How to Sound Smarter

I got the February 2010 issue of Reader's Digest last week, and there's an article that made me think of all of you.

How to Sound Smarter

Okay, yeah. While it sounds like I'm insulting you, I'd never. Not since I lurve you like I do. It was more what's in the article, "the Reader's digest version of those rules for talking and writing--the ones you missed in high school." See? Now it makes much more sense.

Some rules won't surprise you, others may make you cringe (guilty, as charged), while perhaps one or two will have you scratchin' your... whatever it is you scratch. Anyway, here are my favorites, as they appear in the article (bolding and emphasis theirs).

You never mean: Between you and I
You always mean: Between you and me
Why: Between you and I sounds fancy, therefore right, but don't be so quick to belittle Cookie Monster ("Me want cookies!"). In this case, me is correct because it's the object of the preposition between.

You almost never mean: I feel badly
You almost always mean: I feel bad
Why: Is your sense of touch physically impaired (almost never) or are you feeling some guilt after screwing up (almost always)?

You never mean: The reason is because
You always mean: The reason is that
Why: The reason is that the word reason implies because. Likewise, why say "the reason why" when you can say "the reason"?

You never mean: The person that
You always mean: The person who
Why: A human is a "who." Anything else (yes, including animals) is a "that."

You never mean: Could of
You always mean: Could have
Why: This error pops up because of the similar pronunciations. But remember, every sentence needs a verb: "I could have written a better cover letter."
[Janna's note: I could've written a better cover letter sounds like I could of written a better cover letter. Thus, confusion.]

You never mean: Very unique
You always mean: Unique
Why: Unique things and people are one of a kind, absolute.

You never mean: Everyone has their grammar hang-ups
You always mean: Everyone has his or her grammar hang-ups
Why: Everyone, everybody, and close cousin each are singular, so words that refer to them should also be singular. Or, since we all have our grammar hang-ups, you could just rephrase the sentence.

For more examples, see the latest issue of Reader's Digest.

So did you learn anything new?

So This meme Thing...

Yipes, I am so far behind. I've been *sneeze* sickly for the last *cough-wheeze* week and a half. I've not been in front of the computer in something like seven days and criminy! I've got a lot of catching up to do.

I've been tagged. Twice! Both Melanie and Susan got me (I feel so flippin' special!) on this meme - me? me! - thing, Roar for Powerful Words. Watch out... I'm a writer, hear me roar! I'm to share three tips for my fellow writers and tag five others. So without further ado...

1) Have confidence in yourself. Know you're worthy of the job you set out to do. You have the know-how, you have the discipline - so be sure of yourself (and your written voice) and you'll accomplish the goal you set out to attain.

***I interrupt this blog post for a potty break. Er, not mine, though... Natalie, who's 2 and is supposed to be napping, just called me upstairs to see she'd actually pottied in her little Safety 1st toilet... All on her very own. Whoo!***

2) Seek out other writers for support. We can gather encouragement all day long from friends and family members, but it takes help and reinforcement from other writers - who go through exactly what you do - to really spread your wings. A fabulous resource is the forums board over at Absolute Write (AW). Questions will be answered, fun will be had, and all the encouragement you can handle will spill forth. Check it out here.

3) Set monthly goals. You may exceed them - or you may not reach them all - but once you plan out some things you'd like to see happen, you'll feel capable and accomplished. I did it for the first time this month. Seeing a list of writing goals helped start the ball rolling and I dove in head first. I've not touched two or three things on my list, but I attacked the other two or three items with a ferocity I didn't know was in me. And I feel so great about those things that I won't sweat the others. I've got February ahead of me!

I hope these tips will prove worthy (she said humbly). Best of luck!

I tag:

Teige at A Writer Writes

Stacey over at FlibbetyGibbet

Michelle: Writing the Cyber Highway

Kimmi from kimmirich's weblog

Janet, who runs The Walrus Said

Oh! Something was mentioned of an award? Gee, I never win anything. But here she is: