There’s no doubt that the hyphen is disappearing slowly from written English. But do we still need it? In many cases, yes. While words like email have replaced e-mail, this shift reflects a broader move toward simpler forms in modern writing. Even hyphenated surnames are becoming less consistent. Yet despite this trend, the hyphen still…
The Hyphen Is Disappearing, But Do We Still Need It? Read More »
Great ideas don’t always strike you at convenient times, and that’s when mobile writing apps can be a big help. If you are writing a book or planning to, your choice is usually a desktop application or word processor. But some writers might use a phone app for short-form writing. However, no matter how you…
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 adverbs that probably have better alternatives. When you learn to identify these problem adverbs, you can…
How To Identify Bad Adverbs With Our Free Adverb Checker Read More »
Using your relationships to sell books is one of the most overlooked strategies in self-publishing. If you are a new author, it’s one of the best ways to help you get book sales as soon as you launch your new book. Because self-publishing a book or ebook is so easy, thousands of new authors release…
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 »
Is it on tenterhooks or tender hooks? The correct phrase is on tenterhooks. A tenter was a large wooden frame used in cloth-making to stretch wet fabric. Being on tenterhooks literally means being stretched tight with suspense or anxiety, just like a piece of wool. Why do we say we are on tenterhooks? The expression…
On Tenterhooks Or Tender Hooks? (The Fabric Trick) 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 »
