Tag: writing basics

When I first entered the workforce, I asked an older, wiser friend to review my resume. She chastised me for using the word telephony, laughing at my “made-up word.”

Even though I used it correctly and my prospective employers would (likely) understand it, my friend’s mirth and Master’s degree intimidated me, so I removed telephony from my resume.

Another time, I heard about a man who correctly used the word niggardly, which means stingy, but people thought he made a racial slur; he was fired over it. (Read about some other confusing words.)

Recently I learned a word I really want to use: theocrasy. This would fit nicely in a book I’m working on, but I fear readers will misread it or think I made a typo and meant theocracy, which conveys a different idea. (It doesn’t help that both words are pronounced the same.)

My conclusion is that being right doesn’t matter if people misunderstand what you’re saying.

Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.

Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.

When we write an instructional article, post, or nonfiction book, we have three ways to address our audience. The method we select will affect how we connect with our audience, influencing if they receive—or even read-our words.

Let’s consider these three styles:

Inclusive: To include our audience when we write, we pepper our words with personal pronouns, such as “we,” “us,” and “our.” We treat our readers as equals, with our words applying to them as much as to us. By its nature, inclusive writing is usually accessible and conversational. The first three paragraphs of this post use inclusive writing.

Exclusive: In contrast is exclusive writing, where you separate yourself from your readers, often using the pronouns “you” and “your,” along with “I,” “me” and “my.” I’m adopting this style in explaining exclusive writing to you. Even though it’s not my intent, do you feel like I am talking down to you? Do I come across as lecturing? If I did this for the entire post, would you have trouble reading it? Of course you would; that’s why I must stop.

Detached: Formal writing maintains a distance between writer and reader, which usually renders the piece as inaccessible. A primary characteristic is using the abstract pronoun “one.” In this manner, one avoids emotional connection. Sentences become dry and lifeless. In adopting this style, the use of the aforementioned pronouns (we, us, our, you, you’re, I, me, and my) are prohibited. Proper uses of this form include formal research, academic papers, and dissertations. Using this style in other forms of writing may indicate one is unable to connect with one’s audience or is distancing oneself due to a lack of confidence. With careful wording, one can avoid the use of “one” and remain in this mode. Detached writing has a formal construct.

Wow, those last two paragraphs were tough! I need to stop, so we can revert to normal blogging. Let’s revisit the opening sentence of this post:

• Inclusive Example: We have three ways to address our audience.
• Exclusive Example: You have three ways to address your audience.
• Detached Example: One has three ways to address one’s audience.

Although there are instances when each method is appropriate, we generally serve our audience best with the inclusive style.

Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.

Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.

In past posts, we talked about the importance of watching out for words that can mean opposite things, words with confusing meanings, and slang. Another consideration is clichés.

A cliché is an overused phrase or idea. Initially, it may have been a colorful word combination, but with excessive use and abuse, it has become trite.

I heard about a college student dismissing Shakespeare because “He uses too many clichés.” What the student didn’t realize was Shakespeare originated those phrases; it was other people, who out of appreciation for his ingenious turn of a phrase (a cliché I slipped in for illustrative purposes), made them into clichés by repeating them ad.

I once received an article submission containing three clichés in the opening sentence, mixing metaphors (which is close to becoming cliché) in the process: “You need to get off the fence, step up to the plate, and go for the gold.”

Ick! Gag me with a spoon. (A cliché; also slang and dated pop-culture).

Unless you’re trying to make a point, as I am here, clichés should be avoided like the plague. (Isn’t this fun?)

Not only do you need to search and destroy all clichés, you are even well-advised to avoid using phrases that are on their way to becoming clichés. Although using them would be passable today, their presence might relegate you to the status of a second rate hack by future generations.

But then, if like Shakespeare you are the originator of the cliché that would be the cat’s meow.

After all, it is what it is.

Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.

Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.

I’ve had several posts about word choices: Commonly Confused Words, Same Word – Opposite Meaning, and Confusing Words. Next up is slang.

We need to use caution when interjecting slang in our writing.

Slang can date our work: If our story is set in the sixties, a character might say “groovy.” However, anyone who wrote “groovy” in the sixties would have a dated piece today. As we write we need to guard against slang words or phrases that would later date our work — just sayin’.

Slang can confuse: Sometimes meanings can cause problems. The slang of “bad” means very good. If a character says, “Wow, that’s bad.” Is it unacceptable or good?

Slang can change: I once heard a mom nonchalantly talk about her young daughter “making love.” I was shocked, but the mom simply meant “kissing.” Or consider texting. Does “LOL” mean “laugh out loud” or “lots of love?” The answer might vary depending on the age of who we ask.

Slang can offend: In another blog, I wrote about raccoons in the neighborhood. I wanted to use the slang for raccoon in my title but didn’t because “coon” can also be a racial slur. My intent to be cute could have offended, so I avoided that slang expression.

In our writing, we need to exercise restraint with slang.

Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.

Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.

Last week we talked about words that are confusing because they have opposite definitions. Today we will cover some words with often-misunderstood definitions. Consider:

Penultimate does not mean more than ultimate but means second to last.
Confusing usage: “It is the penultimate lap of the race.”
Is it the most exciting lap or simply the lap before the final one?

Inflammable does not mean the opposite of flammable, but some people think so. Both words have the same meaning (though some claim subtle distinctions).
Confusing usage: “The liquid is inflammable.”
Should I be careful or not?

Niggardly means stingy, but some wrongly assume it’s a racial slur.
Confusing usage: “Don’t be niggardly.”
Is the reference to misers (correct) or minorities (incorrect)?

We need to make sure we use words correctly – and to consider if our readers will understand them correctly.

Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.

Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.

In “Check Your Writing” I noted that, as writers, we only need to scrutinize two things: our facts and our words. Sometimes words can have opposite meanings and we need to use them with grave caution – or avoid them altogether. Consider:

Oversight: 1) An unintentional mistake; 2) watchful care.
Confusing usage: “His oversight of the situation was mentioned.”
Is he in trouble or about to be commended?

Cleave: 1) to split; 2) to cling.
Confusing usage: “The couple’s only solution was to leave”
Will they break up or steadfastly remain together?

Decimate1) to kill one of every ten (original meaning); 2) to kill a large part of.
Confusing usage: “The army was decimated.”
Are they now at 90% or a small fraction of what they started with?

1) to kill one of every ten (original meaning); 2) to kill a large part of.
Confusing usage: “The army was decimated.”
Are they now at 90% or a small fraction of what they started with?

Literally: 1) Really; actually, 2) Used as an intensive before a figurative expression.
Confusing usage: “I literally fell on the floor laughing.”
Did this actually happen or was something just really funny, sans rolling around on the ground?

These are just four words that can trip us up because of their conflicting meanings.

Worthy writers wield words wisely.

Learn more about writing and publishing in Peter’s book: Successful Author FAQs: Discover the Art of Writing, the Business of Publishing, and the Joy of Wielding Words. Get your copy today.

Peter Lyle DeHaan is an author, blogger, and publisher with over 30 years of writing and publishing experience. Check out his book Successful Author FAQs for insider tips and insights.