Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those

What are demonstratives?  

This, That, These, Those are demonstratives. They are used to show the distance of an object or objects from the speaker. They can be used as pronouns or adjectives. When a demonstrative is used as an adjective, it modifies the noun. 

When do we use This, That, These, Those?

This -  if the noun is singular and is close to the speaker.

That - if the noun is singular and is far from the speaker.

These - if the noun is plural and is close to the speaker.

Those - if the noun is plural and is far from the speaker.

Try these exercises:

 ________ is a balloon.

 _________ are balloons.

 ______________ is a book.

___________ are books.

 ___________ is a hill.

 ___________ is a building.

 _________ are tomatoes.

_____________ are birds.

ANSWERS:

This is a balloon.

 These are balloons.

 This is a book.

These are books.

That is a hill.

That is a building.

Those are tomatoes.

Those are birds.

When Should I Use Capitalization?

Proper capitalization is important. Never overlook these basic rules of capitalization:

Capitalize:

1. The first word of a sentence
2. The pronoun “I” and all its contractions (I’m, I’ll, I’ve,I’d)
3. All proper nouns
4. The first word of a quote (“Please, give me advice.”)
5. A title or rank preceding a person’s name (Dr. Glenn Faust, Engr. Bradford)
6. A person’s title inside a quotation or dialogue. (“Have a great trip, Sir!”)
7. Compass points when referring to a specific region. (“My friend lives in the South.”)
8. All words included in titles of books, songs, movies, and other art works
9. Names of clubs and organizations
10. Historical events
11. Names of languages

Do not capitalize:

• Names of seasons (winter, spring .summer, fall)
• Directions when not referring to a specific region (The sun sets in the west.)
• Names of elements (carbon, oxygen, helium, etc.)

Writer: Use Adverbs With Caution!

I am dead to adverbs; they cannot excite me. To misplace an adverb is a thing which I am able to do with frozen indifference; it can never give me a pang. ... --and this adverb plague is one of them. ... Yes, there are things which we cannot learn, and there is no use in fretting about it. I cannot learn adverbs; and what is more I won't. - Mark Twain, "Reply to a Boston Girl," Atlantic Monthly, June 1880

How many times have you heard the advice, use adverbs with caution? Many writers are prone to the excessive use of adverbs (especially adverbs ending in –Y and –LY) to highlight subjects or emphasize a point. But did you know that careless use of adverbs can hurt your writing?

What Are Adverbs?

Adverb -- “: a word belonging to one of the major form classes in any of numerous languages, typically serving as a modifier of a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a preposition, a phrase, a clause, or a sentence, expressing some relation of manner or quality, place, time, degree, number, cause, opposition, affirmation, or denial, and in English also serving to connect and to express comment on clause content”(---The Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online) 

There are 5 types of adverbs (manner, time, frequency, place, purpose). Adverbs are used to compare, to give more detail or description. Below are some examples (Take note that not all adverbs end in –LY).

The italicized words are adverbs:

eat slowly 
lookedlovingly
write speedily
quickly left
really angry  
carefully checked
run faster  
almost cried  
very beautiful

Show, Don't Tell

The first book about writing I read was So You Want to Write a Novel by Lou Willett Stanek. In this book, she encourages writers to Show, Don’t Tell. Following this rule will help you avoid ineffective use of adverbs.

Compare the following sentences:

• Jenny angrily left the room.
• Jenny’s face flushed and her fists tightened as she slammed the door behind her.

The first sentence uses the adverb "angrily" to define how Jenny felt when she left the room.

The second sentence shows the reader how Jenny looked and how she acted. Upon reading the 2nd sentence, the reader understands that “Jenny was angry”.

Yes, imagination and practice are essential to express ideas without using adverbs. But the result can be rich, original and powerful writing.

Adverbs and Redundancy

Incorrect use of adverbs can lead to redundancy – another element of poor writing.  Consider this:

• If you really want to write well, it is extremely important to pay close attention to the words you actually use.
• If you want to write well, it is important to focus on the words you use.

Notice that the second sentence gets the message across even without additional words or adverbs.

Sometimes, I am guilty of using too many adverbs on my writing. After researching on this issue, it’s clear to see why adverbs should be used with caution. And that's what I'm going to do.

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks,  
Rachel:)
 

Photo sources:

1. knife
2. show it!
3. redundancy

Active Voice vs Passive Voice – Who Wins the Battle?

Professional writers recommend the active style of writing unless you have a very good reason for using the passive voice. Which should you use?

Advantages of the Active Voice:

• It is straight to the point.

• It is easier to read and understand.

• It sounds more natural.

• It eliminates unnecessary words.

• It strengthens your writing.

Compare these sentences:

PASSIVE: The letter was delivered by my best-friend. ACTIVE: My best friend delivered the letter. PASSIVE: We were asked to write a 4-versed poem by our English professor. ACTIVE: Our English professor asked us to write a 4-versed poem.

Check Your Writing:

When editing your work, pay attention to each sentence. Underline the sentences written in the passive voice and rewrite them.

• Which one is better – the active or the passive voice?
• Which is clearer?
• Which of the two sentences has made more impact?

Does this mean you should never use the passive voice?

Writers must learn to use the passive voice sparingly and with intent. There are instances when using the passive voice is more appropriate. 

For example, using the passive voice is ideal if you do not want to assign an object or an action to a particular subject. Hence, the passive style is often used in business letters and business reports.

Examples:

The files have been sent. Unauthorized charges have been discovered. The meeting has been adjourned.

In the above examples, there is no need to declare who sent the files, who discovered the unauthorized charges, or who dismissed the meeting. Thus, using the passive voice is not only convenient, but applicable as well.

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.  

Thanks,  
Rachel:)

Photo sources:
1. green apple or red apple?
2. active or passive?

Are all Mass Nouns Singular in Form (Not Pluralized) ?

Dictionary.com defines mass nouns as “nouns. . . that denote a substance or concept indivisible into countable units...”

Most mass nouns represent liquid substances (water, milk, vinegar) and food stuff (meat, sugar, cake, pie).

Although mass nouns are generally not pluralized, there are also mass nouns that can take both singular and plural forms (by adding s).

Some mass nouns can also be count nouns.

Examples are:

• She knows how to cook salad.
• She knows how to cook many kinds of salads.

• Grain is abundant in this country.
• Different grains are grown in each region.

• Go ahead and ask her what brand of detergent she likes.
• Some detergents contain harsh ingredients.

• Forest fires are prevalent during dry season.
• Earlier today, there was a forest fire in this area.

Some mass nouns only have a singular form but no plural form.

Examples are:

• I bought a piece of equipment for you.
• I bought pieces of equipment today.

• He sold me this piece of furniture.
• He carves desks, cabinets, shelves and other wooden furniture.

• I didn’t know that piece of information until the teacher explained it in class.
• The internet is packed with useful information.

*Microsoft Word editor flags the word "informations" & “furnitures” as grammatical errors. The word "equipments" is left unchecked.


Other examples of mass nouns:

advice * air * blood * food * garbage * graffiti * grass
homework * knowledge * luggage * mathematics
money * music * pollution * research * sand * soap
software * traffic * transportation * travel * trash

Practical Tips On Editing Your Own Writing

Every writer has the responsibility to make sure that their work is free from errors. This is true whether you are writing content for your own website or writing articles for a client.

Nothing is worse than an article with typographical errors and misspelled words. And if the grammar is wrong, the piece itself loses its value no matter how interesting the topic is. Even though you are an expert on the subject you're writing about, poor grammar can drive away most of your readers.

So how can you make sure that your writing is ready for the world? Consider these tips when proofreading your own work:

Take a break. Don't try to edit your work right after you've finished writing the piece. Go for a walk. Take a nap. Do your chores. After a break, you will be able to see your writing more clearly and with a new perspective.

Read the whole article first. Highlight the words or sentences that need changes and go back after reading the entire article. Experienced writers recommend reading from a printed page rather than from a computer screen. I think this advice is most apt for book writers.

If you are an SEO writer, printing out articles before reading them can be time-consuming and a waste of precious paper. What you can do is read the piece from beginning to end, marking the errors using the MS Word highlight tool. Apply the necessary changes. When you're done, read the entire article once again.

Read aloud. It would be easier to spot wrong grammar, awkward phrases and redundancies when you can hear the sentences.

However, make sure that you are not just reading from memory. People have a tendency to overlook errors because they are reciting from memory. Let your eyes be your guide. Read every word from the page and focus on what your eyes see.

Set a schedule exclusively for editing. Editing a written piece does take time. You are bound to miss important details that need revision if you are rushing.

Compress. Some sentences or words may be unnecessary and can be omitted without changing the meaning or taking away from the quality of the article. Also, some readers get discouraged when they see a very lengthy piece. So unless that phrase or sentence is truly relevant, delete it.

Review. Try re-editing after a few hours or the next day or after a week if your time allows. You may have spotted a few errors before but you might be surprised to find other needed corrections later.

Would you like to share your personal tips on editing? Are these tips helpful? I'd LOVE to know what you think so if you feel like commenting, please do:)

"A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts." - William Strunk

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks a lot, Rachel:) Photo sources: 1. take a walk before editing 2. read each word aloud 3. writer on a typewriter

*This article was originally published on rachewrites.blogspot.com on April 21, 2009.

Have You Checked Your Punctuation?

Punctuation marks are important symbols that can add depth, clarity and structure to a written work. Correct punctuation marks are also essential in reading- particularly when it comes to pausing and intonation.

Try to read a paragraph that has not a single punctuation on it and you'll realize the difference. Some authors use punctuation to define their personal writing styles but unless you are a pro, it's best to stick with the rules of proper punctuation.

The three most common punctuation marks that are used to end a sentence are period (.), question mark (?) and exclamation point (!). Here are the basic rules:

• Make sure that all your statements end with a period.
• Make sure that all your questions have a question mark at the end.
• If a sentence suggests strong feelings or emphasis, use an exclamation point.

Use a double quotation ( " ) for direct quotes, dialogues, speeches or citations.
Example:
“I’ve always wanted to be a writer,” Helen said.
According to Wikipedia, “Certain aspects of punctuation are stylistic and are thus the author's (or editor's) choice.”

Use a single quotation (‘) if there is another quote within the quotation.
Example:
Haley said, “My mother said, ‘You can’t go out today!’ in a very stern voice.”
“I heard Mr. Riley said, ‘I don’t know that boy!’ right in front of everyone in the room,” said Jean.

Use an apostrophe (‘) to show possession or to combine two words and form a contraction.
Example:
All these cute flowers are Amy’s. All the cards have her name on them.
You’re not the only one who is interested about the proper use of punctuation marks.

The comma (,) has many uses and therefore, can be quite confusing. Generally, a comma is used to:

• denote a series

Example: I went shopping and bought a new bag, a new pair of shoes, and a watch to go with my outfit. (the comma before AND can be omitted)

• separate adjectives in a row

Example: She is such a brilliant, talented, charming young woman that no one can resist.

• denote an appositive or a phrase that supplements information to the subject

Example: Antoine de Saint Exupery, a French writer and aviator, wrote The Little Prince.

• separate an introductory phrase

Example: Although not autobiographical, The Little Prince was inspired by the author’s experiences as a pilot.

• separate 2 independent clauses

Example: Everybody was curious about the new girl, but nobody knew where she lives or what thing she do.

• call someone’s attention

Example: Jess, don’t forget to call me when you get home.

• separate a city from its State

Example: Los Angeles, California

• separate direct quotations

Example: John asked, “Where you the one who took the picture?”

A Semi-colon (;) can be used to separate 2 related but independent clauses. It is also used to separate a more complex series.
Example:
There hasn’t been any rainfall this month; everyone expected the rain to fall anytime but it didn’t.
I was having a hard time deciding whether to wear my brown, leather jacket; my black, formal blazer; or my green, cashmere sweater for my job interview.

A Colon (: ) can be used to introduce a list.
Example: I brought along three friends with me: John, my high-school classmate; Jerry, my neighbour; and Dianne, my officemate.

A Hyphen (-) is used with:

• Prefixes (for easier reading)

Example: re-invent, ex-husband

• Compound words

Example: out-of-place

• Numbers written as words

Example: twenty-two, thirty-three

A Dash( – ) is used when an idea is added in the middle of the sentence. This is done to add clarification, information or a dramatic emphasis to the subject.
Example: Punctuation marks – like period and exclamation point – add depth to a sentence.

The slash (/) is used when suggesting two possible options or terms in a sentence.
Example: You will need a company ID and/or driver’s license to get through.
A customer must exercise caution when he/she is shopping online.

Parentheses ( ( ) ) are used to add information or a thought or to show an example without interrupting the sentence.
Example: The use of punctuation marks (period, comma, exclamation point, etc.) need not be complicated.

Brackets ( [ ] ) is often used when adding a comment or note from the editor of the piece.
Braces ( { } ) are used to denote a numeric set.

Why Check Your Spelling?

One of the basic rules about professional writing is to avoid spelling errors. Misspelled words or typographical errors can instantly send negative impression to a reader. Wouldn’t you be turned off if an interesting article that you’re reading contains not only one but several misspelled words?

True, not everyone is as strict when it comes to pointing out wrong spelling. But then again, not everyone would be as forgiving. It would be a shame to lose readers just because you didn’t pay attention to the correct spelling of words. If you have an online business, it would be a shame to drive away potential customers because poorly presented web content.

Another reason why you should watch out your spelling: Search Engines check them too! Yes, even search engines prefer websites that are free from typos! Just read this article by Matt Cutts: SEO ADVICE: Spell Check Your Website. If you want to rank higher and increase your traffic, all the more you should pay attention to your spelling.

Microsoft Word has its own spell-checking tool that you can use to spot errors as you type. Here are free online spell checkers that you can use to double-check your work:

• Orangoo You can either enter the URL of your webpage or paste the text or the entire article that you want to check. Aside from English, you can also spell check in other languages (French, Spanish, Italian, etc.)
• SpellChecker.net
• Jacuba

Check Your Spelling: Proofread Your Work
Aside from using automatic spell checkers, don’t forget to proofread your work. Spell checkers can only detect incorrect spelling, but not incorrect grammar. Some words may be correctly spelled but are used in the wrong context.

Homonyms or homophones (words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings) are usually misspelled or misused in texts.

Here are two examples:

Its (possessive form of IT) and It’s (it is)
Your (possessive pronominal adjective) You’re (you are)

It’s easy to miss these spelling errors if you won’t proofread your work. If you don’t have time, have someone else to do the editing for you.

Improve Your Spelling Skills:

Finally, you can do a lot to improve your spelling skills. If you’re not sure of how to spell a word, look it up in the dictionary. Spellcheckers are great for quick editing but using a dictionary helps you learn more about a word.

A dictionary gives more information such as the pronunciation, etymology, the part of speech the term belongs, the meaning, and sample sentences. Some dictionaries even include synonyms and antonyms.

A deeper understanding about a word would help you remember the correct spelling more easily. Here are links to online dictionaries for your research:

• YourDictionary.com
• The Free Dictionary
• Merriam-Webster

Are You A Redundant Writer?

Redundancy: a : superfluous repetition : prolixity b : an act or instance of needless repetition the part of a message that can be eliminated without loss of essential information --- Merriam-Webster Dictionary

When I started writing, one of my biggest writing mistakes was redundancy. Examples of redundant phrases I’ve been guilty of using were: each and every, could possibly, all throughout, first of all, first started, and more. Today, I can say that I am more aware of it and I try to avoid redundancies as much as I can.

Here are other examples of redundant phrases which are common in marketing copies, advertisements and articles online. Note that the texts in Italic simply repeat the meaning of its paired word and therefore, can be omitted.

basic fundamentals confused state actual fact bouquet of flowers advance preview brief moment current trend advance reservations brief summary depreciate in value add up cancel out added bonus circle around disappear from sight close proximity drop down ask the question combine together assemble together autobiography of his/her life completely surrounded emergency situation ATM machine (Automated Teller Machine) end result PIN number (Personal Identification Number) estimated at about SEO optimization (Search Engine Optimization) HTML language (Hyper Text Markup Language) final completion BASIC code (Beginner’s All-Purpose Instruction Code) LCD display (Liquid Crystal Display) free gift repeat again rectangular in shape past (or prior, previous) experience

Getting Over Redundancies Redundancies are not corrected by the Microsoft Word Checker but you can avoid redundant writing! Consider the following tips:

Be aware. It may not be that easy at first especially if you were used to using expressions like absolutely necessary, and also, empty space, exact same and other cliches. By familiarizing yourself, you can spot redundancies when you proofread.

Watch out the intensifiers! A redundant phrase is often accompanied by an intensifier such as extremely, very, absolutely, quite, fairly, definitely, etc. Look out for these words in your article. Did you use it on purpose? Does it strengthen the word it follows? Or is it unnecessary?

Sometimes, an intensifier can be used for emphasis but if your sentences contain too many intensifiers, then you should omit words that do not add much value to a statement.

Starting a sentence with a wordy phrase. Introductory phrases like "As a matter of fact", "In the case of", etc. should be used sparingly. If you can say something directly without using an introductory, better.

Avoid repeating the same words in one sentence. Unless on purpose, avoid using the same words over and over in your article. Use a thesaurus to find appropriate synonyms.

Do not add unnecessary words just to meet the minimum word count. Remember that wordiness does not win an audience. Those extra words will only increase word count, not the value of the piece. If a word or phrase does not add meaning or depth to your writing, delete it. And who wants to read a very long article filled with repetitions anyway?

Do you have other ideas on how redundant writing can be avoided?

What did you think of this article? I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you enjoyed the read or if you find it useful, kindly please click any of the sharing icons below. You can Tweet, Stumble, Share it on Facebook or +1 it.

Thanks a lot, Rachel:) Photo sources:

1. yellow pencils in a row

2. redundant clock

3. bored cat