Tag: Grammar & Mechanics
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Drop the Fluff and Start Producing Sharper Prose Today
“Composition is a discipline; it forces us to think. If you want to ‘get in touch with your feelings,’ fine, talk to yourself; we all do. But, if you want to communicate with another thinking human being, get in touch with your thoughts. Put them in order; give them a purpose; use them to persuade,…
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Distinguishing Between Metaphor, Simile, and Analogy Once and for All
A friend of mine was presenting to a board of directors when someone interrupted to say, “That’s not a metaphor, that’s a simile.” He froze. He stumbled. He lost the room over a distinction he couldn’t articulate. He never made that mistake again. Neither should you. Here’s the thing: these three tools are cousins, not…
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Coping With Proofreading Fatigue After a Career of Catching Errors
Me: “Hey, Brain, time to proofread.” My Brain: “We don’t want to.” Me: “This article isn’t complete until we proof it.” My Brain: “Our eyes are tired.” Me: “There might be a mistake I want to correct. Or I might find ways to make it even better.” My Brain: “We want to eat chocolate chips.”…
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Editing Techniques That Turn Rough Drafts Into Compelling Masterpieces
I used to think writing was the hard part. Then I became an editor and learned the truth: writing is the first part. Editing is where the work actually happens, where you take the raw ore of your thoughts and hammer it into something that gleams. The content people share, bookmark, and email to friends…