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Is your writing pompous?

January 6, 2020 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

You can sound knowledgeable without sounding pompous... Here's how

 

You can sound knowledgeable without sounding pompous...here’s how.

There’s a fine line in communication – whether it’s in a non-fiction book or email at work – between sounding knowledgeable and sounding pompous.

Have you crossed that line? There are some common phrases to avoid if you don’t want to come across as arrogant or condescending.

It’s important that you temper your language when writing. You don’t have the benefit of voice intonation, hand gestures, emotions…all the things that impact a face-to-face encounter with your audience. 

If you give off the wrong signals in person, you have an immediate opportunity to correct your misstep.

That can’t be said of your writing. Once you’ve pressed “Send”, mailed the letter, circulated the memo or published the book, your opportunity to explain your intent has passed.

You don’t want to set a tone that can be misconstrued if you’re not there to explain what you meant.

There are several phrases you can avoid – they pad your writing with extra words but don’t add any meaning to your message.

Here are 12 phrases to avoid that will save you from sounding pompous:

  1. Not to mention… Okay, then don’t mention it.
  2. It goes without saying… Right, then don’t say it.
  3. If I may say so… Well, since you’re the author, of course, you can say so.
  4. I believe that… Now the reader wonders if your message is based in facts.
  5. In my humble opinion… An automatic signal that you’re not feeling humble.
  6. To tell the truth… Implies you’ve lied to your reader in the past. 
  7. To be honest with you… Again, a suggestion that you’ve been dishonest.
  8. For the record… If you’re not under oath you don’t need this qualifier.
  9. Let me be perfectly clear… Usually followed by complete bafflegab.
  10. This may sound stupid but… Check yourself, the rest of that sentence probably sounds stupid.
  11. With all due respect… The prelude to an insult, no respect implied or taken.
  12. In other words… The worst culprit. Just use the right words the first time.

Take these pompous-sounding “fillers” out of your writing to avoid confusion and gain clarity in your writing. This is particularly helpful in business communication, approach your reader assuming they’re pressed for time. They need information, not prose or poetry.

Are there other “filler phrases” that make writing sound pompous? Share them in the comments section below or send them along and I’ll add them to the list.

If you’d like help honing your writing skills, feel free to contact me.

Did you find this article helpful? Here are three others you’ll enjoy:

Why Use Active Verbs Instead of Passive?

Mixing Singular with Plural: Keep the Old Rules with Some New Tricks

Better Word Choices for Better Writing

This article was originally published on September 22nd, 2016, and has been updated. 

Filed Under: Business Writing Tagged With: #LearnEnglish, #words, #writing #ESL, arrogant writing, better writing, cliches, ESL, idioms, in other words, nonfiction book editor, pompous words, pompous writing, professional book editing, write with clarity, writing

Don’t Let the Wrong Words Step on Your Success

November 8, 2016 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

Words make it possible to say what you mean in writing. But they can step on your success, too.

In your communications, what happens if you use the wrong word in the wrong way—such as ending that important message “with my complements” instead “with my compliments”?

Definitely, you risk raising doubt in the minds of those you want to impress.

Don’t Get Egg on Your Face

You risk embarrassment and a lot more. You can:

  • Cause confusion, even delays, by sending unclear messages
  • Waste precious time revising and rewriting to clarify your meaning
  • Smudge your reputation among co-workers, colleagues, and customers who wonder, “Does she know the difference between ‘compliments’ and ‘complements’—really?”

When pesky pairings (is it “adopt” or “adapt”?) trip you up, you need to know!

Word Trippers Example

Adopt, adapt – “Adopt” means to take as one’s own (e.g., someone else’s child), to choose (e.g., a lifestyle), or to formally accept (e.g., a position or principle). “Adapt” is to adjust to various conditions. “When you adopt a young girl, make it easy for her to adapt to your living environment.”

Turn to Your Ultimate Source for Choosing the Perfect Word When It Really Matters!

Yes, you can find lots of free resources online. But why spend your precious time when you can have a word choice guide at your fingertips—instantly?

No drawn-out searches or wild goose chases. You expedite your time and avoid unknowing mistakes with a subscription to Word Trippers Tips.

Bring a reliable resource into your in-box every week

By knowing the right word to use in the right place, your professionalism moves up a notch. And by receiving a new Word Tripper each week, you can isolate the latest and learn it well.

With Word Trippers Tips, you’ll get a Word Tripper of the Week (text plus graphic plus audio) in your in-box every week for a full year. Plus the minute you register for Word Trippers Tips, you’ll receive an ebook compilation of 390+ Word Trippers.

Plus once a quarter, you’ll receive practical bonuses—tools to improve your punctuation, grammar, and word use—plus a webinar and crossword puzzle.

Make sure you know it’s the right word!

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Filed Under: Compelling Special Tagged With: #words, Barbara McNichol, embarrassing, ESL, grammar, nonfiction book editing, professional business book editor, punctuation, word choice guideiness book editor, Word Trippers, Word Trippers Tips, word use

Refresh Your English Language Knowledge Every Week

September 16, 2016 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

American English language resourceImagine having a resource at your fingertips that allows you to quickly find the right word when it matters most. Then imagine refreshing your knowledge in the English language every week so you can confidently use confusing words correctly.

Having the right word at your fingertips hasn’t always been easy—until now. Here’s a solution that enhances your excellence every day (not everyday).

Your Word Trippers Tips subscription offers:

  • An ebook featuring 390+ pesky pairings of words that can trip you up (except vs. accept, advise vs. advice, further vs. farther, to name a few)
  • A Word Tripper of the Week arriving in your in-box for 52 weeks (see sample on this page) and includes audio
  • Bonus PDFs on grammar and punctuation tips every quarter
  • A 38-minute webinar
  • A crossword puzzle that review previous Word Trippers

Sample of Word Tripper of the Week

ongoing word resource

Word Tripper of the Week

Build Credibility, Confidence, Competence in the English Language

Finding the right word to use that matters most—

  • Allows you to be seen as a credible professional
  • Ensures you’re using the right word properly—a confidence builder
  • Boosts your reputation for competence and excellence in your world

Your Word Tripper of the Week hones your English language knowledge and keeps the learning alive. And its usefulness has been time-tested for more than a decade.

To get a better grasp of the English language with ease, invest in Word Trippers Tips—only $99/year.

Questions? Click here for FAQs.

“My time is incredibly limited, and the last thing I need is useless email clogging up my in-box. I’ve been running my company for close to 20 years. Truth be told, I was highly skeptical that Word Trippers would be of any benefit. WRONG! In less than 30 seconds, I learned I was using an incorrect word to describe something. As a new subscriber, I’m looking forward to all the Word Trippers.”

– Michael Spremulli, Corporate Entertainer & Speaker, www.Spremulli.com

 

Filed Under: Writing Tips Tagged With: #business book editing, #LearnEnglish, #words, nonfiction book editor, professional editing, Word Trippers Tips, writing

Get In on the Word Trippers Tips Action

August 12, 2016 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

By Barbara McNichol

Who in your circle values precise, intelligent, accurate communication?

Imagine their gratitude when you introduce them to an ongoing word resource that lets them quickly find the right word when it matters most—one that refreshes every week?

That’s where the golden opportunity comes in for you—promoting Word Trippers Tips as an affiliate.

What is Word Trippers Tips?

American English language resource

It’s a subscription program that includes:

  • An ebook featuring 390+ pesky pairings of words that can trip you up (except vs. accept, advise vs. advice, further vs. farther)
  • A Word Tripper of the Week arriving in their in-box for 52 weeks and includes audio
  • Bonus PDFs on grammar and punctuation tips every quarter
  • Fabulous surprise bonuses on better writing along the way!

Who would benefit most as a Word Trippers Tips subscriber?

  • Business professionals
  • English language students
  • VAs and admin assistants
  • Entrepreneurs and leaders
  • Authors, bloggers, speakers
  • Court reporters, grant writings, journalists

How will this ongoing word resource help you as an affiliate?

  • Broadens your marketing reach through a highly credible offer
  • Allows you to put extra money in your pocket every month
  • Pays you a 25% commission for all $99 subscriptions sold through your link AND for their renewals, too!

By attracting 100 subscribers, you put $2,475 in your pocket. For 1,000 subscribers, it’s 10 times that amount. Turn your list into cash by promoting the gift of accuracy.

This “extra money” could add up quickly—at no risk to you!

Interested? Go to WordTrippers.com and sign up at the affiliate link. Click here for affiliate FAQs.

 

Filed Under: Compelling Special Tagged With: #business book editing, #LearnEnglish, #words, business professionals, English language learners, grammar and punchtuation, nuances of English language, ongoing word resource, professional book editor, Word Trippers Tips, writing

Writing and Editing: You Wear Two Different Hats

June 5, 2016 by Barbara McNichol Leave a Comment

by Barbara McNichol

Just as you’d wear a straw-brimmed hat in the sunshine and a rain cap in the pouring rain, remember the importance of wearing two different hats when you’re writing versus editing your nonfiction book.

One hat represents the creative process; the other deals with the critical process. Attempting to edit as you write can dampen your creativity, as I learned when working with an author recently. Because she was on a fast track to get her book printed, she had me editing the beginning chapters while she was still writing the middle and final chapters. What happened? She had to interrupt her writing flow to give me feedback on the chapters I’d sent back. It affected her ability to move forward smoothly, plus we had trouble keeping track of our progress. What frustration!

Differences Between Writing and Editing

In retrospect, we needed to put on the brakes and say, “Each task—writing and editing— demands a separate and specific focus.” Here are three reasons why:

  • When editing your own work, your mind can fill in, correct, or overlook errors. It’s easy to miss things that should be corrected—like missing words and inconsistencies.
  • When you put a week or two between completing a draft and reviewing it, you break the link between what you thought you wrote and what you actually wrote.
  • Once a first draft is finished, if you rush in to evaluate it too quickly, you haven’t allowed your brain to “hang out in the shade and cool.” That’s when you mentally step back and “see” gaps in information, research, and logic. Taking a “big picture” look also enables you to see what fits and what doesn’t.

Create Even More Separation

What can you do to separate writing from editing even more?

  • When you reread your work, reformat it by changing the font, margins, line spacing, and other elements so it tricks the mind and looks like a new document.
  • Keep wearing your creativity hat and go through each chapter asking these important questions:
  1. Is it complete from a content point of view? What’s missing?
  2. Have I included all the facts and stories I want to meet my objectives for this chapter?
  3. Can I take out any content that doesn’t fit?

Once you have answered these satisfactorily, you’re ready for the critical process to take over. While wearing your editing hat, leave behind your content questions and look for the elements of good writing—style, grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and so on. And when you’re ready for feedback, call in an objective editor who can apply both the creative and critical process to perfecting your manuscript.

Do you agree with this thesis about keeping writing and self-editing separate? Share your thoughts here.

Filed Under: Book Writing Tagged With: #business book editing, #words, big-picture look, critical editing process, how to self-edit, mixing writing and editing, nonfiction book editing, professional book editing services, writing, writing and editing

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