exclamation points

Go easy on screamers!

Limit your use of exclamation points in your formal business writing. Exclamation points may work better in texts and emails, where you should tailor your use to the recipient.

Increase the sonic force of your writing

Increase the sonic force of your writing

Sentences that sound better are likely to read better. Improve their sound by increase their sonic force. Using shorter words and more vowel sounds will increase sonic force, says author Joe Moran.

writing tight with trisha hall

Writing tight with Trish Hall

Tight writing is reader-friendly. It can also be interesting.

my 2020 reading suggestions

My 2020 reading, with suggestions for you

Looking for something to read—or to buy as a gift for the holidays? You may find ideas on this list of my 2020 reading. I especially enjoyed First You Write a Sentence. by Joe Moran (by the way, the period is part of the title; it’s not a typo). My favorite nonfiction book that wasn’t explicitly […]

Mistake Monday

MISTAKE MONDAY for October 26: Can YOU spot what’s wrong?

Can you spot what’s wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. Oh, how could The Wall Street Journal miss this? Does the newspaper not employ proofreaders? I post these challenges to raise awareness of the importance of proofreading.