Why a hyphen and a dash are not the same – and why a dash is easier to use than a semicolon
Writing needs to reflect speech – which is why punctuation marks that add pauses are so important.
journalism
writing
writing for the web
PR and marketing
How to write news stories in the inverted pyramid style
It might sound like the name of a strange sex cult, but the inverted pyramid is the most common way you can structure a story.
editing
writing
How to make your writing positive (which is not the same as making it happy or upbeat)
Using positive language is a great way to make sentences short and snappy. At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, this isn’t about being happy and upbeat.
editing
writing
proofreading
Proofreading tips for those who agonise over their mistakes
Everyone can have a bad day when it comes to proofreading. Even the most experienced editors can (and do) read and re-read the same bit of copy only to miss a glaring typo that even a primary school kid can spot.
book reviews
grammar
punctuation
writing
The potty-mouthed guide to using apostrophes
If you find yourself swearing while figuring out when and where to use an apostrophe, you’re not alone.
headlines
writing
Headline writing tips from David Ogilvy
You don’t expect to find great advice for writing online headlines from a book over 50 years old – and yet that’s exactly what I found while rereading Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy.
passive voice
writing
The evil writer’s guide to writing in the middle voice (and the nice writer’s guide to effective voice)
My last blog post explained how to write in the active voice – but what’s far less well known is the middle voice, not to mention the effective voice.
content marketing
writing
books
PR and marketing
The perils of content marketing
“That’s not writing, that’s typing.” Truman Capote famously dismissed Jack Kerouac’s writing by saying this, and I’m inclined to agree.