reading aloud. I have not used word expansion software. I often transcribe my own interviews, and that would be handy for sure. I will have to look into that, thanks for the suggestion and the comment.
P.S. We are glad you’re here, writer or not!
I am not a writer (forgive me) but a transcriptionist. One of my most valuable tips is to read each document aloud. It is a wonderful way to catch errors, including the common ones.
Another tip is the use of word expansion software. Abbreviated phrases can be changed to match your content. It speeds up your work. Words that are expanded are always spelled correctly (if entered properly) and can be skipped over while proofreading.
Thank you so much for your insights.
The capitalization of words that shouldn’t be capitalized; in particular, people’s career titles.
Deborah, another great point. Thanks for the comment!
Even better, John hugged Jane tight. No, (ly).
True!!
Great tips, Angela.
Another tip is to avoid writing like you’re in business or marketing. Many of my students tried to dress up their writing with phrases and clichés they’d seen somewhere before, like “further to our conversation,” “please find enclosed” (is this a treasure hunt?), or business jargon like “maximizing opportunities.”
Keep it simple. My two rules for starting to write are:
- know your audience
- say what you want to say in one sentence.
Scott–great tips. Thanks so much for sharing them!
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When writing fiction, people say “Dave went boating that day. He had a picnic, and thought about when his parents too him to Hong Kong. It was a busy area, loud and strong-smelling. That was when he first met…….”
When people have something they want to tell the reader about the background, but don’t know how to get it in there, they often randomly say the character thought about it. Hey, once he thinks about it, it’s fair game to tell us, right?
And. . . elipses without spaces, random numbers of dots.
Good fiction tips, Tantra. That’s an area I didn’t cover here, but definitely an important one. Thanks!
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Great article, Angela. People should use their eyes instead of autocorrection, too. To see why, see the iPhone messages that were corrupted at http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com
Haha, exactly Neal! That site is so funny. Every time I look at it, I find myself laughing out loud. Great stuff!
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A lot of writers in the entertainment/arts field rely too heavily on slang and labored witticisms, thinking that they’ll come off cool and hip.
Often, they just come off annoying. Most people don’t want to drown in pop-cultural references; sometimes less is more.
Agreed, Mark. Very good point. Thanks!
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I edit for a lot of beginning writers, and one thing I notice coming up a lot is the overuse of adverbs.
“Mary smiled up at Mike adoringly.”
“Mike kissed Mary softly.”
“Mary winked sassily.”
…You get the idea.
Great article, by the way!
Thanks Debra, and you’re definitely on target with the overuse of adverbs. Thanks for adding your tip to our collection!
Angela Atkinson recently posted..Featured Member at MeetOurMembers.com
Great overview! In working with new poets and writers over the years, I’ve found that many beginners think none of the rules apply to them. Somehow their poems, manuscripts, or particular circumstances are special, which shows a lack of professionalism but also indicates the person wants lauds and laurels without learning or earning the respect of editors and readers, who say, “Yes, your writing is special because you remembered us! You spoke to and for us. You spoke well.”
Just a suggestion – speaking as a freelance writer who has also done a lot of proofreading,I’ve found even the most experienced writers can make the most horrific blunders (such as changing a phrase and forgettng to delete the original copy). The trouble is for anyone who spends a lot of time and thought getting their text just right, a sort of blindness eventually sets in, calling for a fresh pair of eyes. Ideally, it’s best to get another person to check through for errors (even better if they’re a proofreader); failing that – providing there’s time before handing the work over, leave it overnight and try to view the piece as though someone else had written it.
A basic general rule in writing anything is to practice the three C’s. Whatever you write, make sure it is clear, correct, and concise. A key to meeting this important objective is to say things in the least amount of words possible. This will likely convey the most meaning and be of high comprehension to your readers. Thus, when you proofread your article, look for sentences that are long. Shorten them down by taking out extra words and short phrases like: and, so, like, as, of, such as, along with words that denote the obvious, etc. For example, the sentence: Tom looked all over for his suitcase and found it after spending extra time which caused him to be late catching his departing plane at the airport. This same sentence can be shorter by stating, Tom was late catching his plane as he wasted time looking for his suitcase. The phrase of: looked all over is eliminated. You also don’t need departing nor do you need at the airport because it is understood as common knowledge that planes depart from an airport without stating this.
Nothing wrong with a cliche as long as it’s well used, I always say.
Seriously, I make a living writing and I am horrified by some of the language I encounter.
A publisher wrote to ask if I was formally an editor. I told him that, although I frequently wore white tie and tails at the computer, I didn’t consider my style at all formal. However, I had formerly done some editing.
Another writer mailed and asked me if I had been effected by the downturn. I told her that while the downturn has had some effect on me it hadn’t affected me too badly.
The other day, I received a letter asking me if I wanted to loose some weight. Yes, I said, let it all hang out.
Spell checkers should be avoided at all costs.
Great article. I’m always trying to streamline my writing.
I really like what you said about writing the way you talk. It makes for a more interesting flow. ~Pam
Hi Angela,
While I agree with most of the points in your article, I do take issue with the suggestion to write as you speak. It is one of those often repeated bits of writing advise that I wish would simply die. Write as you speak is only effective if the speaker/writer has internalized, consciously or unconsciously, a lot of correct grammar. Even then, it’s hit or miss. I’ve met some professional writers along the way that couldn’t string together a coherent, spoken sentence for love or money. I’m always grateful that those writers choose not to write as they speak.
I do think, on occasion, that one should need a license to even own a thesaurus. The only time I use one is when I’m coming up with the almost-right synonym. ~Eric
As an Entertainment Editor I’d send ‘newbies’ a similar list (below) and 9 times out of 10 they still didn’t follow them. Once someone said they read them but chose to ignore them, even though they had only written one article before. So I feel your pain. I also built this list from my initial experience as an Editor:
• Proof read and use spell check;
• Have an introduction! What, where, why, who and how? A good rule of thumb is that this should be 10 per cent of the word count so a 350 word article should have a 35 word introduction, approximately;
• Be succinct – simple language, short sentences, short paragraphs and use fewer words to make a point;
• Do not use brackets to expand on your sentence or to add more information. Make a new sentence in these cases;
• Avoid repetition of sayings such as ‘On the other hand’ or ‘for example’ and be aware that their use may be redundant as they add nothing to the sentence or article;
• When quoting people get full names and spellings, think Smith, Smyth, Smythe, Smithe etc. Always be sure;
• Be descriptive! Adjectives help to draw a picture and our job is to give a vivid image of what’s going on. Describe what you see/hear;
• Include sites you have used for research in your e-mail when sending your article;
• Getting quotes at an event are good but preferably not vox pops (random members of the public), try and get organisers/performers etc. With credentials and include who they are with their full name in the article. This will add credibility to their statements and your article;
• Include the correct spelling of your name at the end of the article;
• Avoid bias. A review is obviously your experience of something, it can be positive or negative but don’t use first person narratives or berate anyone who may have an opposing viewpoint, for example;
• Take photos of an event, if you do not have a camera let me know and I can contact some photographers who are members of InQuire;
• Use comparisons whether other acts, other club nights, other events organised by the group or similar nights out. Don’t rely on comparisons, however, this would be equally bad;
• When or if you use quotes from interviews or other information from other sources please cite where you got this information such as: Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill told NME.com, otherwise it cannot be used as it has no substance or proof as it seems to be second hand/hearsay information;
• Please read more articles and practise! It makes perfect for a reason;
• Write in the sequence of things. So first act, second act, third act or songs in an album. I understand comparisons will be made between songs for instance but aim to describe the album consecutively.
One of the issues with people coming out of school without grammar skills is the new subjective nature of grammar. For example, when did the hyphen become an acceptable way of legitimatizing run on sentences? It really bugs me when a client tells me that I have grammar errors and when I ask them to show them to me they aren’t errors at all. Yes, an appositive phrase needs two commas. Really, it does!
(Or when they confuse grammar with style. You may not like a word choice but that doesn’t make it a grammar problem.)
Great article, Angela. What drives me up a wall? Cliches. I also hate typos in books. I appreciate the magic of self-publishing and e-books, but give them a good going-over or hire a professional. One or two mistakes along the way I can forgive, but when reading becomes ponderous or laughable (when it’s not supposed to be funny), you’ve lost your credibility. And a reader.
Laurie Boris recently posted..Why You Should NEVER Trust Your Spell-Checker
Great article. Thank you.
I am relatively new to writing for a living, but I remembered reading this article, Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully: in Ten Minutes by Stephen King (http://oldsite.greatwriting.co.uk/content/view/312/74), and I think about his suggestions all the time.
His example of how his first editor trimmed and improved his story is how I try to edit my own work.
Thanks again for the great article. It will go next to King’s in my cautionary tales file.
Robert Peryea