Traditional authors, journalists, and those in academia usually follow their organization’s or publisher’s chosen style guide. But if you’re an independent author, blogger, or business owner, you can decide which style guide is best for your writing. Today’s post provides an overview of the “big four” style guides in American English: The Associated Press Stylebook (AP … [Read more...] about Which Style Guide Is Best for You?
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Polish Your Headings with Parallel Structure
Headings are usually just a few words each, but they can play a vital role in your document’s success. Their most important function is helping readers navigate your content. (No one benefits when readers are cast adrift!) And when headings are constructed with parallel structure, they also enforce consistency throughout your content and demonstrate attention to good writing … [Read more...] about Polish Your Headings with Parallel Structure
How to Edit Your Ignored Words and Phrases in WordPress
Here's the scenario: You've written and edited the perfect blog post in Microsoft Word, so you copy it into WordPress for publication. Just to be on the safe side, you run the Proofread Writing tool before clicking the publish button. WordPress tells you that the name of your beta project, WackiFeet, is spelled incorrectly throughout the post. But, you know that the spelling is … [Read more...] about How to Edit Your Ignored Words and Phrases in WordPress
Should We Spell Out Numbers Online?
We face many difficult questions every day: Why do cats go crazy right before bedtime? Do aliens exist? Who will triumph on Game of Thrones? (No spoilers, please!) And of course, should we use digits or spell out numbers online? Although I’ve yet to see an alien—and I only pretend to understand my cats—I was confident in my grasp of numbers until I read Hoa Loranger’s blog … [Read more...] about Should We Spell Out Numbers Online?
Boost Your Website Traffic with a Glossary Page
Imagine this scenario: While reading a how-to article on plumbing, you come across the term PEX pipe. You have no clue what PEX pipe is or what it does. Your trusty office dictionary doesn’t include plumbing terminology, so you turn to Google and find out that PEX pipe is a flexible polyethylene-based tubing. As I mentioned last year, Google has become our default … [Read more...] about Boost Your Website Traffic with a Glossary Page
How to Choose a Master Dictionary for Your Business Blog
Wordpress Proofread Writing function available through Jetpack Most blogging platforms provide basic spell-check functionality. If you're using WordPress 3.6 or beyond, the spell-check is built into the Jetpack plugin and is accessed through the Proofread Writing button, as shown above. Many third-party plugins and browser-based add-ons also provide spell checking. However, … [Read more...] about How to Choose a Master Dictionary for Your Business Blog
Book Review: Blog Inc. by Joy Deangdeelert Cho
My Very Occasional Book Review series continues with a look at Blog Inc. Blogging for Passion, Profit, and to Create Community by Joy Deandgdeelert Cho. Blog Inc. covers a wide variety of topics including choosing a blog platform, monetizing your blog, and leveraging your blog to publish a book (as Joy Deandgdeelert Cho did). The book also includes eighteen short interviews … [Read more...] about Book Review: Blog Inc. by Joy Deangdeelert Cho
Seven Ways to Find Writing Ideas for Your Business Blog
From Internet marketing to social networking, today's businesses are expected to create more fresh content than ever before. And an important platform for publication continues to be the company blog. But finding writing ideas for your business blog can be difficult. Here are a few places to turn next time blog-writer's block strikes: 1. Visit customer support forums. If … [Read more...] about Seven Ways to Find Writing Ideas for Your Business Blog