More on writing, and getting read

More uninvited advice:

Learn something about the art and science of writing. Many good writers use a device of their own invention. A device is a kind of trademark style or the use of irony, sarcasm, wit, comedy or even a peculiar insight, often several of these combined, in a unique way. If you aren't terribly creative, it's OK to emulate an author whose work you respect, but be careful, plagiarism can get you into trouble. Use the style, not the substance.

Try to use words that are comfortable in speech. Since most people read at a 10th grade level or less, the use of argot or jargon will frequently leave the reader as clueless at the end as at the beginning. You are writing to make a point , aren't you? If you muddy the water, don't be surprised if no one drinks it.

It's OK to use precise words when precision is important, but avoid the trap of pedantry. No one is impressed with bombastic prose when single syllables will serve.

Learn the difference between active and passive voice and use them appropriately.

Try to anticipate "loaded" words and their effects. Also be aware that assumptions lead to ambiguity.


One really important thing to learn if you want to write well is how to read. Seriously! Get a newspaper and proofread a longer article for grammar and word usage. Then read it again and pick out the facts. Read it again and pick out the writer's opinions. Look at the structure of the article and then at the structure of each paragraph. Use different colored highlighter pens to mark the article up at each step.

Count how many words of more than three syllables the author uses.

Create an outline of the article and note facts and assertions.

Take the lessons learned from each article you analyze and apply them to your own writing. You will likely be surprised at the mistakes made by someone who is paid to write for a living, and being aware of their mistakes will help you avoid making the same ones.


Then take the new knowledge and write the article yourself, using the same facts, but draw your own conclusions. Try to emulate the author's style and structure, but make the article a product of your own perspective. Keep the reading level to the same (number of polysyllabic words) audience.

Now, just for fun, write the same article just as you would expect to see it written for a college professor of English. Use big words. Be pedantic.

Finally, try to write the same article for a 5th grader. Use easy words. Stay away from metaphor, analogy and irony.


Now compare and contrast the different versions. Be realistic about which you prefer and which is most comfortable to write and which is easiest to read.

No one ever said writing is easy. It requires thought and planning to succeed at informing and persuading your audience. If you practice, you will improve. That will increase your comfort level, making your writing more natural and understandable.

Good writing is just like talking to a friend, the only thing is that most people have a LOT more experience talking than writing.

Cheers,

conhed

Why I don't respect most people who comment on news stories

ludicrous - worthy of scorn
ludacris - name of a rap/hip-hop act, also worthy of scorn

I have seen no less than 12 different writers use the name of an unmemorable ghetto thug "musical" act to imply scorn for a viewpoint or action. This in the last week.

These people actually believe they have something to add to lofty discussion, but they can't even use a spell checker.

These offenders are not limited to people who comment on news stories or blogs, though. Many news reporters are incapable of discerning the different meanings of "affect" and "effect." This in the day of online dictionaries and thesauri!
Some people claiming to be teachers are functionally illiterate, unable to comprehend such simple concepts as subject-verb agreement and pluralized versus possessive. It really is no wonder that most of you don't know any better, since your teachers were also ignorant.

So, here are some recommendations for those who would pin their self-respect on their prose:

Please, if you must use a polysyllabic word, first read the definition. This implies that you can spell it correctly first in order to find it in the dictionary. Second, be aware that the effects of misusing a word include, but are not limited to, dismissal of your argument or position, derisive laughter, and teasing or sarcastic replies to your comment implying your ignorance. These comments are often correct. They are probably usually correct!

Use a spell checker and set it to check as you type. If you have a grammar checker, use it as well.

Learn how to divide your writing into paragraphs, where each paragraph introduces a point, supporting facts for that point and a conclusion. A paragraph should contain about three to five sentences. If you need more than seven, then break the paragraph up into pieces.

DO NOT USE CAPITALIZATION EXCLUSIVELY. IT MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE SHOUTING. This will absolutely garner you no support, and is likely to get you put into the "ignore" filter. GUARANTEED! If you don't believe me, fine, my ignore filter probably already contains your handle.

Get and read and understand a list of commonly misused homonyms. Get a style guide and learn how to use a consistent style in your expository writing. Styles change over time, but consistency is more important than fashion.

Take the trouble to actually have something to add to the discussion. Simply repeating old arguments is the surest sign of immaturity and mental laziness. If you cannot add something, then you have nothing to say. Use your right to remain silent. Adding a shrill voice to the cacophony only raises the noise level, and most thinking people are completely unmoved by noise, except to act to tune it out and dismiss it.

If you MUST call a fool a fool, do so without resorting to obscenity and baseless name calling. Cite an example of the offending (i.e. non-factual) language. Explain why it is wrong. Give facts to support your position. Call them a fool and stop. Do not respond to further postings by that author. Put them in your "kill" file. ( This does not mean to take a hit out on them. It means to ignore them.) People will respect your restraint, if not your position.

If you feel the need for profanity, go ahead and use it, but wait a day before actually posting the comment. You will almost certainly find that the next day brings a new perspective. This can save you untold embarrassment. Only ignorant morons use profanity and slurs regularly in discussions. This is why fools are so easy to spot. It is much easier to bandy four letter words than to actually think.


There's a lot more, but I'm tired of ranting about people who can't wait to show their ignorance. I'll revisit this later.

Peace and prosperity,

conhed

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I'm not the only one! (sorry, Melissa)

Air traveler choked to death in police custody at Phoenix airport after being handcuffed, detained

So you think I'm overreacting by accusing the USA of having become a Police State?

Read the above link. When I first read the story this op piece refers to, I thought that there must be more to it. After all, I used to own a pair of handcuffs, and have had my hands cuffed behind my back. There just ain't no way for you to strangle yourself with your hands cuffed behind your back, short of being a professional contortionist, or having both arms broken. One of the reasons that hands are cuffed behind the back is to prevent harm TO SELF or others. Just ask a cop.

Now, after having read the above article, I don't feel so alone in my initial discomfort with the official "explanation" given for this woman's death. A third party's involvement is a LOT more likely than what has been offered as an explanation. Especially since disturbing the peace is not likely to cause life changing punishment. The now DEAD woman had no reason to commit suicide, and I have very serious doubts that she would have been able to overcome the pain needed to dislocate her own joints in order to strangle herself.

Someone is lying, and the only ones talking are with the government goon squads. She can't talk. She is dead.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote "Once you have eliminated the impossible, what ever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." It is certain that the probability of someone (with authority) killing this woman is much higher than the probability that she killed herself. I think it is impossible for her to have done so.

It wouldn't be the first time that color of authority was used to commit murder, or to escape responsibility for it. But it would be the first recorded example of suicide by handcuff that I've seen.

Update 10/05/2007 00:30

News reports indicate that a private investigator hired by the deceased woman's family has disclosed that there were multiple bruises on her body, some of which showed patterns consistent with the chains on her restraints. He did not expound on the specific locations of the bruises. Some of the bruises were not consistent with the chains, but may have been caused during her arrest. No report of possible sexual abuse. Determination of cause of death is awaiting toxicology tests.

I still want to know how she managed to asphyxiate herself, given that the ability to maintain a choke hold would not persist after unconsciousness.

The original report and subsequent report say that she was "shackled" to a bench. I don't understand how someone can maneuver their hands from behind their back to the front and then strangle themselves while shackled to a bench! Even just handcuffs behind the back are difficult to move to the front, but to do so while chained to a bench is unbelievable.

There has to be more to this.

conhed

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