There’s no doubt that the hyphen is disappearing slowly from written English. It’s far more common today to use email rather than e-mail. Perhaps this one word, along with technology, started the hyphen’s demise. However, it’s not all over yet for the humble little dash. It still has many uses, but most of all, it…
The Hyphen Is Disappearing, But We Still Need It Read More »
If you like to write on the move, you can find plenty of phone apps that are handy tools for writers. You’re not going to write a whole novel on your phone. But you can use your phone to add a few paragraphs while traveling or waiting around. As a writer, you also want to…
The Best Phone Apps For Writers To Write On The Move Read More »
Yes, using too many weak, poor, or bad adverbs can be a sign of lazy writing. But as a part of speech, adverbs have their place. You can’t write without them. The problem arises when you use too many weak or poor adverbs that have better alternatives. When you learn to identify these problem adverbs,…
Bad Adverbs Are Easy To Identify And Fix In Writing Read More »
If you are a new self-publishing author, the best way to help with the launch of your new book is to use your relationships with book buyers. Gaining sales for a new book takes a lot of hard work. Without a clear plan, it can be tough to attract readers. Because self-publishing a book or…
Using Relationships With Book Buyers For New Authors Read More »
Which spelling is correct? Is it backward or backwards? The good news is that both of them are perfectly correct for the adverb form. But it depends on whether you write in US or British English. For US writers, there is usually no S. But for the UK and some other national varieties of English,…
Learning to write in formal register is easy once you understand the basics. When you write a job application, a business letter, an essay, or an academic article, you need to use the formal register. It’s not only used in writing. In speaking, we use the formal voice when addressing a doctor or judge or…
How To Write In Formal Register For Essays And Letters Read More »
It can be a little disconcerting if you notice that your paperback version is not available on Amazon. But you’ll probably find that your Kindle or audiobook versions are fine. What you see is the result of geography, shipping costs, and delivery time. Unlike ebook and audiobook files, paperback or hardcover versions of your book…
My Paperback Version Is Not Available On Amazon To Buy Read More »
You’re waiting impatiently for news, but nothing arrives. Are you on tenterhooks or on tender hooks? Yes, the suspense is agonizing and unbearable. Each passing moment seems like forever as you constantly check your phone, email, or glance at the clock. But in the meantime, it might help to know that the correct answer is…
On Tenterhooks Or Tender Hooks While You Are Waiting? Read More »
I’m reaching out to you, or I’m contacting you. Do you have a preference? Perhaps both of them are okay for you. I might be showing my age, but I prefer to be contacted than reached out because it’s grammatically impossible to use it in the passive voice. You can’t say I was reached out…
Reaching Out To You Or Contacting You? Who Gets A Reply? Read More »
Can you end a sentence with a preposition? It’s a question writers have constantly debated, so there are varying opinions. The traditional rule is to avoid ending sentences with prepositions, but this rule now seems outdated. Ending a sentence with a preposition is often the most natural and effective way to write. One of the…
Never End A Sentence With A Preposition – A Rule To Break? Read More »
