The Big Red Word vs. the Little Green Man by Julia Turner

March 10th, 2010

This article proves that Exit signs need editing too…  and that sometimes even the most effective language is not enough to convey an important message.  The Big Red Word vs. the Little Green Man 

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Top 10 Business Website Mistakes – from Intrigue Design

March 9th, 2010

These basic tips on website design will save you a lot of headache if you employ them right from the get-go.  Top 10 Business Website Mistakes

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7 Essential Elements of an Exceptional Resume – by Terry Alleman

March 9th, 2010

I couldn’t agree more with these tips from Terry Alleman at OccupationalZen.  7 Elements of an Exceptional Resume Part I and Part II.

Just for kicks, can you spot the misused semicolon in the excerpt below?  To find out more about proper use of commas and semicolons, Click Here for my article on the subject.

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Why Didn’t I Get the Job Offer? from reCareered

March 9th, 2010

Phil Rosenberg gives a run-down of hiring factors, many of which are unpredictable even by the hiring manager.  Here are just some of the things that might affect whether or not you get the job.  Why Didn’t I Get the Job Offer?

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Why it’s Important to Write Right in the Legal Profession – And 5 Common Writing Pitfalls to Avoid

March 9th, 2010

The following article, by Brenda Bernstein, was first published on MyLegal.com.

This past September, a federal judge in Florida denied a lawyer’s motion (without prejudice, so he can re-file the motion) stating that it was “riddled with unprofessional grammatical and typographical errors that nearly render the entire motion incomprehensible.” Click here for the full article.

The judge highlighted the following problems, among others:

• Incorrect use of apostrophes.

• Typographical errors (using the word “this” instead of “thus” and the word “full” instead of “for”).

• Incorrect placement of periods and commas outside of quotation marks.

• Wrong word use (using the phrase the plaintiff “had attended on filing” this action, instead of saying the plaintiff had “intended” to file an action).

• One very long sentence.

Don’t let this happen to you!

If you write legal documents in any way, shape or form, it is absolutely essential to use correct spelling and grammar. In a famous case in England, a traffic ticket was thrown out because it was issued for illegal “stoping” instead of “stopping”; the alleged perpetrator had conducted no mining activities (“stoping” is a mining term) and so was found not guilty. I bet that police officer never issued another “stoping” ticket.

Past or Present?

One extremely common error I see amongst law students is using the word “lead” to mean the past tense of “lead.” This mistake could get you in trouble, since the past tense of “lead” is “led” (with no a). You could be writing in the wrong tense!

Example or Complete List?

Another place you can easily convey the wrong meaning is with “i.e.” and “e.g.” When you use “i.e.” it means “that is” or “in other words.” The proper way to follow “i.e.” is with a definition or complete list. For example: The defendant was charged with illegal stoping, i.e., mining activity. “E.g.” means “for example.” The proper way to follow “e.g.” is with a partial list of possibilities. For example: The motion was denied for bad grammar, e.g., typographical errors and wrong word use. If “i.e.” were used here, we would need to provide a complete list of the examples of bad grammar.

Law or Liberty?

Do you know the difference between a statute and a statue? Statutes are laws. Statues are sculptures. We have statutes of limitations and a Statue of Liberty. Don’t get these confused. You might want to remember the extra “t” for “time” when it’s a statute of limitations, or for “text” when it’s any written law. And you might think of following those statutes to a “T” (or 3)!

Proper Punctuation: Periods and Commas Inside Quotation Marks

To touch on one of the Florida judge’s beefs, periods and commas, in the United States, always go inside quotation marks, even when they are not part of the quotation, e.g., The defendant was arrested for “illegal stoping.” Although there are rare exceptions to this rule, they will probably not appear in legal writing (they are more likely to show up in technical writing). For a detailed discussion of this issue, see my blog posting.

Proper Punctuation: Apostrophes

Many people incorrectly use apostrophes to make plural words. Don’t do it! Did you notice that the plural of apostrophe is NOT “apostrophe’s”? It is “apostrophes”! The plural words lawyers, judges, laws, statutes, DUIs and the 1990s do NOT take apostrophes.

Use an apostrophe “s” to make a singular possessive. The lawyer’s brief was riddled with errors. The judge’s ruling was final.

Use an “s” apostrophe to make a plural possessive. The five lawyers’ arguments diverged widely. All the county judges’ courtrooms contain the latest in audio-visual equipment.

Put your apostrophes in the right place – and avoid annoying the judge.

So Many Chances to Err!

There are multiple ways to make writing errors in legal documents, and I have only covered a few. My most important advice is to proofread and proofread again! Get a second pair of eyes to check your work. If you have grammar questions you want answered, I will answer them to the best of my ability in the comments section of this blog. I look forward to hearing from you…

Happy writing!

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BYU is Most Popular National University – from US News & World Report

March 8th, 2010

Move over, Harvard!  Brigham Young University had the highest rate of accepted offers in the country this year.  This trend is a sign that it’s not just the US News & World Report ranking that makes a school attractive to applicants.

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E-Book Launch! LinkedIn Profile Tune-Up: 17 Tips for a Highly Effective LinkedIn Profile

March 2nd, 2010

I’m pleased to announce that my e-book, LinkedIn Profile Tune-Up:  17 Tips for a Highly Effective LinkedIn Profile, is now live!  I am currently selling it for just $9.95 on my website (valued at $17).

This e-book contains information that no other “LinkedIn expert” covers. I offer 17 strategic tips – from how to get your profile to the top of an Advanced Search, to how to create arrow bullets – AND I provide examples of how to write an effective profile, from your Headline to your Status Bar to your Summary Section and more.

If you want to identify and strengthen any weak points in your LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn Power Tune-Up is a must read. Follow this advice, and you will create a frequently visited — and highly effective — LinkedIn profile.

I also offer in-depth LinkedIn Profile reviews for $75, which you can purchase through my LinkedIn Profile Review page.  You get a FREE copy of the e-book with every review.

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Whether (or Not) – from the Columbia Journalism Review

March 2nd, 2010

Does “whether” stand on its own or does it need “or not” for its full expression?  Whether you think it’s the former or the latter, you will enjoy this explanation from Evan Jenkins of the Columbia Journalism Review.  Whether (or Not)

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Job Seekers – 20 Ways to Brand Yourself on LinkedIn – from reCareered

February 28th, 2010

This article highlights 20 aspects of LinkedIn that are essential for job seekers.  If you are a job seeker, read this article beginning to end, and use it in conjunction with my new e-Book, LinkedIn Power Tune-Up.  The combination will set you up powerfully on LinkedIn to succeed in your job search.  Job Seekers – 20 Ways to Brand Yourself on LinkedIn

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Commas and Semicolons… The Comma (or Semicolon?) Chameleon – by Brenda Bernstein

February 18th, 2010

I wrote this article for Sam Diener’s Stuff for Success at his request.  I hope my tips clear up some of the confusion about those pesky commas and semicolons!  Comma (or Semicolon?) Chameleon

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