Comments on: Writing well online

By: joel

joel — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:42:31 +0000

Thanks for all the great comments. And good points all. And Des, your comment struck home. I can be very wordy. I’m fascinated by formal Victorian prose, which is a style best left behind in business writing.

By: Desiree

Desiree — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:28:26 +0000

To this, you might add something about word economy: never use two words when one will do!

By: Leah McChesney

Leah McChesney — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:28:45 +0000

Hey Joel,

This is a really great post, with much needed advice. I was just thinking about this today…well, I think about this every time I post BUT…I feel I need to put a disclaimer on my about me page to say…I type like I talk…I don’t claim to be a writer…I am sure there are errors. I wish was a better writer…I need to dedicate more time to learn. Thank you for the inspiration.

By: Sue Radd

Sue Radd — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:49:40 +0000

Comma splice. Tell them about the comma splice. Please.

By: John Wilker

John Wilker — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:34:07 +0000

While I don’t want to see the English language decline any more than it has, or see blog posts written like myspace pages, I think the content is infinitely more valuable than a well placed comma. Yes the writing should be clear and understandable, but I’ve never stopped reading a blog post or article, when there’s a type-o or missed punctuation. I have stopped when the content isn’t worth reading.

I think the emphasis of pro communicators, should be say something of value, more than make sure the commas are in the right place.

just my .02

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:12:28 +0000

Thank you for this post. As a professional communicator, I hold myself to a very high standard. I know that is what I get paid for, so I’m determined to deliver a good product.

I’m continually amazed at the lack of good writing I see on a daily basis. I think it’s an art that requires practice and development, just like any other skill.

By: Martin Waxman

Martin Waxman — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:07:48 +0000

Thank you Joel. I couldn’t agree more.

Let’s face it: blogging is writing and publishing; and it’s important to adhere to accepted conventions and then to imbue those with your own voice and style. Give readers something they want to read. Good ideas badly written ‘lose a lot in the translation’.

I’d like to add one more suggested reference: Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss - a book that makes punctuation fun (I can’t believe I said that).

*A book title should be italicized or underlined, but, unfortunately, I don’t know the HTML code for that. Sorry about the error.