Perfect your grammar with a few apps
Everyone could use some grammar help now and then—and a host of new apps are ready to lend a hand, says New York Times tech reporter Kit Eaton.
Category: Writing/Editing
5 tips to make your e-newsletter speak loud and proud
Keep these in mind when launching an electronic ‘zine to grab them by the lapels and bring in their business (or just their undivided attention). They apply whether you’re blasting to 50,000 people or just that strange department on the floor beneath you.
Turn quotes into tweets
Pullquote, a Chrome app, makes it easy to share quotes on Twitter, says Lifehacker’s Patrick Allan.
Expert tips to become a Twitter master
Twitter is one of the largest, most heavily trafficked social media networks, but don’t let that scare you away from getting active on it.
How first and third work well together
Can you switch between first (I or we) and third person (he, she or they) in the same paragraph? Writing coach Lynn Gaertner-Johnston says you can, as long as you allow clarity to be your guide.
Avoid these 4 words in emails
The following words can make you come across as insincere or dishonest. Remove them from your outbound messages pronto:
Is it ‘lay’ or ‘lie’?
The difference between “lay” and “lie” doesn’t come from who’s doing the action (people or dogs)—it comes from the action itself, writes The Morning Call commentator Bill White.
The space between: How applicants age themselves
Do you type two spaces after a period? If so, your résumé may be destined for the wastebasket. According to career counselor Marc Miller, adding that extra space is a résumé mistake that brands an applicant as “too old.”
A high-tech tool for editing yourself
If you’re struggling to proofread your writing well, consider using text-to-speech to pinpoint errors, recommends Lifehacker’s Dave Greenbaum.
Craft the perfect LinkedIn message
Just because you’re networking online doesn’t mean it’s OK to throw basic etiquette out the window. Learn to write LinkedIn messages that people will want to read with these tips.