Month: April 2008

Between ‘That’ and ‘Which’

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Having to choose between that and which is one of those tricky little grammar rules that used to trip me up constantly as I wrote.

To spare you the same aggravation, I’m sharing the words’ definitive usage guidelines:

1. That

That is used solely in restrictive clauses, meaning it introduces specific, essential information in a sentence. As a general rule of thumb, that is usually used in sentences without commas. For example:

The cat that was on the porch slept all day.
The shoes that she bought yesterday were very expensive.

Both of these sentences contain restrictive dependent clauses, giving us specific information about what is happening. The first sentence “restricts” the subject “cat.” It is used to separate the cat on the porch from other cats that may be in the bedroom or on top of the refrigerator. Put another way, you could say that “only the cat on the porch slept all day.”

Same scenario in the second sentence, where that restricts the shoes she bought to yesterday only, and doesn’t include any of the shoes she may have bought on any other day.

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2. Which

Which is used to introduce a non-restrictive clause, a clause that gives us extra information that may be interesting or incidental but does not define the subject. A fun way to remember this: which clauses can “fly away like a witch,” meaning they can be cut from the sentence without changing the meaning. In order to form a restrictive clause, use which and insert two commas around the clause.

The cat, which was on the porch, slept all day.

This sentence tells us essentially the same thing, a cat is sleeping, with one key difference: the cat just happened to be on the porch. Adding the non-restrictive clause gives us extra information about the cat – that he was on the porch – but it does not alter the meaning of the sentence, “The cat slept all day.” Notice the commas that bracket off this new information.

And you can reconstruct the form in the second example in the same way:

The shoes, which she bought yesterday, were very expensive.

The reader knows that someone bought shoes; the fact that she bought the shoes yesterday is just an extra piece of information bracketed off from the rest of the sentence. Again, we have commas separating the non-restrictive clause from the rest of the sentence.

As a general note, that can NEVER be used in a non-restrictive clause. To say “The cat, that was on the porch, slept all day,” is incorrect because of the comma usage.

Also, when speaking of people, always use who rather than that or which.

3. Combining the Two

Don’t be afraid to combine that and which once you have the correct usage down. For example:

The shoes that she bought yesterday, which cost more than $500, were very chic.

Good Discussion Makes Good Writing

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I can remember back to a creative writing class I took in college. It was the first round-table discussion writing class I ever took, and had I known ahead of time that each one of my classmates would read and critique my work each time an assignment was due, I probably would have never signed up in the first place.

See, I was comfortable writing for the eyes of my teachers only. Comfortable with the fact that the only one to critique me (besides myself) was the person instructing and giving out the writing assignments. That I could handle. But the judgmental verdicts of a class full of kids my age? It was a death sentence. And honestly, I was right. When it came time for the first round of peer reviews, my work was grilled…and not just grilled, but skewered and roasted to a slow and painful death.

Ok, so it wasn’t really that bad. It was sorely uncomfortable…but in a good way. Kind of like when your dad takes the training wheels off of your bike and gives you the first push into the world of two-wheel freedom. Surprisingly, the peer review opened my eyes to a whole new way of understanding my talent for words. Not only did I get feedback from others with my same talent, I also learned from reading their work.

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It was a whole new world of varying styles and techniques – a hearty stew of words for me to feed on. So, instead of writhing in agony every time someone made comments or corrections to my work, I learned to absorb the good stuff and throw out the bad. I learned that styles that work well for some writers don’t necessarily work well for me…and that was ok because I was still learning. Learning that my writing weaknesses could be strengthened by someone else critiquing my work. Learning that someone else’s work could be strengthened by me.

It was (and still is) a simple give and take that is one of the most rewarding experiences in the writing profession. So if you’re not in the practice of having others review your work, dive right in. Join a writing group or have a trusted mentor look over your work. Any way you go about it, keep an open mind and allow someone else the opportunity to help your writing flourish. You’ll be amazed.

Inspiration from Anywhere

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As I missed my international flight home to Houston from Trinidad today, I was suddenly struck with an inspiration. Writers can find their muse anywhere at any time. Now, you may be wondering why being stuck at a foreign airport alone with absolutely no money and no lay of the land could inspire this thought in my mind. But just think about it. I’m sitting here, computer on my lap, just tapping away at the keys. Doesn’t matter that I’m in a place completely unfamiliar to me or that I’m completely clueless as to where I’ll lay my head tonight. It’s just me and the keyboard spending some good quality time together.

So while I’m here at the airport with a whole lot of nothing to do, I’d like to take these moments to give you some ideas about where you can find inspiration for your own writing.

Remember back to things that made you happy in your childhood. Do you recall the first time you ever rode your bike, or the time Santa left the toy you had wanted so badly under the tree? Did you play dress up in your grandmother’s attic or sell lemonade on a hot summer day? Memories like these formed you as a person, and they are the perfect way to dig deep when you feel your writing has lost some of its meaning.

Take in the scenery around you. Write about the gorgeous nature (or lack thereof) that resides around you. Watch people as they walk by – each of them unique in character and offering something special to the world. The diversity that is found in all things is a wonderful way to open your eyes (and pen) to new content.

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Get out. Do you ever feel stuck in the same routine? Do something different. Go somewhere different. Take a drive, go salsa dancing on a Tuesday, sit in the sand at the beach, and hike in the mountains. Simply remove yourself from the norm that is your life, and don’t act surprised when inspiration finds you out of your element.

Read. Read books, newspapers, magazines, advertisements, blogs, articles, or whatever else tickles your fancy. Open your eyes to the way others interpret the world through writing, and inspiration may come right out and smack you in the face.

What inspires you? We’d love to hear.

Sticking to the Rules

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The thing about the English language is that when it can, it defies most of the rules. The “rules” are so loose that they’re more like guidelines or suggestions – and a lot of people out there want to give you their interpretation of the language. There’s the Associated Press Stylebook, New York Times Manual of Style and Usage, Chicago Manual of Style, Strunk and White’s ever-popular The Elements of Style, and many, many other usage books that are tailored to specific genres or audiences (technical writing, academic writing, etc).

While many of “the rules” are actually up for debate, the secret to ending that merry-go-round of confusion is simple: create your own rules!

1. Make your own rules

Consider the serial comma. In MLA format, you need to include the serial comma, as in “apples, oranges, and bananas.” But the serial comma isn’t requisite, so leave it out if you prefer “black bears, brown bears and polar bears.”

Other “rules” that can be broken include not ending sentences with prepositions or splitting infinitives. If it makes for better, lucid copy, go ahead and break the rules.

But don’t go overboard – you still need to obey the timeless rules of grammar that make your copy easy to read. You can’t take it upon yourself to forever banish periods from the ends of sentences. Essential grammar rules (i.e. most of the rules) are non-negotiable.

2. Stick to your house rules

This should be easy to follow. There is no excuse for breaking your own rules – if you use the serial comma, keep using it; if you don’t, don’t use it.

The last few decades have introduced a slew of new words that still have yet to be pinned down as “correct.” Until then, their usage, spelling, and capitalization are still fluid, forcing everyone to decide how these new words will be incorporated in their house style. For instance, do you email or e-mail? Do you surf the Internet, internet, Net, or net? And is it a Web site, web site, or website? Truth is, any of those are as good as the others.

Make Your Own Kind Of Music

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This week we have some advice passed on to me from best-selling author Karleen Koen.  Your assignment:  Write something, anything, every morning.  No need for prompts like those we gave you in a recent post.  No, this exercise is completely freestyle.

Keep Your Mind and Fingers Nimble Every Day

As a writer, even if you aren’t working on a particular project, you will benefit greatly from daily practice, like Hemingway’s write-500-words-every-single-day devotion we mentioned in a recent post. And as we’ve also said before, even the world’s greatest musicians practice on their instrument every day.  They hone their skills, keep their artistic inspirations fresh, and even discover new things about their talent.

Writing can actually be a lot like playing an instrument. Imagine sitting down at a piano and just playing around with the keys, plinking out a light, brief little ditty off the top of your head.  Now compare that to sitting down in front of your computer and tapping out a few words, whatever comes to mind.  You’re just goofing around, right?  No pressure.

But you may stumble across a good setting, a useful piece of imagery, or some clever dialogue.  You may even get to meet a character screaming out that she has a story to tell you, speaking to you from your brain to your fingertips as you “jam” on your instrument of choice, be it your computer or one of those yellow legal notepads or a beautiful Moleskine.  (Have you ever heard of a Moleskine?  They are legendary little pocket journals used for scribbling inspirations and ideas, cherished by artistic geniuses like Van Gogh, Picasso, and our pal Hemingway.)

Open Your Mind As Soon As You Open Your Eyes (and Maybe Yawn and Stretch, Too)

Koen believes in writing first thing in the morning.  To Koen, it’s an exercise to get her brain going, not an attempt to generate useable copy.  She suggests taking just about fifteen minutes, or maybe just three pages, whatever comes first, and simply writing whatever comes to mind.  Best of all, she does this even before the coffee is ready.  You can do it while you’re still in bed, even.  At that time of the morning, your mind is still half-asleep, with one foot still in the wonderful, bizarre world of your dreams, where some of the best ideas come from.

Wash Your Face, Comb Your Hair . . . and Brush Up Your Writing Skills

Add to your morning ablutions a rinsing of your thoughts.  Let them wash away from your mind and onto the page.  It may just be a few hundred words of randomness, a jumbled mix of what you dreamt the night before and what’s on your mind about what you have to do that day.  But there’s more than one reason this little exercise is so valuable.

Yes, it is a wonderful way to sow and eventually reap some great ideas, and practice is always beneficial, no matter what you are practicing.  But you’ll have also put your thoughts in a writer’s mindset, right from the minute you wake up.  You’ll be able to spend the rest of the day seeing the world through your writer’s eyes, even more sharply and acutely than you usually do.  You will find a symphony of inspiration everywhere you look.

I guess it’s like waking up and putting on your glasses right away so you can see more clearly.  Oh, I could compare this exercise to a million different beneficial behaviors, but the bottom line is: it’s great.  So tomorrow morning, give it a try!

Shave the Fluff Off Your Copy

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Lots of copywriters love fluff. They gravitate toward it instinctively because it sounds good.

Check out this sentence:

“At Acme Pet Supplies, we offer superior customer service to match our outstanding products.”

You might be thinking, “Oooh – that sounds so good! Everyone wants to see that a company has ‘superior customer service.’ Anyone who reads that Acme has ‘outstanding products’ will be persuaded to shop at Acme Pet Supplies, right?” Wrong.

Though it sounds appealing on the surface, that statement is weak. First of all, that sentence could be describing almost any business in any industry. It’s a fluffy generality that could be describing an auto repair shop or a deli.

Secondly, “superior customer service” and “outstanding products” are unsubstantiated claims. Consumers are bombarded by statements like these all the time and tune them out. Instead of padding your copy with fluffy phrases, use solid details to sell your products.

Take another stab at that first sentence:

“Recognized for outstanding customer service by the American Pet Supply Organization, Acme Pet Supply stocks everything pet owners need – from canary food to chew toys.”

No more fluff. Readers are left with a verifiable fact about Acme Pet Supply that proves Acme excels in customer service. Plus, this new version tells readers the most important thing they need to know: they can get all their pet supplies at Acme.

The next time you’re tempted to use an empty phrase, remember that your copy will be stronger if you shave away the fluff and leave only the facts.

Good Writer Tactics

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Being a writer is NOT easy. You know that. Whether you are a freelancer or a Pulitzer-prize winning novelist, an immense amount of work goes into each word you put on paper. And even the most renowned writers have to work at it. Sure, every writer has his own personal tricks to keep the content flowing and the copy crisp, but since I haven’t the time or the energy to track down really famous authors for their advice, I’ll share with you my own tidbits. Chew on them, savor them, but please, don’t spit them out.

Write every day. Let me preface this by saying, you don’t have to wake up every day at 5 am yearning to write for the next twelve hours. As stated earlier, writing is hard, but as with everything, it takes practice. Think of it this way. Michael Jordan certainly didn’t become the greatest basketball player of all time by only playing when he felt like it. And the same goes for you. Pick a time everyday to sit down and practice your craft. You can blog, journal, work on a freelance article, write your name over and over and over. The important thing is to get your brain in the habit of working daily.

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Make the most of your time. There will be days that you will sit down at your computer, and the creativity will flow like manna from heaven allowing you to capitalize on this copy catharsis. But if you’re anything like me, these days are few and far between. So what do you do the other 364 days a year? Read the rest of my blogs, of course. But seriously, keep your day’s writing goal in mind, and make the decision ahead of time to push through. Bounce your ideas, or lack thereof, off of other writers you know, and you may just find another route to the end of your project.

Realize you are your own worst critic (most of the time). In my experience, my most praised works have been the ones I personally thought were the worst. Unfortunately, this just isn’t the case all the time. Like I’ve said before, as writers, we get do-overs. And even when we feel as if our writing talent has chosen to take a hiatus right before deadline, the best copy can come from embracing the desperation. Think of it as a personal challenge. Get it all down on paper, and refuse to judge it until someone else has given their opinion. If you get good feedback, give yourself a pat on the back. Get negative feedback? Grit your teeth, rewrite it, and then thank God that writers get drafts.

Pack More Punch into Your Proofreading

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I find that most writers approach proofreading as a dreaded afterthought. Once they finish the actual writing, the idea of poring over their copy one last time to discover tiny errors seems…loathsome.

Trust me, proofreading is infinitely important. Nothing looks sloppier than using “your” when you should have used “you’re.” Or misspelling the name of the company you’re writing about. Little errors can drown out your message, but clean error-free copy strengthens it. Check out these simple ways to pack more punch into your proofreading:

Print out your work. Reading on the computer screen strains your eyes. You’ll be surprised how many extra errors you’ll catch by printing out your copy and reading it out loud.

Vary your sentence structure. Copy that consists of simple subject verb object structures over and over is boring. Pay attention to your sentences so that one sentence starts with a prepositional phrase and the next one begins with a gerund.

Alter the lengths of your sentences. Too many long sentences make your copy cumbersome; too many short ones make it feel choppy. For interesting and vibrant copy, some sentences should be long and some should be short. Like this one.

Check for consistency. Make sure that if you hyphenate a word once, that you hyphenate it throughout your work. Also, take a look at your bullets. They should all start with the same type of word: subject, gerund, action verb, etc.

Whether you look forward to proofing your work or loath the thought of doing it, remember that it has to be done. Put in a little extra time and your copy will be cleaner. For added security against typos, have someone – anyone – take a look at your work for you. A new set of eyes will find many of the tiny mistakes you’ve been too close to see.

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