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50 Plain-Language Substitutions for Wordy Phrases 27 Aug 2013 | 08:08 am

The following phrases need not be summarily replaced by more concise alternatives, but consider making the switch, especially when you find yourself using various wordy phrases frequently in the same ...

3 Justifications for Altering Quotations 26 Aug 2013 | 09:31 am

Generally, writers should not change the wording in quotations, but quotations that lack context or that include a gratuitous word or phrase should be repaired, as shown in the following examples. 1....

Breaking Style 24 Aug 2013 | 09:55 am

DailyWritingTips.com readers frequently email a message or write a comment in which they disagree with me (usually but not always respectfully) about something I’ve written. Occasionally, a reader has...

“Fort” and Other Strong Words 23 Aug 2013 | 09:47 am

Fort and other words beginning with that formidable foursome of letters have a strong heritage going back to ancient Latin. Here’s a discussion of fort and the fort- family of words. Fort derives, th...

5 Funny Figures of Speech 22 Aug 2013 | 09:48 am

Wordplay is a fertile field for study in English. Although the following forms of humor should be used sparingly if at all, writers should be familiar with them and their possibilities. 1. Malapropis...

How to Rename or Define 21 Aug 2013 | 09:59 am

When constructing a sentence in which a term or concept is described in other words or a meaning is given, use these guidelines for punctuating the parenthesis. When using namely, which establishes t...

Working with an Editor 20 Aug 2013 | 09:56 am

Anyone can publish without an editor. Some people can even publish very well-written content without any editorial assistance. But most can’t, and guessing that you’re in the smaller category is a gre...

Quantify References to Elapsed Time 19 Aug 2013 | 08:04 am

A writer’s book-jacket bio mentions that she’s been a reporter for fifteen years. An online product review refers to a device having been launched last fall. Your blog relates that you attended a conf...

“Expedient” vs. “Expeditious” 17 Aug 2013 | 09:41 am

What’s the difference between expedient and expeditious? The words were originally synonymous, but their meanings diverged long ago, and the distinction is small but significant. Both words derive fr...

7 Proofreading Steps 16 Aug 2013 | 09:29 am

Proofreading is the last line of defense for quality control in print and online publishing. Be sure to conduct a thorough proofread of all documents before they are printed for distribution and of al...

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