Break your chains!
Writing with fewer words sometimes results in harder-to-understand sentences. That can be the case with noun chains—when one noun piles upon another to modify the noun at the end of the chain. “Nouns used as adjectives often slip out of a writer’s control, producing impenetrable chains,” writes Jan Venolia in Write Right! She mentions “urban […]
Tax-exempt is exempt from this rule
Generally, one hyphenates compound modifiers that precede a noun, but not when the compound modifiers follow the noun. That means you’d write Low-cost mutual fund A mutual fund that’s low cost Breaking the rule That rule has been drummed into me, so I was surprised to read the following in Jan Venolia’s Write Right!: “Idiomatic […]
Why I write for you
You can reach more clients and prospects when you put your useful ideas into writing. However, many investment and wealth managers lack the time—or maybe the skill—to put ideas into writing persuasively. That means your audience loses an opportunity to benefit from your expertise. When your writing isn’t as strong as your ideas, you may […]
Legal danger for financial bloggers: Two misconceptions, three resources, one suggestion
No financial blogger wants to get in trouble with the law, become liable for financial damages, or tarnish his or her reputation. You’ve probably thought about compliance with laws governing advisors registered with the SEC, FINRA, or other regulators. But what about copyright laws? I believe a significant number of advisor-bloggers are guilty of copyright […]
MISTAKE MONDAY for February 28: Can YOU spot what’s wrong?
Can you spot what’s wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. Hint: Something is missing. I post these challenges to raise awareness of the importance of proofreading.