One cool thing about blogging: No pesky editor to change what you say and slow you down. The downside of blogging: No one to edit out your mistakes, but you.
So to blog well you need to become your own editor. It isn’t easy because most of us tend to think the way we say something is best and our words are immortal.
Yet it’s important to edit yourself.
Sure, blogs should be conversational, and a typo in a blog post on occasion won’t ruin your reputation. But your credibility will sink if you consistently misuse words or allow mistakes into your writing. Or readers may get distracted by errors rather than focus on what you’re saying.
I’ve found a sure-fire way to get a comment on my Family Life blog is to make a typo. Some kind soul is sure to point it out quickly. While most bloggers want comments, I doubt many want ones calling you a nitwit or worse for making a silly mistake.
That means you need to learn to read your own writing with a critical eye and check for the common errors that many writers make.
How do you think like an editor? Gerry McGovern Publications’ guide to writing for the Web offers a concise list of what you should ask yourself about each sentence you write:
- Is it clear?
- Is there a simpler way to say this?
- Is there a shorter way to say this?
- Is this necessary?
Now once you have that mindset, you should keep track of common mistakes that you make. We all have them: Words we misspell over and over; grammatical errors we just can’t seem to master. When you know your weak points, you can keep an eye out for them.
To get you started, here are some common errors I’ve come across in 11 years editing for a daily newspaper:
- Know the difference between tricky words: I’m talking about words such as your and you’re. Copyblogger has two posts on this topic that are worth checking out here and
here. (By the way, your is a possessive pronoun as in your family or your mistake; you’re is a contraction of you and are. To make sure I’m using you’re correctly, I always read it aloud to myself as you are to check if it makes sense.) - Understand subject-verb agreement: Basically this means if you have a singular noun, you use a singular verb, and you use a plural verb with a plural noun. For example, the sentence “He walks home” uses a singular noun (he) and verb (walks..) Things get more complicated with words such as each and everyone, which take a singular verb regardless of what comes after them. (”Each of the girls sings well“ is correct though girls is plural because the verb agrees with the subject, each.)
Grammarbook.com offers a more involved discussion of subject-verb agreement. - Use apostrophes well: Apostrophes are in contractions (don’t or isn’t) or to show possession as in the girl’s book. For a plural word, the apostrophe goes after the s as in the girls’ books. (Some sticklers add an additional s to make it the girls’s books, although I find that confusing and really too formal for blogging.) And for use in years: “The Great Depression was in the 1930s” and “The Great Depression was in the ‘30s” are correct. “The Great Depression was in the 1930’s” or “The Great Depression was in the 30’s“ are not.
Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab has some additional advice. - Spell check every post: Spell check won’t pick up everything. It can’t tell if you’re using its when you should write it’s. But it can keep you from embarrassing yourself too much.
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Writing a post is easy, for me it’s the editing part that takes time.
The most important part is, is it clear? I think the content and it’s clarity is more important today than grammar. I visit many blogs where English is clearly a second language for the writer.There are often grammatical mistakes but I overlook that because of the good content.
(However that is not an excuse for someone who has English as a first language)
Ned Carey
Ned Carey´s lastest post..1099s Are Due! Have You Sent Yours Out?
I agree … editing is hard work. It’s especially hard to edit yourself because you know what you mean, so you’re less likely to spot mistakes.
Blogging is such a fluid medium, though, that it’s hard to have someone else edit your work. It would slow down the process and change the dynamic, I think.
And you’re right — if the content is good, a few mistakes won’t matter.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
I really need to work on the subject-verb agreements in a post. I think that’s my weakness.
Before publishing a post, I like to read it out loud, going over every single word to make sure it makes sense. I find when I proofread silently, I don’t pick up on everything.
Carla´s lastest post..Free Shipping Through February 1st
Reading copy aloud is a great technique. I do that — it really helps you “hear” if it sounds good. And it forces you to say every word, rather than just gloss over words and miss mistakes. (When you read silently, your brain tends to fill in the words it thinks you mean, so it’s harder to spot an error.)
As far as subject-verb agreement … if you know that’s your issue, that’s the first step. You always know to look for it.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
Hello Gina,
I could never afford an editor – I would have to pay for their hair replacement. ;)
I do try to put a post away for a bit and then open it later to read out loud. Many times I realize that I was filling in words, in my mind, that did not end up on the post. In other words – no one else reading it would have a clue what I was talking about.
Let’s not talk about grammar! LOL!
Sheryl Loch´s lastest post..Sig Line and Mini Article Post on Forums
That’s a good trick — write it walk way and then read it. You’re sure to find mistakes.
My husband is my (unpaid) editor. He’ll read a post once it’s published, and send me an e-mail … Ahem .. you spelled judgment wrong or whatever. It’s annoying, but it works.
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
You realize, you didn’t explain the thing that causes the most problems when writing. The proper use of its and it’s.
Tom B.´s lastest post..Contact Form Plugins for Wordpress
Well, I did mention “it” versus “it’s” in my post (last graph), and I gave a list of additional tips from CopyBlogger: http://www.copyblogger.com/5-common-mistakes-that-make-you-look-dumb/
But you’re right that it’s a confusing issue.
Basically …
Its is a possessive. The dog played with its bone.
It’s is a contraction of it is. “It’s a sunny day” means the same as “It is a sunny day.”
To check if you’re using “it’s” correctly, follow the same trick I suggested for you’re. Substitute it is in the sentence. If it works, you’ve got it right.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
Don’t be too hard on yourself. I’ve PAID for books and found mistakes in them. Double checking your work and consistently holding your writing to your highest standards is all you can do.
The more we write, the better we’ll get.
T
T Edwards´s lastest post..5 Reasons To Blog In A Recession
I’ve found typos in books, too, as well as road signs, restaurant menus. It happens.
I was at a restaurant recently, and there was a sign on each table: “Special: Macaroni and Chesse.”
I found it quite funny, actually.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..How to edit yourself on your blog
Thank you for mentioning subject-verb agreement. On too many blogs do I see this abused.
Another fantastic post. I think a professional blog should have proper writing otherwise the readers think that the post is either written in a hurry or for the sake of it.
Money Money Money´s lastest post..9 THINGS I HATE ABOUT PEOPLE
Thanks .. I do think it’s an important issue that I’m working on daily.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
Spell check is my nemisis or is that nemesis (I can’t be bothered to check!!) :)
Anyway, I always forget and end up editing spelling mistakes weeks later!! I must stop rushing to publish posts.
Forest´s lastest post..21 Free One Way Backlinks
That would be nemesis … Thanks for taking the time to share.
Speed is intrinsic to blogging, so it’s understandable that we want to publish quickly.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
Firefox is an awesome tool in it’s own right. Whether it’s a comment, blog post, or whatever; it red lines errors…spelling and grammar. Of course, from time to time it’ll get it wrong.
I usually end up proofreading for a longer time period then actually writing the post. :)
Dennis Edell´s lastest post..Both Contests End Tonight! Important Info…
Dennis,
I’d agree with you on the time it takes to proofread. For me, I think about a post for a while before I write, so once I start typing, it just goes. But the checking and refining takes a while.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
Hi Gina,
A post without typo errors or errors on grammar really tells a lot about the writer. For extremes you can even guess quite correctly if he is a meticulous person and that may translate to better relationship in business with him as well. So it’s important to give more effort to do such editing. Good topic.
Peter Lee
work at home blog´s lastest post..The Truth About Using Duplicate Content On Your Blogs
Thanks, Peter.
I think clean writing is important. It gives you a sense the blogger cares about his or her work.
But as another commentator points out, don’t beat yourself up for mistakes.
I make typos. Everyone does. And in the end, we figure out what each other means.
Thanks for sharing.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
Most people that blog, don’t take advantage of spell check. I think they are doing a disservice to their readers. Usually if I see more than 3 grammar errors in a post, I don’t finish reading it nor do I leave a comment on that post
Donny Gamble´s lastest post..Post Office Sunday
Donny,
I agree … no excuse not to use spell check. I mean it’s so easy, so why not.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..Can Twitter boost your blog traffic?
Great guide, I always catch myself using the “it’s” and “its” at the wrong time. simple, yet stupid mistake.
Cheers,
The Moneyac
The Moneyac´s lastest post..16 Interesting Internet Facts You Should Know About
Yes, it’s the simple ones that get you.
- Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..How journalists can use Linked In
Editing is one of my most major problems. I find it extremely boring and tedious… especially if it’s for a long articles… or even a book.
I know the stuff we write on our first round is not exactly our best work, but sometimes I just couldn’t bring myself to just do it!
I’m looking for a software solution to it but I’ve read a lot of negative comments about an automatic solution. What do you think? Have you considered an automatic solution?
Andre Thomas´s lastest post..How To Get Glowing Testimonials
I know what you mean. The editing, refining is tedious.
I’m not a fan of an “automatic solution.” The one thing computers don’t get that humans (or most of them) do is context.
A computer is great at telling you if words are spelled correctly or even if a comma is misplaced. But they can’t tell if what you write makes sense or conveys what you mean. They can’t tell if irony or sarcasm works.
Only a human can tell that.
With that said, I suppose an editing program is better than not editing at all.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..The future of newspapers: print v. digital
Keep The Elements of Style within reach. It’s the best resource.
Gennaro´s lastest post..Venice Carnival: Masks And Malvasia
Good suggestion, Gennaro.
Strunk & White: “Elements of Style” is a good book!
Gina Chen´s lastest post..The future of newspapers: print v. digital
I am told that I am a great writer, but there are times where I go against many critical errors. Sometimes I will miss the apostrophe between the “it” and “s” for “it is”… I can’t remember for the love of me which it is possessive and “it is”, but when I think of the word “It’s a TRAP!”… I am thinking “it’s” is “it is”, hopefully.
And I also have a style of using “And” at the beginning of sentences.
A few grammar mistakes does not a poor writer make.
Writing well isn’t just about grammar, so I wouldn’t worry.
And, as far as using “and” at the beginning of a sentence, I do that a lot, too. I think that’s fine in conversational, informal writing.
– Gina
Gina Chen´s lastest post..The future of newspapers: print v. digital
Blogging is such a fluid medium, though, that it’s hard to have someone else edit your work. It would slow down the process and change the dynamic, Great guide.thanks for sharing…..
This one is really important and some time you wont accept it if someone point it out as well. That’s why I always take the help of one of my friend whose thought is just opposite to me.
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