Writing
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Use 'e.g.' for examples and 'i.e.' to restate a point, since the two are distinct.
'e.g.' translates to 'for example' whereas 'i.e.' means 'in other words'.
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- Remember that e.g. stands for the Latin 'exempli gratia', which translates to 'for example'.4
Spend time learning the proper definitions and pronunciations of 'affect' and 'effect' rather than avoiding them.
Avoiding the words ensures you never learn the difference; learning it allows you to distinguish them easily.
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Use 'a' before consonant sounds and 'an' before vowel sounds in the next word.
The difference depends on the sound the next word makes.
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Look up words you are unsure of before using them in writing.
It prevents the burden of discerning meaning from context falling on the reader, showing respect and consideration.
- This advice does not apply to situations where spelling basic words correctly is unreasonably impractical.
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If a spell-checker identifies a mistake, look at the suggested correction, erase your wrong version, and manually type the right word to help remember it.
Retyping helps train yourself to spell correctly the first time and reduces future reliance on spell-check.
- This technique only works if you can already spell the word mentally.
- Some users find it not time-efficient for improving comprehension.
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noun, effect, word, whom21
To choose between 'who' and 'whom', rephrase the sentence using 'he' or 'him'; if 'he' fits, use 'who', and if 'him' fits, use 'whom'.
Use 'off' instead of 'off of'.
'Off' always suffices.
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To choose between 'who' and 'whom', rephrase the sentence using 'he' or 'him'; if 'he' fits, use 'who', and if 'him' fits, use 'whom'.
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- Identify 'who' as the subject (the doer) and 'whom' as the object (the receiver) of an action or preposition.4
Follow the word 'this' with a specific noun or noun phrase to clarify your reference.
Leaving 'this' vague reduces clarity.
- Avoid being repetitive, which can annoy readers.
- Adding a modifier to every 'this' can become unnecessary if conciseness is also important.
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Choose a dissertation or thesis topic that is relatively easy to write about and has ample research available.
Obscure or overly complex topics can lead to unnecessary hardship and frustration.
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Quote or italicize words when referring to the word itself rather than its meaning.
It makes your meaning clear.
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Insert a unique placeholder string like 'tk', 'TODO', or 'TBD' when you need to edit text later.
Practically zero English words contain the letters 'tk' next to each other, making it easy to spot; 'TBD' is universally taught for items to be determined.
- Some less common words like 'tightknit' or 'pocketknife' do contain 'tk'.
- Typing '@' may nudge programs to tag something instead.
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Remember 'i.e.' by associating it with 'in essence', 'in other words', or 'in effect'.
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Remove instances of 'really' and 'very' unless you are padding word count.
They rarely add meaning.
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If you struggle with weak modifiers, try replacing 'very' with a stronger word like 'damn' during drafting so your editor removes it, resulting in better writing.
Your editor will likely remove the strong word, leaving better writing.
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Replace 'very' with a stronger, specific synonym to avoid sounding like a lazy writer.
Using 'very' is considered a mark of lazy writing.
- Stronger synonyms may not be appropriate for all audiences, such as children's books.
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Associate 'e.g.' with the word 'example' by thinking of it as the phonetic start of 'egzample'.
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- Use e.g. to introduce one or more examples from a broader category.4
Use 'whom' after prepositions (like 'to whom' or 'for whom') because it is generally considered correct in that position.
'Whom' is the objective case, and objects of prepositions typically take the objective case.
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Use the phrase 'special effects' as a memory aid to remember that 'effect' is a noun.
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Use proper punctuation, capitalization, and structural analysis rather than simple heuristics like removing 'that' or alternating 'that' and 'which'.
Heuristics like randomly alternating 'that' and 'which' serve you less well than thoughtful analysis.
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Shorten sentences by removing the relative pronoun ('who' or 'whom') altogether when possible.
This is usually how we speak naturally.
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Recognize that 'affect' can be a noun referring to emotional expression or facial appearance, pronounced with stress on the first syllable.
- This usage is generally limited to the field of psychology.
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Understand that 'effect' can act as a verb meaning 'to bring about' or 'cause', especially in sociopolitical contexts like 'effect change'.
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Note that 'affect' can serve as a noun in psychology to describe a person's emotional state or demeanor.
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Remember the RAVEN acronym: Remember, Affect Verb, Effect Noun.
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errors, spelling, grammar, brain18
Manually proofread documents before sending them, even if spellcheck reports no errors.
Do not judge a person's competence solely based on their grammar skills.
English rules are nuanced with many exceptions; smart people may struggle due to lack of formal education, learning disabilities, or because it is not their first language.
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Read your writing out loud to prevent your brain from autocorrecting errors.
Reading aloud stops the brain from skipping over mistakes it expects to see.
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- Read your paper backwards to catch mistakes.1
Always proofread your text because spellcheck may not catch words that are misspelled into other valid words.
Spellcheck will never catch an error if you misspell a word into another actual word.
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- Manually proofread documents before sending them, even if spellcheck reports no errors.2
Draft handwritten letters or notes digitally in Word or a phone notepad before writing them out.
This helps avoid spelling errors and clarifies your train of thought.
- Thank you notes do not need to be perfect; sloppy handwriting or minor errors are generally acceptable.
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Switch to a difficult-to-read font when proofreading to force focus on individual letters and words rather than reading quickly.
Reading quickly can lead to oversight.
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For serious documents, read sentences in reverse order to stop your brain from focusing on meaning and missing errors.
Reversing the text prevents the brain from investing in making meaning, helping you spot errors.
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View spelling and grammar corrections as helpful feedback similar to being told your zipper is down, rather than as personal attacks.
It allows you to fix embarrassing errors before they cause further issues.
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Stop writing exactly as you speak; edit out conversational fillers like 'that'.
Writing often mimics speech, but fillers like 'that' are unnecessary in text.
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Use the Oxford comma to prevent ambiguity and convey professionalism.
There are many situations where omitting it causes confusion, such as distinguishing between groups of people; one lawsuit regarding its omission resulted in significant financial liability.
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Focus on clarity and cadence over brevity when omitting words like 'that' harms the sentence's rhythm or meaning.
Omitting 'that' can contribute to mislaid rhythm and reduce clarity.
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Correct spelling errors before posting online to be taken seriously and protect your reputation.
Posting with errors can negatively affect how others perceive you.
- Remember that not everyone's native language is English.
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Turn off autocorrect but keep the red squiggly lines that highlight misspelled words to avoid reliance on automatic fixes while still catching errors.
Relying on autocorrect can lead to repeated misspellings.
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Be aware that using periods at the end of full sentences in texts can be perceived as angry or curt by recipients.
Recipients, including family members, may interpret the punctuation as anger; linguistic analysis suggests the period comes across as curt in digital communication.
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Ensure cover letters and professional communications are free of syntax and grammar errors.
Employers review composition during hiring; incorrect syntax or grammar can indicate personal competence or qualification issues.
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Avoid using 'whom' entirely in speech and informal writing, as it is becoming obsolete and often sounds pretentious.
Incorrectly using 'who' as an object is common and hardly noticeable, but incorrectly using 'whom' as a subject makes you sound pretentious.
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Be wary of overusing 'impact' in professional emails.
It may be perceived as an overused corporate buzzword in some settings.
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