It is certainly true that we do not getsecond chance to makefirst impression. Asimpression we make onInternet is almost always withwritten word, is it unfortunate that there is so much poor writing bouncing around in cyberspace. The following tips are intended to help you makebetter first impression.

Speaking of first impressions, I do not want to present myself as "the Final Authority". Dave Barry readers know that would be "Mr. Language Person". I am justguy who's been writing marketing and training materials forcouple of decades and I've picked upfew things. If they are of value to you, I am glad I could help.

1. Know your audience. Who are you trying to reach and what isbest approach to accomplish your goal? Should you be informal, strictly business or something else?

2. Plan what you want to say before you typefirst word. Makefew notes. You will stay on message better and presentmore readable piece.

3. No matter how extensive your vocabulary, resistimpulse to dazzle your readers. You may impress some but you'll lose many more. Common, everyday words work just fine - that's how they became common.

4. Avoid jargon whenever possible. Yes, almost every undertaking has its own language, just write atlevel most appropriate forvast majority of your readers. If in doubt, see three. above.

5. Syntax (sentence structure) matters. When I hear something like, "Me 'n' John went to..." it's like fingernails downchalkboard! People who speak that way probably writesame way, I figure. If your word processor hasgrammar checker, use it -spell checker will not help in this kind of situation.

   The other person always comes first, so it is "John and I went to...". The trick for determining whether to use I or me is to dropother person and say it. I doubt you'd say "Me went to...". Right?

6. Short sentences are more powerful than long ones. They are easier to read and holdreader better. It might just be two words: Janet smiled. Depending on what preceded it, those two little words could be very powerful indeed. Think how important this sentence can be: I do.

7. If you're writing ads and you'd like them to stand out, avoid usingsame approach "everyone else" is using. Look at how many ads use some variation of "Make $onesix Million Before Lunch!!!!!!!!!" and then do something else for yours. Nobody really buys that stuff anyway, do they? Use your imagination.

8. Some words simply cannot be modified, so do not. Among these,for example, are unique and pregnant. Nothing can be "very unique" because unique means something of which there is only one. Andwoman is either pregnant or she is not. She cannot be "somewhat pregnant".

9. Punctuation is critically important. If you do not think so, studyfollowing sentence. It can be punctuated to create opposite meanings: Woman without her man is nothing.

   I thinkmost grossly overused punctuation mark isexclamation point! There isschool of semi-thought that seems to have concluded thatthing is more important, or exciting, or urgent if multiple exclamation points are used, as in: Buy NOW!!!!!! Actually, it just meanswriter doesn't know much about punctuation.

10. Use comparative suffixes (-er, -ier, -est) rather than "more". The weather is getting cooler, not "more cool". She is happier, not "more happy".

Enjoy your writing, it can bereal adventure!

This article was posted on February four, twozerozerotwo