Numbers

When you should write numbers as words and when as figures depends on the nature of your writing. But, still, certain rules are there about how to apply numbers in different situations. Today, let us discuss the cases where you should write numbers as figures.

1. For 10 and above (journalism, science, business); 100 and above (literary writing)

"My efforts to cut out 50,000 words may sometimes result in my adding 75,000."

2. When numbers both below and above 10 refer to the same general subject

4 of 22 employees.
from 5th to 11th grade

3. When you refer to parts of a book

Chapter 5, Figure 9, page 45, Table 2.

4. With dates and times

21st century, 6 p.m., 6-year plan

5. When they precede units of time, measurement, or money

19 years old, $100, 5 o' clock, 2 hours 25 minutes 22 seconds.

Tricky Words-2

The following words seem to create confusion. This list will help you find just the right word and its correct usage.

Different from, Different than

Different from is preferred in most cases, especially if it is followed by a single noun, pronoun, or short phrase.

Her reading style is different from mine.

Different than is used if it avoids wordiness or is followed by a clause.

Wordy: Writing style today is different from what it was a century ago.
Better: Writing style today is different than a century ago.

Fewer, Less

Fewer is used with individual items that can be counted (fewer potatoes); less is used for bulk, when the item is regarded as a single entity (less oatmeal).

The fewer mistakes you make, the less guilty you feel.

Note: When Less is used, a singular verb is used, while when Fewer is used, a plural verb is used.

"Less fat is needed if fewer calories are to be consumed."

I, Me, Myself

I should be used when it is the subject of a sentence.

My sister and I went to the cricket match.

Me should be used when it is the object of the action or thought conveyed by the verb of the sentence, or when it is the object of a preposition.

Rebecca invited Ron and me to her birthday party.

Myself is correctly used for emphasis ( I, myself, will look into the matter ) or as a reflexive ( I hurt myself falling from the chair ).

Note: Do not use myself as a substitute for I and me.

Wrong: The documents were given to my partner and myself.
Right: The documents were given to my partner and me.

Wrong: Rohan and and myself are writing software programmes for creating a new application.
Right: Rohan and and I are writing software programmes for creating a new application.
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Parentheses ( )

Parentheses ( ) are included into a sentence to enclose less important or explanatory information.

Use Parentheses in the following cases:

1. To set off explanatory or nonessential matter

"It is only in good writing that you will find how words are best used, what shades of meaning they can be made to carry, and by what devices (or lack of them) the reader is kept going smoothly or bogged down."

2. To provide or spell out an acronym

I want to create a LAN (Local Area Network) at office.

Punctuate sentences with parentheses as follows:

When the Parenthetical content is a complete statement, include punctuation within the parentheses.

(Don't expect me until midnight.)

When a Parenthetical matter falls in the middle or at the end of a sentence, place the necessary punctuation after the closing parenthesis.

If I arrive late (and it's quite likely), please let me in.

Do not put a comma, semicolon, or dash before an opening parenthesis.

Wrong: When I reach, (even if it's late), I'd appreciate a cup of coffee.

Right: When I reach (even if it's late), I'd appreciate a cup of coffee.

A GREAT Job Interview Follow-up Letter Secret

Written By Jimmy Sweeney
President of CareerJimmy and Author of the new,
Job Interview "Secret"

You've just finished the interview you hoped to get and it went pretty well as far as you can tell. Now you must play the 'waiting game,' as the hiring manager makes his or her decision about offering you the job. However, you can be active even as you wait. Here's a secret most people don't know about—so keep it to yourself, okay?

A Gift That Continues to Give

Give the interviewer a 'gift.' No! Not a Starbucks card or a movie pass. In fact, if you're not careful such a gift might be considered a bribe, so of course you want to avoid that. However, you can give something of value that will be seen as a kind gesture from a person who has taken note of the employer's interests and hobbies.

You can pass on a 'gift of information'—an article from a magazine or newspaper, a reference to a certain web site, or a brochure or pamphlet––that focuses on something the hiring manager would welcome, use, and enjoy.

Thank You PLUS

For example, suppose you and the interviewer talked about your mutual interest in golf or dog training or skiing or chess. How nice it would be to include some printed information on one of these topics that reminds the hiring manager of your conversation and your thoughtfulness. This gift along with a short but friendly note of thanks for the interview would surely put your name and face in a prominent place in the interviewer's mind.

Employer Benefits

Even if you don't get the job, you've taken a good and kind step toward another person. That will pay off in one way or the other.

1. It shows enthusiasm for the open position.
2. It displays your diligence and commitment.
3. It demonstrates that you paid attention to the interviewer and his or her interests.
4. It illustrates that you are a thoughtful and generous person with your time and energy.

And finally, such gifts sent periodically, help you keep in touch with your interviewer until the job is filled.
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Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new "Secret Career Document" job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

Visit our friends at Job Interview "Secret" and discover Jimmy Sweeney's breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair… DURING your next job interview.

Tricky Words

The following words seem to create confusion. Go through the list to see if it includes words you use and if you are using them correctly. This list will help you find just the right word and its correct usage.

A While, Awhile

While means a period of time, awhile means for a period of time. Thus, the sentence "She will be gone for awhile" is incorrect, as it doubles up on the word for. So, write "She will be gone for a while" or " She will be gone awhile."

Complement, Compliment

Complement is both a verb and a noun, meaning to complete a whole or satisfy a need. Compliment also functions as both verb and noun, meaning praise.

Rahul's efforts complemented those of the rest of the team. (verb)

A complement of fifteen laborers performed the task. (noun)

Rohan complemented her on the cake she had baked.(verb)

His compliment was sincere. (noun)

Due to, Because of

In formal writing, careful writers use because of to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship and keep due to for use after forms of the verb to be.

The driver lost control of the bus because of faulty brakes.

The accident was due to faulty brakes.

Advice, Advise

The noun advice means a suggestion or opinion concerning a course of action. The verb advise means to give advice. Someone who gives advice is either an adviser or an advisor; both spellings being correct.

The Seven Wonders of a World-Class Cover Letter

Written By Jimmy Sweeney
Author of the brand new, Amazing Cover Letter Creator

Today's hiring managers are being bombarded with job applications, resumes, and cover letters. Some have a mile-high pile of paper on their desks and not nearly enough time to read and respond to it. So what is a dedicated job seeker to do in this tight economy when employers are overworked and overwhelmed?

Make your cover letter stand out from the rest. No, not with pink or blue paper or accompanied with a dozen chocolate chip cookies. But simply by writing a one-page cover letter that features these seven wonders:

1. Three paragraphs on a single page: introduction, your skills and qualifications, and a request for an interview.

2. Three or four well-written sentences in each paragraph. Easy on the eyes.

3. Plenty of 'white space' around your writing so the cover letter is easy to read and comprehend. Create generous margins and double space between paragraphs.

4. Bullets and numbered lists when appropriate. Helps reader scan quickly.

5. Bold-faced type (like this) to emphasize certain points.

6. Correct spelling, usage, and punctuation for a professional appearance.

7. Accurate name, contact info, and signature.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER . . .

Write a cover letter that makes your point about the job you want, states your qualifications concisely, and asks for the opportunity to meet in person. Then double check for the 'seven wonders' listed above before sending it off to the hiring manager.

With all these points in place, the employer will not have to 'wonder' what you're all about. It will be clear from your cover letter that you're a person of integrity and dependability––one he or she will want to contact.

If you incorporate the seven wonders of a world-class cover letter into your writing, your cover letter may be the one that attracts the hiring manager's attention enough to single you out for that important call for an interview—and ultimately for the job itself.
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Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator". Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, "Job Search Secrets."

"In just 3½ minutes you will have an Amazing Cover Letter guaranteed to cut through YOUR competition like a hot knife through butter!"

Top Ten Tips for Inexperienced Writers

If you are an inexperienced writer and would like to improve your writing skills, then here are some quick tips to help you get started.

1. Use simple words. Writing that is hard to understand is poorly written, not impressive.

2. Prefer the short word to the long. Keep your sentences also fairly short. Clarity and precision can be achieved if you use short words and short sentences.

3. Make sure that your sentences flow together well. Sometimes, inexperienced writers simply break longer sentences into smaller ones that do not blend together smoothly. Rewrite the sentences to improve the flow of your writing and also to ensure that there is a proper sequencing.

4. Do not use the the same word too frequently, as this can make one’s work sound repetitive.

5. Get yourself a thesaurus and a dictionary. These are extremely helpful tools when you are struggling to find the right word. The correct word usage is extremely important.

6. Do not rely too much on your word processor’s grammar and spelling checking features. Their capabilities are limited. Also, a spell checker is just a tool. It does not know the difference between "they're," "there" and "their." It can not determine whether a particular spelling is the correct one for the context. The easiest way to improve spelling and grammar is to read good books.

7. Target your writing towards an intelligent, enthusiastic, but non-expert reader and your writing confidence will grow. If you present too much information too quickly, chances are that the readers will balk. When you are done, go through the same questions you asked yourself when starting to write. Have you said what you wanted to say? Did you use as few words as possible? Will your readers be still with you at the end? If your answers are all positive, it means you have done a wonderful job.

8. Get a copy of "The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words" by Arthur Plotnik. This book is incredibly helpful.

9. There's a saying, "Practice makes perfect". If you want to be a good writer, then keep writing. A little time and lots of practice are all that you need now.

10. Proofread your work over and over again. When you have finished writing, have a professional proofreader check your final work.

The most important thing an inexperienced writer should do is to make the reader's job easier. You should be able to communicate what you want to communicate. An ill-formed, confusing sentence can eventually be understood, but there is no need to waste the reader's time trying to figure out what you have meant. So, practice writing. The more you practice good writing, the easier it becomes. Best of luck!!
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The content of this post can be forwarded, published,
printed and distributed without the consent of the owner
of Perfect Editing Solutions. However, the URL
(http://www.perfectediting.com) must be mentioned
wherever this post is reproduced.