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11 Writing Mistakes that Make You Look Dumb
InsideTech
Professional writers often worry that their work is unnecessary. After all, can’t anyone with even a basic education write? The answer: no, they can’t. Even college graduates don’t seem to be learning composition basics.
Of course not everyone is going to be the next Mark Twain, but career success does depend on not looking stupid. Sure, some clients, coworkers, or resume readers might make some of these mistakes themselves. But it takes just one person to see just one mistake for you to be discounted.
Avoid these 11 mistakes and get the job, make the sale, and write better!
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FIRST MISTAKE |
slburkey
about 1 month ago
68 comments
Please be aware that the link will redirect you out of the InsideTech Web site. You should also be aware that there is an error or two in the article's advice. The most glaring example of this is the "effect" vs. "affect" conundrum. The article does a fair job of explaining when to use each, but then blows it when it reaches the illustrations at the end of this section.
It says if someone who isn't British is using an English accent, that is an "affect." Wrong! That is an "affectation" - when referring to someone doing this in the past tense, "affected" is the correct usage, and in the present tense they are "affecting" the accent. The only time you would use "affect" is in the future tense: "Bill will affect an English accent in his portrayal of Dorian Gray during this evening's poetry reading."
Aside from these points, this article is well worth the reading. It points out a glaring and growing problem in our society - not just in adults but our children as well. Did you realize that your children are not required by their school(s) to have good penmanship, nor take penmanship classes? Do not start me on spelling! "The Dumbing-down of America" indeed.