GrammarPhile Blog

Most writers want to believe their writing will be read, understood, liked, and shared with others simply because it’s well written. They believe the essence and content of their writing and its message is what really matters. But that’s not always the case. Many times documents and posts will go unread simply because they’re not properly formatted, regardless of their content.

Use the tips below to format your writing in a way that will make it stand out, and make it easier for your audience to read. 

Most copywriting experts will suggest you write the way you speak when you’re writing marketing copy, that you should sound natural and use a conversational tone if you truly want to get your message across to an audience.  

In a previous post, we highlighted some grammar rules that can and should be broken if you want your marketing copy to be effective. Here are a few more to add to that list.

When you envision a proofreader reviewing your writing, what do you see?

Do you see a person wearing a pair of coke-bottle glasses and an oversized sweater hunched over a stack of papers? Does he have a giant red pen in his hand and a condescending glare in his eye, a smirk on his face, just ready to tear your work to shreds? Is she setting out to edit your work until it fits her idea of perfection, even if it’s far from your original vision? Is he also using grammar and spellcheck technology to do all his work for him?

Organizations of every type rely on email more than any other communication channel because it’s cost effective, (generally) private, personal, easy, quick, and versatile.

As a writer and a professional, you should always strive to be grammatically correct. However, there are times when it’s less important to follow strict grammar rules and more important to connect with your audience. Especially when you’re attempting to inform or persuade an audience about an idea or product.

You can’t truly connect with your audience if you aren’t speaking their language. And if you truly want to speak their language, you will be conversational yet professional in your copy. Sometimes this means you’ll have to break some of the rules, like the ones listed below.

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to improve your writing skills, you won't need to roll out of bed by 5 a.m. to go to your local gym. You can keep this resolution anywhere.

Like any resolution that's worth keeping, improving your writing skills will take some effort. The good news is that it doesn't need to be cumbersome. Learning how to write well takes practice. Learning how to have fun while writing takes practice and a bit of creativity.

According to Pew Research, 92% of Americans claim to celebrate Christmas. And many of them believe that the story of Christmas is historically accurate, regardless of their religious affiliation. So, whether you prefer to say “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” “Happy Kwanzaa” or simply “Happy Holidays,” you likely share some of the same traditions as most Americans, as well as 2 billion other people around the world.

So, what are the origins of the Christmas story that we know today, and where did our cultural traditions originate?

As integral as technology is to the writing process, it's important to be aware of its common pitfalls and limitations, regardless of what you're writing. Review the list below for five ways technology can hurt your writing, and solutions for how to avoid these pitfalls.

It’s the most wonderful time of year to cozy up and conquer a crossword puzzle. While combing through the clues, you may often find yourself asking aloud, “What’s another word for … ?”

When sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner this year, you can describe the meal as scrumptious and know none of your older family members can accuse you of making up words.

Since 2000, Oxford English Dictionary has made quarterly amendments to revise, update, and add new entries. This accelerated cadence is surely a sign of how quickly our language is morphing, growing, and if you ask older generations – falling apart!