Each week we'll post a new writing tip. Check back often to learn more of the ins and outs of good (and not so good) writing! And don't forget to check our Facebook page for more tips, tricks and writing prompts!
Urban/Urbane (September 1, 2010)
Urban and urbane are both adjectives, but the addition of the letter "e" changes the meaning. "Urban" means of, relating to, or characteristic of city life. "Urbane" means suave, debonair, reflecting elegance.
For example/In other words… (August 25, 2010)
Using the abbreviations e.g. and i.e. can be confusing. Think of e.g. as meaning “for example,” and use it when you want to provide a few examples, but not all of the possible examples. Think of i.e. as meaning “in other words;” use it for further clarification. Anything following i.e. would comprise a finite list of all possible examples.
“Students should take advantage of the many services offered on campus, e.g., the Writing Center and the
Quantitative Skills Center.”
“The student services I have used so far, i.e., the Writing Center and the
QSC, have been very helpful.”
Read Your Way to Better Writing, Part II (August 18, 2010)
In his book On Writing, Stephen King suggests that reading as much as possible is a great way to improve your writing. This is true of academic as well as creative writing. Ask to read your peers' papers, or ask your professor for some sample papers. The more you read, the more you know, and the better your writing becomes.
Read Your Way to Better Writing, Part I (August 11, 2010)
Read your paper aloud. Hearing what you've written out loud helps you catch awkward phrases, missing or repetitive words, and problems with flow. Even better is to have someone else read your paper out loud.
Etc. (August 3, 2010)
These three little letters can cause confusion if not used properly. “Etc.” is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase et cetera, which means and others. It is used in a list of items when listing every item would be too cumbersome: Before classes start, I need to register, buy textbooks, get a parking permit, etc. Avoid writing “and etc.” because that is redundant. And remember that it’s et cetera, not ex cetera.
Grammar Help (July 28, 2010)
The
Chicago Manual of Style says that grammar rules are learned by native speakers “largely by osmosis.” No matter what your native language is, the Writing Center can help with those pesky English-language grammar rules. Check out our online resources, or stop by and see us. We have
tip sheets for run-on sentences, active/passive voice, semicolons, and MORE!
The Dreaded Comma Splice (July 21, 2010)
A comma splice refers to two independent clauses (incorrectly) separated by a comma. For example:
The sunset was lovely, it evoked fond childhood memories.
There are three easy ways to fix this:
1) Use a period. The sunset was lovely. It evoked fond childhood memories.
2) Use a comma and conjunction. The sunset was lovely, and it evoked fond childhood memories.
3) Use a semicolon (my favorite). The sunset was lovely; it evoked fond childhood memories.
A Friendly Reminder (July 14, 2010)
We've reached the middle of Summer Quarter...time for those group projects to be kicking into high gear. The Writing Center can help with presentations, posters, and Power Point displays. And we can help you individually or as a group.
The Pitfalls of Spell Check (July 7, 2010)
Use the spell check function, but don't rely on it. There's no substitute for careful proofreading!
Free Writing (June 30, 2010)
"Freedom of" and "freedom from" are both correct phrases, but they have different meanings."Freedom of" refers to the possession of a right, such as freedom of religion or freedom of the press. "Freedom from" refers to protection from a wrong, such as freedom from unlawful search & seizure or freedom from unusually difficult exams (wouldn't THAT be nice). HAPPY 4th OF JULY!
The Latter of Success (June 23, 2010)
"Former" and "latter" are used when referring to two, and only two, identifiable elements. "Former" refers to the first element; "latter" refers to the second element.
"My dog and my boyfriend are generally well behaved; however, sometimes I need to punish the former for chewing on my shoes."
If you need to punish the latter, it's probably time to find a new boyfriend.
Seasoning Your Writing (June 16, 2010)
Seasons are not proper nouns, so they are not capitalized like months and days. But the UW Bothell Editorial Style Guide requires seasons be capitalized when referring to an academic quarter. For example, have fun this summer, but remember that registration for Summer 2010 is underway.
Know Your Audience
Writing to the wrong person or group of people is like bringing meatloaf to a vegetarian potluck. (Also, don't bring meatloaf to a vegetarian potluck.) Check out what the Texas A&M Writing Center has to say about knowing your audience.
Writing Groups Work!
Join a writers’ group, such as the ones hosted by the Writing Center, where you can have a safe, supportive environment in which to share your writing.
Assure/Insure/Ensure
What’s the difference between assure, ensure, and insure? They all come from the same Latin root meaning “to make secure,” and they all have very similar meanings, having to do with making something certain or guaranteeing something. Ensureand insure are often used interchangeably in the US, but they are, in fact, slightly different.
The difference between insure and ensure is that you insuresomething (usually by procuring a financial insurance policy) to be prepared in case something bad happens, while you ensurethat something will (or won't) happen. For example, you insure your house against hurricane damage, but you put a glass of water on your nightstand to ensure that you will have something to drink if your throat gets itchy during the night. Assure usually means putting someone's mind at rest and promising that something will be done, as in “I can assure you that next week’s ‘Tip of the Week’ will be as awesome as this one.”
Here's an example of all three words used in a sentence: “Sally assured Kate that she would insure their home to ensure that fire damage would be covered.” In this case, the hero of our little story assuressomeone, putting her mind at ease so she doesn't have to worry by guaranteeing that something will be done. She promises that she will insure their property against fire damage, preparing for an unfortunate event, to ensureor be confident that if their home is set on fire, they will be able to recover their losses.
Between Us
The word “between” applies to two people or things; the word “among” applies to more than two people or things. For example:
· Let’s keep this big secret BETWEEN the two of us.
· Let’s split the dinner bill evenly AMONG the three of us.
Pour/Pore
When you intently study a book, you pore over it. If you pour over it, you are going to have a dripping wet book.
Words you can end sentences with...
The Grammar Police may arrest me for this one, but I’m going to say it anyway: It is not always wrong to end a sentence with a preposition.
When Winston Churchill was once mocked for doing this, he retorted, “That is the sort of thing up with which I will not put!” See how horribly wrong that sounds? I contend a good writer would rather be natural than “correct.” And if anyone tells you you're wrong, tell them you’re not actually using a preposition but an adverbial particle. Works every time.
To Lay or to Lie?
I’d like to explain the correct use of the words “lay” and “lie” without getting into mind-numbingly boring grammar jargon like “transitive and intransitive verbs.” I think it’s actually easier just to memorize a few simple examples:
Today or tomorrow you are going to lie down. Yesterday you lay down. At times in the past, you have lain down.
Today or tomorrow you will lay your paper on the professor’s desk. Yesterday you laid your paper on the desk. At times in the past, you have laid your paper on the desk.
Hemingway says...
Author Ernest Hemingway was famous for his minimalist style of writing that used no flowery adjectives and got straight to the point. He was once challenged to write an entire story in six words. He wrote:
For sale: Baby shoes, never used.
Hemingway had four rules for writing that he used all his life:
1. Use short sentences.
2. Use short first paragraphs.
3. Use vigorous English.
4. Be positive, not negative. (Say what something is, rather than what it isn’t.)