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Free rein and free reign not only sound the same but seem to have similar figurative meanings related to freedom. Yes, the correct form of the phrase in writing is free rein, but there is more to the story. You often see free reign used in the same sense, and for good reason. Not because…
Free Rein And Free Reign – Which One Is Correct? Read More »
Your manuscript is ready, or almost ready. But before you publish your book in a hurry, here are a handful of free tools to help give your book a better chance of success. While self-publishing is easy, marketing, promoting, and selling a new book or ebook is much more challenging. To stand a chance, what you…
Before You Publish Use These 5 Helpful Free Tools Read More »
You might use this phrase only occasionally, but it’s easy to get it wrong in writing. One fell swoop is the correct form of the expression. When you hear people using the phrase to say that something happened suddenly, it usually sounds like one foul or fowl swoop. It’s rare to hear people pronounce it…
Is It One Fell Swoop, Foul Swoop, Or Fowl Swoop? Read More »
Writing and publishing content on different platforms and sites is a great idea, but do you interlink your articles? You might have a blog but also publish articles on LinkedIn, SubStack, Medium, or guest posts on other websites. However, you are missing a huge opportunity if you are not adding links between all these articles.…
Interlink Your Articles To Get Better Traffic Results Read More »
Dead words is a catch-all expression to describe words and phrases that are unnecessary, weak, or overused in writing. Every word has its place. But in writing, the words you choose should be in the right place and for the right reason. At the top of the list are hackneyed phrases such as, due to…
Zap These Dead Words To Make Your Writing Stronger Read More »
When a magician performs magic tricks, especially with cards, are the illusions a sleight of hand or a slight of hand? You could ask the same question about the skills of a nimble-fingered pickpocket. The correct form of the expression is sleight and not slight. However, if you were writing 200 years ago, slight was…
Sleight Of Hand Or Slight Of Hand Is A Tricky Choice Read More »
You’ve probably read hundreds of advice articles about grammar and writing rules. Hopefully, a few might have even been ones I wrote. While knowing the rules is always good, that doesn’t mean they are set in concrete. General rules are a good guide for correct grammar usage and effective writing. But they are not laws,…
When you are preparing to self-publish a new book, one important element to include is a disclaimer in your front matter. You’ve probably got a lot of other things on your mind as you get ready to publish. However, a disclaimer is a vital precaution that will offer you some degree of legal protection. You…
How To Write A Disclaimer For A Self-Published Book Read More »
Self-publishing doesn’t pose too many legal issues. However, if you are a new author, there are a few legal aspects of self-publishing that you need to consider. You should know how to protect your work, fulfill your tax obligations, and beware of contracts and agreements. You don’t need to be a legal expert. However, being…
The Legal Aspects Of Self-Publishing For New Authors Read More »
The quick answer is that straight-laced and strait-laced are now both generally accepted as correct. However, if you are a language purist, most dictionaries and style guides agree that strait-laced is the original and correct form. The meaning of both forms is the same: that someone is strict in manners, morals, or opinions or has old-fashioned and…
Straight-laced And Strait-laced – Which One Is Correct? Read More »
