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English Writing Style and Usage Reference Page Links


English Writing Style and Usage Links
For many years, my writing help websites focused primarily on providing direct “how to” information in the form of actual real-life sample documents and templates. My belief has always been that the very best way to write any type of document is to use an actual sample of a similar document as a starting point. My view on that has not changed at all.

That’s why this Writing Help Central website contains more than 250 actual real-life sample templates of letters, reports, proposals, essays, business forms, and other documents. In addition, I have supplemented those examples with more than 100 pages of practical writing tips for the writing of each type of document.

Accordingly, my approach to providing writing help to people has always been to focus on the practical approach to day-to-day home and business writing, through actual examples. I have always steered clear of getting into the technical vagueness of formal English grammar terminology and definitions. In my opinion, by far the best way to understand how English is written is to actually see, visually, through real-life examples, how it is really done. This is much more effective than learning the definitions of such esoteric terms as “gerund”, or the difference between the “transitive” and “intransitive” forms of the verb. Rather, I would prefer to demonstrate how “… most indefinite pronouns should be treated as singular”, rather than trying to explain what that means!

Nevertheless, over the years I have received many questions from my website and blog subscribers asking me about “writing style” in the sense of how to properly phrase something in English. In fact, when I posted a series of articles on my writing help blog, The Write Place, on the subject of “commonly confused words and terms”, the positive reaction from my blog readers was instant and strong. It turns out that, in addition to sample templates, people are also looking for practical “writing style tips” to help them with their day-to-day writing tasks, at work, at home, and in school.

Below are links to a number of pages I have put together to help you with the “style” side of writing; without getting into the technical details of English grammar. The subjects I have chosen to cover are what I consider to be the most common stumbling blocks encountered by people when trying to improve their written English for day-to-day usage.

Redundant Words and Phrases
These are words and phrases that tend to make the language more complicated and cumbersome than necessary.


Transition Words and Phrases
There are many words, terms and phrases that can be used to help your writing flow more logically and smoothly.


Proper Use of Prepositions
Prepositions are those little connector words that join words and/or phrases to other words and/or phrases.


Homonyms and Similar Sounding Words
Words of the same (or similar) spelling or sound can be easily confused and unintentionally change the meaning of something.


Plural Forms of Common Nouns
The plural form of some common nouns is non-standard and not obvious.


Frequently Misspelled Words
Some words cannot be spelled correctly by sounding them out phonetically.

Gender-Neutral Words and Phrases
The use of gender-specific language has (is becoming) a thing of the past.


I have tried to keep the above lists reasonably short by limiting them to what I consider to be the “essential” items for practical writing usage in most daily writing activities for home, school, and business.

If you ever want to go into further details than these usage lists, there are any number of English usage style guides available, both online and offline.

Filed Under: Content Writing, General, Grammar, Writing Advice

Transition Words and Phrases


Transition Words and Phrases

One of the most frequent problems that I see in day-to-day writing these days is the lack of natural logical flow linking one sentence to another, and one paragraph to the next.

In fact, smooth, orderly and logical transitions from one thought to another, one sentence to the next, and one paragraph to the other, are key to creating a professional quality document that makes sense. Appropriate use of transition words and phrases will achieve this for you in your business letters and other documents.

There are many words, terms and phrases that can be used to help your writing flow more logically and smoothly. Following, is a list of typical transition words and phrases.

Cause and Effect
then
as a result
for this reason
the result was
what followed
in response
therefore
thus
because of
consequently
the reaction



In Contrast To
unlike
different
in spite of
on the other hand
on the contrary
opposing
however
contrary to
nevertheless







Sequence & Relativity
then
in addition
to enumerate
next
next in the series
besides that
subsequently
following





Similarity & Comparison
like
the same
similar
close
likewise
also
near

Explanation & Example
for example
one such
for instance
to illustrate
also
that too
to demonstrate

Sample sentence…
Then, he moved to the next work station.
As a result, the team lost the game.
For this reason, she always rested later.
The result was always predictable.
What followed was painful but necessary.
In response, he upped the ante.
Therefore, the aircraft overshot the runway.
Thus, it was just a matter of time.
Because of this, the results were always the same.
Consequently, he was no longer friends with Frank.
The reaction to this event was swift and decisive.


Unlike last year, this one was highly profitable.
Different from this, was our approach to charity.
In spite of the dot com bust, the company prospered.
On the other hand, earnings per share have increased.
On the contrary, the impact was less than expected.
Opposing that idea was the move to new technologies.
However, that approach may actually prove better.
Contrary to his findings, the revenue picture is good.
Nevertheless, something still appears to be missing.


Then, each one stopped in numerical order sequence.
In addition, a fourth material was added to the mix.
To enumerate, first there was the accident, then …
Next in line for cuts was the marketing division.
Next in the series was the “outrigger” brand line.
Besides that, there were two other possible sources.
Subsequently, they moved on to the next phase.
Following the concert, the reception was in the lobby.


Just like that, he reversed his earlier decision.
The new approach was almost exactly the same.
Similar things were known to happen at other times.
The latest results were close, but far from perfect.
Likewise, they made similar changes in the factory.
Also, there were the worker’s families to consider.
Near that one, was the faulty component.


For example, last year’s model was underpowered.
One such occurrence was last week’s power outage.
For instance, earnings this year are higher than last.
To illustrate, he went to Chicago to make his point.
Also, there is a new approach to tax accounting.
That too, just goes to make my point even stronger.
To demonstrate, I will use the new model throughout.

As shown in the examples, these words and phrases are usually inserted at the beginning of a sentence. They normally refer directly back to the previous sentence and/or paragraph without repeating the specific subject.

The above are just examples. There are many other such transition words and phrases used in everyday conversation and writing. I believe that appropriate use of such words and phrases is the number one technique for making any type of writing flow more logically and clearly.

Filed Under: Content Writing, General, Grammar, Writing Advice

Redundant Words and Phrases


Redundant Words and Phrases

There are certain words and phrases that one often sees in general correspondence that tend to make the language more complicated and cumbersome than necessary. Unnecessary words inserted into your writing can be very confusing to the reader, and sometimes outright misleading.

Accordingly, one should make a point to avoid the use of redundant words and phrases and eliminate them whenever possible.

The following list contains some of the more common redundant words and phrases, along with shorter and less cumbersome alternative wording.

Instead of this…

absolutely essential
accounted for
actual experience
add the point that
advise, inform
along those lines
am in receipt of
are of the opinion of
as a result of
as of this date
at your earliest convenience
at this time, at the present time
attached hereto
attached please find
came to the conclusion
check into
cancel out
cognizant
collect together
compensate
conceive
consensus of opinion
conception
conclude, conclusion
consequent results
connect up
deficiency
demonstrate
descend down
despite the fact that
determine
discontinue
due to the fact that
early beginnings
effect a change
enclosed herein
encounter
endeavor
equitable
establish
exemplify
exhibits a tendency to
facilitate
few in number
first and foremost
for the purpose of
for the reason that
forward
free of charge
frequently
give an indication of
have at hand
I am of the opinion
in accordance with
in advance of
inasmuch as
in compliance with
in spite of the fact that
in the amount of
in the course of
in the event that
in the majority of cases
in the matter of
in the process of being
in the near future
in the neighborhood of
in the normal course of events
in the same way as described
in this day and age
in view of the fact that
indicate
initiate
is/was found to be
is suggestive of
it has been brought to my attention
it is apparent that
join together
kindly
make a decision to
make the acquaintance of
mutual cooperation
my personal opinion
new innovation
of a confidential nature
on behalf of
on the basis of
on the grounds that
on the part of
owing to the fact that
past experience
permit me to take this opportunity
pertaining to
perform an analysis of
perform an examination of
preparatory to
present a conclusion
prior to
prolong the duration of
provided that
reached an agreement
send an answer
the modifications contained herein
subsequent to
subsequently
supplement
take under advisement
the undersigned
terminate
the committee made the decision
the question as to whether
to be in agreement with
to have a preference for
to secure
under no circumstances
undertake a study of
until such time as
utilize, utilization
with a view to
with regard to
within the realm of possibility
whereas
whereby
whether or not
you will find attached
Use this…

essential
caused by
experience
add that
say, tell, let us know
like, similar to
have
think that, believe that
because
today
soon, next week, specific date
now, at present
attached
attached is
concluded
check
cancel
aware
collect
pay
think
consensus
idea
end
results
connect
lack
show
descend
although
find
stop
due to, because
beginnings
change
enclosed
meet
try
fair
set up
show
tends to
help
few
first
for
because
send
free
often
indicate
have
I think
according to
before
because
as requested, as specified
although
for
during
if, in case
most, usually
about
being
soon
about
normally
as described
nowadays
because
show
begin, start
is/was
suggests
I have learned
it seems
join
please
decide
meet
cooperation
my opinion
new
confidential
for
by
since
by
because, since
experience
I want to
about
analyze
examine
before
conclude
before
prolong
if
agreed
reply
these changes
after, since
later
add
consider
I, me
end, stop
the committee decided
whether
agree
prefer
to get
never
study
until
use
to
about
possible
but
which
whether
attached is, here is

The above list is not exhaustive; it is the list that I have compiled to-date, and the best that I could come up with when I wrote this page. But I’m sure you get the point. No doubt there are many more of these, and I urge you to be on the lookout for them.

The obvious lessons that one can draw from the above is: the simpler the better, and don’t use three words when one will do the job.

Filed Under: Content Writing, General, Grammar, Writing Advice

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