The Style Files
My thoughts on design, writing and entrepreneurship.
Photo credit (background): www.pexels.com
Photo credit (background): www.pexels.com
"For the GENERAL PUBLIC, text should be written at the 8th grade level or lower." You want your audience on the edge of their seats! Photo credit: www.pexels.com Have you ever heard the phrase, 'Location, location, location?' In writing, the equivalent would have to be, 'Audience, audience, audience.' Knowing WHO you're writing for is essential information. Don't be fooled, though! It's not the whole picture. Writing well comes in a close second (or is arguably tied for first). Just because writing should be straightforward or simple according to the quote above doesn't mean all bets are off when it comes to quality. Au contraire! Part of what makes writing easy to understand is accuracy. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at what proofreading looks like and why minding your p's and q's is a big deal. It's back to the basics. Photo credit: www.pexels.com The example Please note that this is a real text from a real website I found today. In order to protect the author's identity, sensitive information has been changed. Let's get started! "Brian Smith started working as a reporter with NBC in January of 2019. Brian interned for CBS News and reported for the website from Washington D.C. He reported for the CBS affiliate in Madison Wisconsin for two years before making his way to the brew city. Brian is a big sports fan and is excited to cheer on Milwaukee sports teams. Unfortunately, being from St. Louis, he has to cheer on the Cardinals as well. You can probably catch him playing pick-up hoops at parks throughout the city when he’s not working. Brian is always looking for stories and encourages anyone with a story to tell to reach out on social media." Live from Milwaukee! Photo credit: www.pexels.com The edit "Brian Smith started working as a reporter with NBC in January of 2019. Brian interned for CBS News and reported for the website from Washington, D.C. He reported for the CBS affiliate in Madison, Wisconsin for two years before making his way to the Brew City. Brian is a big sports fan and is excited to cheer on Milwaukee sports teams. Unfortunately, being from St. Louis,* he has to cheer on the Cardinals, as well. You can probably catch him playing pick-up hoops at parks throughout the city when he’s not working. Brian is always looking for stories and encourages anyone with a story to tell to reach out on social media." You'll need some proofreading tools (or Track Changes). Photo credit: www.pexels.com The breakdown Truth be told, this writing wasn't bad. The unedited version got the point across fairly well but just looked a little rough around the edges. The thing that's important to note here is that all of these mistakes could have been easily corrected by proofreading or by paying attention in middle school English classes. They're not hard! Fixing them isn't, either. Photo credit: www.pexels.com Some highlights: commas always belong between respective cities and states as well as in the official title of 'Washington, D.C.' Chances are you learned that around the time you learned about the fifty states or maybe a few years later. It still holds true today! Words like 'too' or 'as well' are normally separated by commas according to English grammar rules. People don't always heed that advice because they don't hear a vocal pause when saying things like, "Me, too." The reality is you can't rely on vocal pauses to write because writing and speaking are two different birds. As for 'Brew City,' it's an unofficial title for Milwaukee. Even though it's informal, it's still a title and used to represent a place name which would make it a proper noun (and therefore capitalized). Lastly and stylistically, 'being from _____' is fairly informal. I would categorize that as something you might get away with in spoken English but a little iffy for the written word. Because it's a matter of taste, however, and the rest of the bio was aimed at general audiences and casually written, I'll let it slide this time! Photo credit: www.pexels.com The moral of the story General audiences dictate that writing should be simple but NOT incorrect. Think of writing as a package deal: the ideas have to make sense but so do the mechanics. Just as in the case we considered, writers have to be mindful that they're using correct grammar and that missing or inaccurate technicalities don't hold them back on the page. Do a final check of your writing to give us your best possible version! Photo credit: www.pexels.com Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Recipe ideas? Send me a message or let me know what you think in the comments below. Take care and as always, thanks for coming! Hope to see you again soon.
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Small spaces can be very charming. Photo credit: www.pexels.com With space at a premium, it's important to know how to design for smaller quarters. People want their houses or apartments to feel pleasant yet practical. Here are some tips for making the most of a small space! 1. Get rid of extras First things first: you've got to get rid of your garbage. It's a lousy job but somebody's got to do it! Think of it as your first step to freedom. No one likes rearranging their shoe rack or trying on every pair of pants from the past ten years but believe me, editing is EVERYTHING. You'll be surprised what you have and be happy to part with lots of it! Time to go through everything! Photo credit: www.pexels.com 2. Invest in the right furniture Have you noticed that furniture you had as a kid was a lot sturdier and heavier than what's on the market now? Part of that is due to our mobile lives where ease and speed are paramount. If you want your space to be even more accommodating, consider options that can be easily folded and tucked away. Examples: Murphy beds, foldable drying racks, wall-mounted folding desks and inflatable mattresses for guests. Wall-mounted folding desks are perfect for small spaces! Photo credit: www.urbanoutfitters.com 3. Buy small whenever possible Even though Americans insist people go big or go home, sometimes it's really not the size that counts. A miniature steamer or half-size ironing board will save you space and still get the job done. What apartment dweller needs an industrial vacuum, anyway? Always shop with your space in mind. 4. Give up your Costco membership That's right, I said it. Too far? Now that you've decided to lead a life with a smaller footprint, it's time to give up your bulk-buying ways. Maybe do a final run for sentimental value or to stock up on a few things you know you'll need (and have room for). For anything else, a pack of 6 will suffice. When in doubt, go for fewer than 100. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 5. Think like a line cook Anyone who's worked in the restaurant industry knows that industrial kitchens can be small spaces. Efficiency is key! Using your space wisely means keeping everything in its place and having frequently-used items within reach. Avoid multiples, visually cluttered counter tops and sloppy cupboards and make your main tools instantly accessible. Your kitchen doesn't need to be this fancy to use smart strategies. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 6. Go digital If you haven't started by now, you're a little behind. Why not use Covid time to update your records? Go through old paperwork, convert important documents to a digital format and shred the rest. Some of your books need to go, too, tbh. Time for an upgrade! You got this. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 7. Don't give up on plants! Just because you live in a small space doesn't mean you can't have greenery in your life! Especially in a city, houseplants or herbs can add a touch of nature you might not have outside your window. There are lots of plants that are suitable for windowsills or radiators and others that stay small or grow slowly. Remember, the idea is to make small spaces inspired and beautiful! 8. Adopt a rainforest strategy Think of it this way: rainforests grow in four horizontal layers. (Can you tell I wasn't a science student?) You might not have enough space to fit in more than two or three but adding shelving or stackable containers can dramatically boost closet space. There's often room to hang clothes, house shoes underneath and stack some jewelry boxes up above. By the end, you'll have created your own personalized ecosystem! Take nature's lead for a smart closet strategy! Photo credit: science4fun.info/rainforest/ 9. Say goodbye to family heirlooms or single-use gadgets I know you love your grandma and family heirlooms are near and dear to your heart. Still, think about saving one and gifting the rest. If you live in a studio, there's no way you need a waffle iron, food dehydrator or other single-use space hogs so clear out some kitchen space ASAP. Photo credit: www.reviewed.com 10. Do a seasonal refresh If you want to waste less time in the morning getting ready for work, it's a good idea to reorganize your closet every season anyway. Even if it's just a matter of swapping out beach gear for fall coats, you'll have what you actually need right in front of you. Keeping an eye on what you have means your clothing will be less likely to overwhelm you or waste valuable space for no reason. It's a win-win! This closet needs a refresh... and some more colors! Photo credit: www.pexels.com There's a lot you can do to rethink a room. As captain of the ship, what you think and do is what matters most when it comes to your own living or working space! These ideas are by no means exhaustive and can be expanded on or adjusted based on your own personal preferences.
Can you think of any other tips for tiny living? Do you have any pictures to showcase how you tackle the problem? Feel free to leave a comment down below to let me know what you think. See you next time! "i've been blogging for six years, and in that time i've noticed something — anyone can do it." -Jeff Goins of copyblogger.com (https://copyblogger.com/mediocre-blogging/) And so it begins: my laundry list of complaints about the poor quality of writing in design content. What a topic! Why would I bash my own people, you might ask? Photo credit: www.pexels.com The truth is I worked in translation for many years but left in part because quality in that industry is practically nonexistent. It was totally maddening especially as someone who wanted to uphold high standards for my deserving clients! Suffice it to say that if your life is made of words, bad writing is a daily dose of bad news. In fairness to copywriters, the aim is often very specific. Grammar rules which apply elsewhere to writing are all but ignored in copy. Still, quality writing reflects a level of sophistication in your business. Let's dive into some of the most common mistakes you can spot in interior design blogs and other creative content. This information may shock you! You've been warned. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 1. Sentences are followed by ONE space, not two. Yes, we're jumping right into grammar. If you write for a living, there are some basic things you need to know. Like NEED to know. One of them is that two spaces formerly used between sentences is now just one. Every. Single. Time. Yes, it's completely noticeable and no, you can't say no one told you. 2. Don't completely throw away commas. Some people write like this. It's okay for short sentences. It's not okay for longer ones. Do you see how ridiculous this is if I keep writing and writing and change ideas and want tiles hardwood and doorknobs the glass kind but smash them all together? Please don't. You need commas in your life, that I can promise you. 3. Don't overdo it with commas, either Other times I see people write, with commas, lots, and lots, and lots, of commas, even, if they're not making, a list. They make no sense, they ruin the flow and they look like a hot mess. Please don't! Alternatively, writers may know their way around a comma except when they use them in place of periods. You wouldn't use wall paint to do your nails, would you? Use commas correctly and please, be prudent! So... not this many. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 4. Get to know the difference between a hyphen, an en-dash and an em-dash Public service announcement: the hyphen (-), en-dash (–) and em-dash (—) are three different punctuation marks with their own uses. One thing I see all the time is people who use hyphens for EVERYTHING. Nope. For more guidance on this topic, check out one of my favorite people for writing tips, Grammar Girl! www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/when-to-use-and-not-use-an-em-dash Pro tip: if you're not going to bother reading all about it, refrain from using hyphens absolutely everywhere. The em-dash is your pal—and a little extra! 5. Proofreading is required Everyone makes mistakes! That's okay. The difference is pros go back and correct them. If you want to be taken seriously in your writing, then proofread your work or have someone do it for you. I'll break it down for you. Photo credit: www.pexels.com Here's an example of a sentence from a prominent design website in need of some proofreading. In the interest of being gracious, let's keep it anonymous. "I haven't always been a morning person, waking up does not come easily to me, and I am guilty of pushing snooze, but once I'm up I'm up and very chipper!" Now let's take a look at what it should be: "I haven't always been a morning person. Waking up doesn't come easily to me and I'm guilty of pushing snooze. Once I'm up, though, I'm up and very chipper!" Do you see how this was an example of a few of the mistakes we covered so far? In some places, it had too many commas and there were too few commas in others. These mistakes contributed to a sentence which was difficult to understand and completely threw the flow. Looks like this guy hit the snooze button, too. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 6. Visual people can also read There's a stereotype that creative people aren't always good with details in other professions. In my experience, that's sometimes true. (Sorry.) Don't be a part of the problem! Here's the deal: people may love your website because it's all kinds of gorgeous. Good for you for killing it on the creative front! That doesn't mean they don't judge you for your writing mistakes. Whether or not it was an honest mistake, writing errors make a sensational website okay and a gifted designer kind of a flake. This reader is as cute as a button! Photo credit: www.pexels.com 7. Messed up capitalization Capitalization can be tricky in titles especially if you decide to keep less important words lowercase. The problem with capitalizing some words and not others is it tends to look accidental and mismatched. It's consistency and professionalism you're after so let your words reflect that. 8. Foreign language mistakes Chances are you know that it's important to write well in English if your audience speaks English. You probably also realize it's possible for designers to speak languages other than English and that their design acumen is what's most important to their profession. However, I have to be real with you in saying that you can almost always tell if something's written by a non-native speaker. There's no shame in being multilingual! Just play to your strengths and have a native speaker of your published language write or proofread your work. For the record, anyone who claims to speak other languages as well as their mother tongue is either misguided or one in a million. That's really a unicorn of situations so please don't fall for it. Leave translating or native-language editing to the pros. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 9. Treat your writing like a visual component This one might surprise you: some designers are so focused on images that they forget to treat text like a building block on the screen. I've seen sentences end abruptly when they were covered up by images and words crammed into a tiny corner or awkward space. Yikes! Don't forget that we still see text as blocks and forms! Make your text deliberate and beautiful. I hate to say it but it's time to go! Photo credit: www.pexels.com The bottom line
Sloppiness is going to cost you no matter which way you slice it! If there's one thing to take away from this blog, it's that 1) quality matters and 2) writing requires attention to detail. If writing bores you or you're too caught up in the other details of your business, don't sweat it! I can write on your behalf. Do you have any thoughts on this? Comments? Suggestions about this blog or ideas for future topics? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you and hope to catch you again later. Who do you think you are, anyway? Let's get right into it. I know you don't know me yet but I'm here to tell you that's about to change. I ultimately left a successful job in my field as a skilled translator because I needed a refresh. Chances are if you're a creative bunny, you're the same way. Now let me tell you the reasons why my words are your business and vice versa. Being neighborly. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 1. My writing skills are on point Yes, you read that right. If there's one thing I can say about keeping the customer satisfied, it's that good writing stays with you. Think of every time you've thought of song lyrics or an author's prose years later. Writing may not be your gig but that doesn't mean you don't know the difference. If your business is your pride and joy, shouldn't your content reflect that? 2. I can channel your vision I'm someone whose creative prowess is largely mental. That doesn't mean I don't value the visual or performing arts. Far from it! If anything, it means I'm way better suited to expression than creation. Think of me as a conduit to the everyday world. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 3. Beauty belongs in language If you don't read to absorb the sounds and dwell in metaphors and feel the characters from inside out, I can't say I understand why you bother. Part of the reason I studied foreign languages from a young age is because language is a medium of feeling and awe. You'll want some of that in your business, too. 4. Waste no time comparing apples and oranges You know what it's like when you're telling a story to someone whose only concern is linear progression? No thank you. Creative people need each other so we can spend more time doing things in our own fluid ways. Credit: www.pexels.com 5. I can finish it for you I know, I know: creatives don't finish projects. I'm that way in my personal life, too, but know what I can and can't handle in business. Deadlines are no joke in the writing world. The good news for you? You don't need to worry about it. 6. Love what's real You can probably tell from what little you've read that my writing style is real and so is my personality. If you do what you love in your business, it should feel as tangible to your audience as it is to you. Let me connect others to your inner world. 7. Streamline your game You know what else creative people aren't exactly known for? Consistency, plain and simple. The thing is you HAVE to be in writing and editing; it's half the job, really. I now have a tried and true approach to keeping things streamlined after years in the business. The best thing is I'll do it for you! Photo credit: www.pexels.com 8. Get some perspective Sourcing your own work and ideas means that sometimes, you just can't get enough distance. That's okay. Explaining an internal process is hard enough to do without considering an outsider's vantage point. My perspective gives me the clarity to accurately see where you're coming from and relay it to your audience. 9. Not my first rodeo Let's just say I'm not new to writing and I'm not new to business. I'm not new to creative industries, either, which means you don't have to worry about rookie mistakes. I have writing experience for a number of document types, styles and audiences so just know you're in good hands. Photo credit: www.pexels.com 10. Keeping it organic I'm a big believer in starting small and growing slowly. To me, a perfect business is 1. knowing what I offer, 2. doing it well and 3. building steady relationships. I'd much rather be choosy about clients and provide a valuable service than pretend to be the right solution for anyone and everyone. Now that we've been over the 10 ways I'd be an asset to your business as a skilled linguist and copywriter, it's safe to say we're off to a good start! Got any questions about how I do things? Have any ideas for blogs or content you'd like to see? Or do you have any other feedback for me? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message at [email protected] or by using my website contact form and I'll get back to you within 24 hours. Photo credit: www.pexels.com Thanks for your time and see you again soon!
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AuthorHi, my name is Martha Oschwald and I'm a content writer focused on design. This page is meant to give you a taste of my writing style and latest musings. Archives
April 2022
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