More Language Tips

Spelling

No matter what you’re writing, you should make every effort to ensure that your spelling is correct.

Allowing poor spelling to creep into your writing will serve only to undermine your writing in the eyes of the reader.

If you are seeking to sell your writing, editors will be put off by bad spelling as they may have to spend valuable time and effort correcting it before going to print.

Be aware of whether you are writing for a UK or North American readership as this may affect the spelling you use. It will, however, be rare that you would have to cross over between UK or American English.

If you are unsure of the spelling of a word, check it. With modern computers and spellcheckers available, there really is no excuse for bad spelling. Ensure that you spell-check your writing at least once when you have finished, and after every time you edit the text. It is infinitely more preferable, however, to check the spelling often as you go through.

Remember to watch for the different variations of words that sound the same but have different spellings, meanings or usages. These are called homophones. Check the usage and context of each if you are unsure. This is when your reference books will be invaluable. For example:

Foreign Words and Accents in English

There are many instances when a word or phrase from a foreign language (particularly French and Latin) is employed in everyday speech. There is no reason why this cannot also be included in your writing. You should, however, be aware of the effect on the reader of including such phrases or words. In some instances, the use of a foreign phrase may make your writing seem pretentious. This may be good in fiction writing if this is a trait you wish to portray in a character you are creating but it is worth remembering that not every reader may know what the word or phrase means. They may also be unaware of the subtlety of what it could be implying. If properly applied, it can sometimes add that little je ne sais quoi to your writing. Foreign phrases should also be included in italics for emphasis.

There are two schools of thought around the use of accents in foreign words. Many people believe that some words can be regarded as having been 'anglicised' and therefore the accents should not be used. For example:

There is nothing wrong with choosing to include the accents, provided you remain consistent in your use. There are also some instances when it will be necessary to include the accent to differentiate the word from one similarly spelt, e.g. exposé versus expose.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Firstly, you should understand the difference between an abbreviation and an acronym. An abbreviation is a shortened, or curtailed, word or name; sometimes also known as a contraction. Sometimes this takes form of merely cutting the word short; as in Mon. (for Monday) or by using the initial letters if it is multiple words; as in CNN (for Cable News Network) or BBC (for British Broadcasting Corporation).

An acronym, however, is an abbreviation of multiple words, the initial letters of which form a recognisable word, e.g. the computer programming language BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code).

The use of full stops within abbreviations and acronyms is becoming less common and should not be used for titles such as Mr (Mister) or Dr (Doctor).

Slang and jargon

In general, you should avoid the use of slang in your writing unless it is particular to a character or time period that you are writing about. Since slang is usually a socially derived form of language, it is almost always linked to certain periods of time and geographical locations. This means that your readers may not fully understand what you are writing if they are not familiar with the slang being used or if it is a colloquialism. Slang also changes with time. This may cause your writing to appear dated more quickly than you might like. Just look at some of the novels or television shows written in the 1960s or 1970s for evidence of this.

Your approach to jargon should be similar to your approach to slang. The difference is that jargon is usually peculiar to a subject or specialism and therefore the words or phrases may have little or no meaning to a general readership. It’s best therefore, to avoid using jargon wherever possible unless you are writing an article for a specific and targeted audience who will have a full understanding of the vocabulary being used.

Verbs / Adjectives and Adverbs