Here are one or two easy practical things one can do to fix senseless unreadable stuff we write.
- This blog is a continuation of the last post: `Writing unreadable stuff!'
One reason why people don’t get their website to trend or get up-vote support, is the fact their blogs and comments don’t make any sense.
Basically it’s caused by:
- There is no proper order of words or phrases within sentences. Everything is jumbled up, creating confusion. Like one has landed on a strange planet out there somewhere on the internet!
- In trying to divide sentences from each other, some people put a `x’ or two dots `..’ in between their sentences. It’s like sending a telegram that people have to cipher through, to get to understand the message sent to them.
- There may be a full stop (one dot) at the end of sentences, but if there is no Capital letter at the beginning of the next sentence. It is seen at first as a blur of words running into the next. That means the person reading it has to go back and cipher what’s happening. This slows down reading, and people don’t appreciate it. They want to be able to quickly glance through and down a blog. Time is important in one’s busy high powered lifestyle these days!
- Perhaps some people don’t know how to use Capital letters (UPPERCASE in Word’s menu or the CapsLk key on the keyboard) at the beginning of their sentences. Leaving out Caps is a lazy habit. It may be acceptable with dear understanding friends or family, but not on the internet.
Taking just a few seconds to correct these small changes, will make all the difference, in making your blogs trend.
No one is perfect.
I know it’s so easy to overlook and post miss-spelt words. Then afterwards notice something is wrong or left out. This happens a lot when we're texting on our phones.
- But when people are reading stuff on the internet, they are looking for factual info that is professionally well-written.
- And not everyone knows the means of abbreviated shortened words. Especially the more trending modern ones.
Word checking:
If you have Microsoft Word, it lets us know when our spelling and sentences aren’t right. Even Steemit’s system warns us when there are spelling mistakes. Yet, there are people who ignore this help!
@abdulmanan suggested using Google's free download for checking grammar: Grammarly https://www.grammarly.com/office-addin/windows
Understanding what’s written:
If we can consider how sentences are constructed:
- Read them aloud if necessary, to see if the words flow easily and comprehensively to you. You may not see it while writing. But if you came back a day or two later, you will more likely pick up a problem, like you were someone else reading it for the first time.
- Simplify and shorten sentences wherever possible. This creates action and makes it easier to read.
- Before typing and using a word you’re not familiar with, use a dictionary to make sure the word fits-in within the meaning you are trying to express.
TIP: Build up a personal dictionary. Make an orderly list of all those words you keep forgetting how they’re spelt. And add their meanings to the list, to make sure the right word is used in the right place.
Read lots of books:
The more you read; the more effective you become in expressing yourself.
Take interest in the books written by authors you like. How they captured the plot and drew out the drama, etc. Also take note of things you didn’t like about books you thought boring and hard to read, and why?
- I think the authoress Barbara Cartland taught me a lot. She eliminated unnecessary dribble by getting down to the basics of the plot. It made the story move on at a great pace.
- And she also used simple words that everyone could understand. And composing compact sentences and short paragraphs also creates vivid action.
- Why did she write like this? Long blocks of words look very busy, too complicated and boring. Breaking up paragraphs makes it easier and quicker to read. But as you work, make sure each paragraph has its own subject issue.
Time to check up:
And if you prepare your blogs in advance and line them up in a list (1-3 weeks ahead of time) you have ample time to correct, adjust and add more interesting stuff to them… before they’re actually posted.
Note: Next blog on this sort of topic: `Writing from the heart! It makes it easier to write easy flowing exciting stories and blogs.