Rules for Article Writing:
Occasionally Your English
Teacher was Right
by MaryJo Wagner,
Ph.D.
A lot of what your English
teacher told you doesn't work
for web writing. English
teachers usually teach a formal
style of writing. Effective,
traffic-driving articles need
to be conversational and
personal.
However, your English teacher
did give you some rules you
should follow when writing
articles for the Web.
She said, "Never use more than
one exclamation point and don't
use exclamation points very
often." Your English teacher was
right!
Your English also told you that
bad grammar is bad. She was
right. "John and me signed up
for Twitter" was wrong in her
book. It's wrong on the Web.
You need to use "I" and "me"
correctly. You need to use
"your" and "you're" correctly.
This list includes the
differences between "to" and
"too," "it's" and "its," and
"they're" and "their."
And your English teacher didn't
like slang, cussing, or
off-color words or innuendos.
Some of your readers won't care.
Other readers will be offended
and opt right out of your list.
Don't take the chance.
Your English teacher probably
didn't know about text
messaging. Or if she did, she
didn't really get it and
certainly wouldn't have liked
it. All those tiny words and
abbreviations used in texting
aren't used in articles on the
Web. Get over it. You'll just
have to get used to typing more
characters.
She told you when to use capital
letters and how to use commas
and periods. Review those rules
and follow them.
And not to use too many
adjectives. For example, "lovely
party" is better than "extremely
lovely party." And not to
exaggerate. It wasn't the
"absolutely very best party in
the entire world." "Great
party" is sufficient.
Your English teacher taught you
how to plan your article. State
your main point and then write
more about it. Have a beginning,
a middle, and an end. Sometimes
a short outline or even a list
will help you write your article
more easily.
Last but not least, she urged
you to proofread your writing.
Often your grade would suffer if
you didn't. Proofread your
articles before you submit them.
And spellcheck isn't enough.
Don't let your readers get
distracted by a typo, misspelled
word, or a word left out.
So write an article today.
Proofread it and then submit it.
And while you're at it, thank
your English teacher.
