Matters of Grammar

Hi folks! Erin from Matters of Grammar here, and this is my very first Matters of Grammar video so – hey! And thanks for watching.

So I’ll admit, sometimes when I’m wasting time, scrolling through the internet, I’ll come across a grammar error. Maybe it’ll say your awesome – YOUR. Or maybe it’ll be the dreaded “I seen." And when I come across those things, my first reaction is to cringe because I know it’s, well, wrong.

And as someone who lives and breathes the English language, I’ll also often get tagged in those grammar shaming articles that find people’s spelling mistakes and then rip them apart.

But here’s the thing – insisting on picture-perfect grammar and spelling is a result of privilege. And it’s not okay.

There, They're, Their. The Rules of Common Homophones.

Ah the dreaded rules of grammar. Different versions of the same word, often used in the same sentence, confusing people everywhere. For those of us naturally good at "proper" English, it comes as second nature. For the rest of us, it's a constant battle trying to remember which "there" or "your" or "its" belongs in your sentence. In an effort to make it easier, we've put together some helpful ways to remember the difference between homophones (words that sound the same but mean different things).

Why Web Content Matters

Like it or not, customers form an opinion about you from the content you put online. If you have a website that is scattered and clumsy, they will question your legitimacy. If your content is full of spelling blunders, grammatical errors, or awkward sentences your customers will presume you unprofessional. Being hasty with website creation will cost you business.

We see so many websites that need a lot of work. Getting professional help can be costly, which is a deterrent for many new small businesses with small startup budgets. We get it the financial consideration and urge business owners to invest in professional writing or editing anyway. It will pay off and is absolutely worth it to put out the image you are trying to create. Don't let a hasty, afterthought website be the reason that people choose your competitor!

How to Create Effective Titles

Let's not beat around the bush here - your title can make or break your entire piece. It's the first thing a reader sees, your only chance at a good first impression. Your title is what entices someone to click through and read further or scroll on past.

No pressure, right? Lucky for you, following some easy tips can make your headline more effective and we're here to tell you what those are!

Be Kind to Your Copy Editor: Kill Your Darlings

William Faulkner once said, "In writing, you must kill your darlings." Stephen King added to the sentiment by saying, "Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler's heart, kill your darlings."

So what does kill your darlings mean, exactly? It means that as a writer you should never get too attached, never find your work too precious to change. It means loving a story line, a paragraph, a sentence and changing it anyway because it's the right thing to do.

Featured, Writing TipsErin RamcoomarDecember 12, 2016copy editing, copy edit, writing, darlings, grammar, spelling, editor, editing, masterpiece

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