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July 3, 2001
DESIGNING A WEB SITE
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Many writers take their wares to the World Wide Web, or Internet. As the craft of Web writing continues to evolve, it may be a good idea to follow some basic guidelines in preparing your document for a global audience.
1. Web writing in general is designed for a broad reading audience, unless you limit reader access. Keep potential readership in mind as you prepare materials, considering these factors, when applicable: age, gender, education level, interests, and purpose. Remember that unwanted or unplanned readers may be able to access documents. Employers sometimes randomly check their employees' e-mail without warning.
2. Use appropriate graphics. Too much glitz can turn off certain readers, while too much text can have the same effect. Use images that suit your topic and enhance, rather than compete with, your text. Many sites use multimedia to capture reader attention.
3. Write effective text. Many Web documents use small chunks of information like those typically found in business letters--two or three sentences per paragraph.
4. Edit your work before posting it on the Web. Omitted or incomplete data, errors, or a site that is not updated frequently is unlikely to attract many readers. Remember that Web writing highlights your topic, and poor or careless writing casts a negative light on your Web site.
5. Do not post confidential information that can be used indiscriminately.
6. Consider consulting a Web design expert if you want to create a site that will have a significant impact on your career or personal life.
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CHECK OUT OUR "SEARCHABLE" INDEX
Subscribers to GrammarCheck can search past issues of GrammarCheck for topics of interest at
http://www.grammarcheck.com/archives
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SPELLING OR WRITING TIP
Difficult verb constructions cause many of us to stumble or to conjugate them incorrectly. Here are a few to test your knowledge. Conjugate each in past tense and past participle:
EXAMPLE:
shake/shook/shaken
OTHERS:
shoot
show
steal
stick
swear
swim
think
win
(Look for answers in our next issue!)
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NEW WORD OF THE WEEK:
QUAFF (KWAF) verb: to drink with abundance
Bill quaffed the wine at dinner.
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: I am glad that I have started to understand the importance of using correct grammar when replying to e-mail and letters, especially to the public.
I've been sent by my company to quite a number of writing courses, but have never had the feeling of great improvement until I read through your Grammarcheck. That's where I find that beside the skill of writing, grammar also is important in letters and e-mail.
Is there any way that I could improve more in this area? I enjoy reading; does this hobby help me to boost my grammar skills? Could you advise me on other ways to improve?
Thanks for your golden advice. Good day to you!
Regards,
Sally
GRAMMARCHECK: Thanks for your upbeat letter! We're glad you find the newsletter helpful.
Reading English in all forms--business documents, fiction, and print media--can help you improve grammar skills. You may want to visit your local bookstore and pick up a grammar workbook for extra practice. You're on the right track--keep up the good work!
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QUESTION: Which is correct?
Your merchandise was shipped to you yesterday; you should be receiving it by Thursday or Friday.
-or-
Your merchandise was shipped to you yesterday, you should be receiving it by Thursday or Friday.
And why?
GRAMMARCHECK: Your first version using the semi-colon is correct because the second version contains a comma splice. Both parts of your sentence are independent clauses--either could stand alone if necessary:
Your merchandise was shipped to you yesterday.
You should be receiving it by Thursday or Friday.
But since you've chosen to combine them, you must use either a semi-colon, which you have done in the first version, or you must use a coordinating conjunction, preferably with a comma:
Your merchandise was shipped to you yesterday, SO you should be receiving it by Thursday or Friday.
(You also could use AND as the coordinating conjunction.)
We would eliminate a few words to refine your statement as follows:
Your merchandise was shipped yesterday; you should receive it by Thursday or Friday.
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QUESTION: Thank you for providing grammar skills via e-mail. I appreciate it! I have two questions.
1. What is the difference between using "also" and "too"?
2. Is one of the following more grammatically correct than the other?
a. She trained herself not to hear the highway noise.
b. She trained herself to not hear the highway noise.
Thanks!
GRAMMARCHECK: In response to your first question, 'also' and 'too' can be used interchangeably when you want to indicate an addition.
Jacob will come, too.
Jacob will come, also.
But keep in mind that 'too' has another meaning of "excessive" as in the following:
Karen is too proud.
As for your second question, the first version is correct because you should not split the infinitive 'to hear' in the sentence.
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QUESTION: As an editor, writer, and lover of the English language, I applaud your efforts to keep the English language pure and sacred, for language is just that.
I must, alas, agree with a former letter writer who questioned your often lax attitude toward what is acceptable English. More and more I read on your site, "Well, it's often this way, but we see it more often that way" or "The latest trend is this..." or some similar hogwash.
Understanding that language is an ever-changing, growing phenomenon, if we don't protect the basic groundwork of our language, it will quickly erode into the horrendous mishmash of the uneducated (or, more likely, language-lazy) user. The Internet is cancerous with examples. Please, please, help others from eroding the language. There are RULES. Let's stick to them. Otherwise, what use is a grammar site like yours?
GRAMMARCHECK: We really do sympathize with your perspective, but our mission (see beginning of newsletter) is to highlight the overlap between correct and contemporary English usage. The unfortunate thing is that not all the grammar books agree! Some say one thing, others, another. We view our role as promoting current and proper grammar use, which may not always fall into line with what some grammar books say or what some writers actually do. That's just the fluid nature of grammar.
William Shakespeare "invented" numerous new words, and look how famous he is for NOT remaining a purist! There are many others of lesser fame who've taken the same route.
If you would like to send us examples of where you feel we've skipped over hard-and-fast rules, we'll be happy to review them and be certain to apologize if we've truly let you down. Thanks for writing.
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QUESTION: I've been receiving my Grammar Check newsletter for a couple of months and it has always been very useful. My native language is Spanish but I am an ESL instructor in a border town in Mexico. Although I've been teaching for five years, I have many doubts about grammar so I really appreciate all the things I learn from your issues. I already printed the lesson about "Transitions" and can't wait to share it with my class!
About the teacher in Peru--I noticed my students had the same problem and I prepared a list of topics for them to do presentations for their monthly partial exams. It has been a great success. Sometimes when the topic is interesting, for instance, "Fortune 500 Companies," they prepare beautiful displays and we invite their parents to listen to their presentations. I have about 30 students in each classroom, so I do the research first and give them a list of the most attractive names that they are familiar with, like Coca Cola, Exxon, Nike, McDonald's, Wal Mart, Warner Brothers, Microsoft, etc. They choose one, do the research on the Internet, write a summary, do the visual aids and study their topic to do the oral presentation.
I choose topics about literature, music, geography, history, and so forth, so that they have a chance to use a different vocabulary each time and increase their cultural awareness as well. With the "Fortune 500," they speak about the history of the company, slogans, advertising, products, revenues, etc.
If you are interested in my list, I would gladly share it with you in return for the free service you are giving me, which I really appreciate.
GRAMMARCHECK: Thanks for writing--we appreciate your kind words! We've taught ESL--in fact, a staff member is preparing a class for Asian students in July--and we realize how challenging it can be to find suitable topics. Please do share your list and we will post it to help other teachers of ESL students. Thanks for sharing your expertise. And your English looks great; we'd never know from your e-mail that you're a non-native speaker!
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