Connecting Words (Part 1)

This is the first of a three-part series of blogs.

As writers, it’s too easy to fall into the habit of using the same few connecting words (and/plus/also, but/however/although, etc.) over and over. Here is a selection of words and phrases to be used when combining or differentiating clauses and sentences. This list provides some alternatives to add spice to your writing. The words aren’t all synonyms of one another, but all can be used for similar results depending on the context. This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list of all possible synonyms, but merely as a quick reference for commonly used words of each type. Feel free to add others to the list as you think of them.

First off, additive connectors:

• additionally
• alike
• along with
• alongside
• also
• and
• and so forth
• and so on)
• as well
• as well as
• besides
• coupled with
• etc. / et cetera
• furthermore
• in addition
• in conjunction with
• incidentally
• including
• likewise
• moreover
• next
• not only
• not to mention
• plus
• similarly
• together with
• to name a few
• too

Next time, alternative connectors.

Mark.

Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (part 24)

There are many words and phrases in the English language that many writers misuse. Here are some more:

Compound modifiers

Wrong: This is a high performance vehicle.
Right: This is a high-performance vehicle.

In numerous situations, a short phrase can be used in more than one way. When used as a compound adjective, it’s usually hyphenated; when used as an adverbial phrase it isn’t. For example, you might be traveling at high speed (adverbial phrase) in a high-speed (compound adjective) chase. Your new computer might have a dual-channel Ethernet controller that offers communications through dual channels. Or you might back up the car to go buy a backup generator.

Why do we care about hyphenating compound adjectives? For clarity. Many times it might not matter, but occasionally the lack of a hyphen can confuse the reader momentarily, forcing him or her to stop and reread the sentence. For example, does the phrase “four channel indicators” mean that there are four “channel indicators” or that the indicators are or a “four-channel" type? If the latter, using the hyphen will eliminate confusion. Whenever possible, a writer should try to avoid breaking the “reader’s trance.”

Compound adjectives don’t have to be limited to two words, either. Longer examples include “twenty-five-year-old man,” “better-than-average looking,” “faster-than-light drive,” and “ready-to-wear clothing.” (Note that in the latter two examples, without the hyphens we could be talking about something that’s faster than a “light drive”—whatever that is—and someone who is finally ready to “wear clothing.”)

Want more? Check out my next blog. There are plenty of words still to come.

Mark.

Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (part 23)

Continuing the series, here are some more words that people often misuse:

Click vs. clique

Wrong: They have their own click.
Right: They have their own clique.

This is simple auditory confusion. The two words sound alike, so people assume they’re one and the same. However, their meanings are quite different. Clique (pronounced CLIK or CLEEK) refers to a small, exclusive group of people, while click is a slight, sharp sound.

Hardy vs. Hearty

Wrong: We’ll set off after a hardy meal.
Right: We’ll set off after a hearty meal.

These two words are often confused. Hardy means vigorous, robust, daring, or courageous. Hearty has many meanings, including warm, enthusiastic, healthy, nourishing, or satisfying. So, the next time your hardy perennials make their annual appearance, give them a hearty round of applause.

I'll have some more words for you next time.

Mark.

Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (part 22)

Here are some more commonly confused words:

Auger vs. augur

Wrong: That doesn’t auger well for him.
Right: That doesn’t augur well for him.

An auger is a device for boring holes, something like a drill bit, while augur means bode or portend. If your auger breaks, that doesn’t augur well for completing your drilling on time.

Site vs. sight vs. cite

Wrong: Check out my web sight.
Right: Check out my web site.

A site is a location. (“This is the site of our upcoming restaurant.”) A sight is a vision or a glimpse of something. (“She was quite a sight in that dress.”) Cite isn’t even a noun, it’s a verb. It means to quote as an authority (“Cite your sources.”), to commend for outstanding service (“He was cited for bravery.”) or to summon to court (“She was cited for speeding.”).

More next time.

Mark.

Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (part 21)

Many words are misused/misspelled/mispunctuated in everyday use. Here are some more:

Assure vs. ensure vs. insure

Wrong: Insure that she gets home safely.
Right: Ensure that she gets home safely.

Assure means to make someone confident of something, just as to do so again is to reassure him or her. To make certain of something is to ensure that it happens, while insure specifically refers to insurance. I might assure you I will ensure that a package will arrive safely; but just in case, you might want to insure the package.

ATM machine / PIN Number

Wrong: Let me get some money from the ATM machine.
Right: Let me get some money from the ATM.

Because ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine, it’s redundant to say, in effect, Automated Teller Machine machine. Similarly, “PIN number” means Personal Identification Number number.

There are plenty more misused words where these came from. I'll have more for you very soon.

Mark.

Chapman's 5 Cs of Nonfiction Writing

You may know me as a science fiction author (The Mars Imperative, The Tesserene Imperative), but I also write nonfiction. In fact, my "day job" is as a technical writer, and my first two published books (OS/2 Power User's Reference and Exploring IBM Server & Storage Technology, 6th Edition--the latter as a ghost writer) were both nonfiction. In some ways, writing nonfiction is easier than writing fiction. With nonfiction, you don't have to worry about plot, pacing, dialog, and you don't need cliffhangers or a Happily Ever After ending.

But some aspects of nonfiction writing make it more challenging. For one thing, you're dealing with facts, which can be more troublesome than fiction. (No cavalry charging to the rescue.) Your facts must be accurate, complete (no half-truths), and timely. Here, then, is what I call Chapman's 5 Cs of Nonfiction Writing:

Nonfiction writing must be:

1) Correct -- If your facts are wrong, what's the point of the piece you're writing?

2) Complete -- If your facts are correct as-is, but you've left out important details, you're not telling the whole story. A half-truth is little better than (and sometimes worse than) a lie. If you've left out necessary facts, your piece isn't wholly correct. (See #1.)

3) Clear -- If your writing is convoluted enough that the reader can't understand the point you're trying to make, you've failed in your mission of educating (or converting) the reader.

4) Concise -- If your piece is so long that the reader falls asleep halfway through it, again you've failed. Edit the piece until it is just long enough to convey your message, and no longer. Unlike in fiction, there is no room for fluff in nonfiction. (Many writers would ague that there's no room for fluff in fiction, either. I guess it would depend on your definition of what's unneeded fluff and what's necessary background material or "color.")

5) Current -- If the facts in your piece are (or at least may be) out of date, they're effectively incorrect. (See #1.) Verify your facts to ensure you're not delivering yesterday's news.

There you have it, Chapman's 5 Cs of Nonfiction Writing. To some extent, these same points apply to fiction writing. Certain genres require scientific or historical accuracy (mystery/detective stories, "hard" science fiction, historical fiction, etc.), but even there, the author is allowed literary license to shape the facts as necessary to fit the plot of the story--warp drives, President Kennedy's personal life, the accuracy of forensic techniques, etc. Unfortunately, nonfiction writers don't get a similar "license to thrill." We're stuck with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. (Except for those of us in marketing/sales, anyway.... )

Mark.

Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (part 20)

Continuing my series of blogs, here are some more words and phrases that are often misused or misspelled:

Alls I know vs. all I know

Wrong: Alls I know….
Right: All I know is….

All I know is, this one is simple. It’s always all, never alls.

Assure vs. ensure vs. insure

Wrong: Insure that she gets home safely.
Right: Ensure that she gets home safely.

Assure means to make someone confident of something, just as to do so again is to reassure him or her. To make certain of something is to ensure that it happens, while insure specifically refers to insurance. I might assure you I will ensure that a package will arrive safely; but just in case, you might want to insure the package.

See, that wasn't too painful. For more pain-free lessons, y'all come back and see me sometime, y'hear?

Mark. (Born in the South--South Manhattan, that is.)

Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (part 19)

Here are a few more commonly misused words and phrases:

No problemo vs. no problema

Wrong: Hey, no problemo. It’s cool.
Right: Hey, no problema. It’s cool.

The movie The Terminator popularized the phrase no problemo, (pronounced prah-BLEM-oh) presumably meaning “no problem” in Spanish. The problem is, the phrase is incorrect. You might as well say “no big-o deal-o” for all the meaning it has in Spanish. The correct phrase is no problema (pronounced proh-BLAY-mah). If you’re going to use Spanish phrases in your writing, you might as well use them correctly—unless, of course, your character is supposed to sound like an ignorant gringo. (Also, typically, foreign words and phrases are italicized, as shown, to set them off from the English prose surrounding them.)

Everyday vs. every day

Wrong: Take two pills everyday.
Right: Take two pills every day.

Everyday is an adjective that means common or ordinary, as in “an everyday occurrence.” Every day is an adverbial phrase that refers to a time interval.

More next time.

Mark.

Commonly misused/misspelled words and phrases (part 18)

There are many words in the English language that writers misuse or misspell. Here are some more:

There, their, they’re

Wrong: There going to the store.
Right: They’re going to the store.

These are frequently mixed up, yet they aren’t all that hard to keep straight. They’re is the easiest. It’s short for “they are.” Unless you mean to say they are, don’t use they’re. Their means “belonging to them.” Are you referring to people, animals, or things? If not, don’t use their. There has a number of meanings; but, to make life simple, unless you mean “they are” or “belonging to them,” use there.

Hung vs. hanged

Wrong: They took him out back and hung him.
Right: They took him out back and hanged him.

Simply put, pictures are hung, but men are hanged. (Okay, some men are well-hung, but that’s a completely different issue.)

Check back next time for even more words to live by....

Mark.