07Jan 2020 by Colleen Casey

Quick Writing Tip: Less or Fewer?

Beginner, Quick Writing Tips, Writing Skills
Wondering when to use less or fewer? Use “fewer” when the noun is countable and “less” when it isn’t. Read on for some examples. This common question pops up from time to time, particularly while looking for the express checkout line at the grocery store: Is it 10 items or less, or 10 items or fewer? This quick writing tip truly is quick, because using less or fewer in a sentence is incredibly straightforward. Let’s get to it!  Use “Fewer” for What You Can Count Use “fewer” when the noun it’s referring to is countable.  Here are some examples: >> I need no fewer than 10 people to help me move these boxes. >> This bag has fewer chips than usual. >> If fewer people left their snack wrappers behind,…
Read More
27Oct 2019 by Colleen Casey

Quick Writing Tip: Apostrophes (You’re Doing it Wrong)

Beginner, Grower, Quick Writing Tips, Writing Skills
Apostrophes are used in contractions and to show ownership. But they’re being (mis)used for a lot more. Learn how to use apostrophes the right way with this quick writing tip. Quick writing tips are simple lessons for you to keep in mind as you write your web copy, sales pages, email marketing, social media, blog content, and everything else you have on your plate. This quick writing tip addresses a HUGE pet peeve of mine: unnecessary apostrophes. Apostrophes are being misused everywhere nowadays. It feels like I see them being used incorrectly more than I see them being used correctly.  The rule for using an apostrophe is simple: use it for a contraction and for when you’re attributing ownership. But for some reason, apostrophes are being used for more than…
Read More
20Oct 2019 by Colleen Casey

How to Edit Your Writing Like a Boss

Blogging, Books and eBooks, Grower, How-Tos, Podcasting, Video Content, Website Copy, Wordsmith, Writing Skills
Editing is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be tedious. This post walks you through how to edit your content without losing your mind. Editing is the hardest and most time-consuming part of writing. When you hear the word “editing,” you might first think of copywriting, when you’re looking for typos, misspelled words, misused punctuation, and other granular fixes. But, editing entails much more than the tiny details.  Editing is the entire process of shaping a draft into its final form. It involves looking at the entire work, then at each chapter or section, page, paragraph, sentence, and word. You’re looking at how things are working on a deeper level than spelling. (But spelling is definitely part of it!) So, let’s talk about how to edit your content without losing…
Read More
22Sep 2019 by Colleen Casey

Quick Writing Tip: That Vs. Which

Beginner, Grower, Quick Writing Tips, Writing Skills
Common writing question: when should I use that vs. which? The answer is easier than you think. Believe it or not, that and which aren’t used interchangeably in a sentence, although you use them similarly. This quick writing tip will teach you exactly when to use which word in your writing. (See? I already used one of ‘em!) What's a quick writing tip, you ask? Quick writing tips are simple lessons for you to keep in mind as you write your web copy, sales pages, email marketing, social media, blog content, and everything else you have on your plate.  So, how are that and which different? It’s All About the Subject The rule is that you should use which with nonrestrictive clauses and that with restrictive clauses. A restrictive clause…
Read More
30Sep 2018 by Colleen Casey

9 Skills That Will Instantly Improve Your Writing

Beginner, Blogging, Books and eBooks, Email Marketing, Grower, Social Media Copy, Website Copy, Wordsmith, Writing Skills
Writing, like everything else, requires practice. It may not seem that way because it’s something we all learn how to do in school. But that’s precisely why it’s important to work to improve your writing—it’s hard to see the nuance in something when you’ve been doing it for so long that you do it on autopilot. So, what’s the best way to get out of that mindset and make a conscious effort in your writing? For me, it’s looking at a few tips that can make my writing better and measuring them against something I’ve written. I recommend that you find a blog post or something else you’ve written and see how well you incorporate these tips on your own. In this post, I’ll show you my top nine ways…
Read More