Things I’m reading to improve my writing

I’m re-reading some and I’m sorry it took me this long to re-read them.  With the volume of electronic communication we produce and consume daily, I believe it’s more important than ever to be mindful of the use of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.  Not only does this make you appear more competent (not smart, just not stupid), but it assures people read and understand what you are trying to say. 

The Elements of Style, is under 100 pages including index, glossary, Introduction (E.B. White), and Afterword (Charles Osgood).  It is a quick read and essential guide to English.  The Introduction sums it up best:

“Seven rules of usage, eleven principles of composition, a few matters of form, and a list of words and expressions commonly misused – that was the sum and substance of Professor Strunk’s work.”

I recommend reading The Elements of Style first. It’s concise, and offers the greatest benefit for the least amount of effort. Leave it in the bathroom, and set a reminder to re-read it every 3-4 months until you have incorporated it into your everyday communication.

On Writing Well is a more comprehensive guide, and will require a bit more effort to read and process. This should still be left in the bathroom or bedside table.

The Elements of Style – Strunk and White

On Writing Well – William Zinsser

Categories: Education, personal Tags: ,

Stop #fracking in the Delaware…

Stop #fracking in the Delaware Basin! Vote coming Nov 21st sign the petition: http://t.co/quYUvltD // bad for so many reasons my head hurts.

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RT @timbray: Ben Bernanke need…

RT @timbray: Ben Bernanke needs a big fat joint and an Aloha shirt: http://t.co/XJaLzhIb // joking, but the article makes some valid points.

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Abolish the TSA, and use its m…

Abolish the TSA, and use its monstrous budget to fund more sophisticated, less intrusive counter-terrorism intelligence http://t.co/1RKee4ny

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@adfskitteh special case Venn …

@adfskitteh special case Venn diagram where A is within B = A is a subset of B.

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@adfskitteh jokes about studs …

@adfskitteh jokes about studs aside – tap on the wall, and the pitch will change as you hit the stud, because it’s denser.

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@DMVG – GoDaddy selective DNS …

@DMVG – GoDaddy selective DNS blackouts. This is what you have to watch for when a company you depend on is sold. http://t.co/ShHikze

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RT @danidiaz: Let’s see if I c…

RT @danidiaz: Let’s see if I can pack for 12 days using only a carry-on and a my laptop bag//can’t fit 2 pairs of shoes in a carryon #shrek

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RT @timoreilly: Economist: dru…

RT @timoreilly: Economist: drug testing in Florida doesn’t have any real aim other than signaling moral (cont) http://t.co/ekNGzXO

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@DMVG_JTK no odd DNS issues. …

@DMVG_JTK no odd DNS issues. What are you using for DNS? Google or OpenDNS? Forget Comcast, or config a local DNS to act as a root server

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