Write like an effective lawyer
Lawyers persuade judges when they “communicate clearly and concisely, according to Antonin Scalia and Bryan A. Garner in Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges. I believe the same rule applies to your writing. Why clear, concise writing matters Why is this important? Because judges, like your readers, lack the time and patience to decipher […]
MISTAKE MONDAY for October 1: Can YOU spot what’s wrong?
Can you spot what’s wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. This example from The Wall Street Journal proves that even organizations with proofreaders make mistakes. I post these challenges to raise awareness […]
Do you edit a printed copy of your draft?
“At least one set of edits should be made on the printed page, pen in hand,” say Antonin Scalia and Bryan A. Garner in Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges. They favor working on a hard copy because “some failings–for example, a missing connection in argument or undue length–are more easily spotted in hard […]
MISTAKE MONDAY for September 24: Can YOU spot what’s wrong?
Can you spot what’s wrong in the image below? Please post your answer as a comment. Oops, somebody didn’t proofread this. I think my “read out loud” method would have caught this error. I post these challenges to raise awareness of the importance of proofreading.
Break it up!
William Zinsser, a noted writer on writing, said, as quoted in Jon Winokur’s Advice to Writers: Short paragraphs put air around what you write and make it look inviting, whereas one long chunk of type can discourage the reader from even starting to read. I’m a big fan of short paragraphs, as you know if […]