8 tips and tricks to improve your writing in just 8 minutes
The English language is full of quirks that can trip you up – and when you’re writing for business, mistakes can cost you sales.
These simple tips will stop you falling flat on your face.
Tip 1
A lot, as well, thank you, no one and all sorts are all two words.
(Unless you happen to be writing about Liquorice Allsorts, which – let’s face it – is unlikely.)
Tip 2
Don’t use here’s (here is: singular) or there’s (there is: singular) when you mean here are or there are: plural.
“Here are tips”, not “here’s tips”.
Tip 3
Too means also (“can I come, too?”) or excessively (“that’s too loud”).
To indicates direction (“I’m going to London”) or shows the infinitive form of a verb (“I’m going to have some lunch”).
Two is always a number.
Tip 4
It’s usually wrong to say you have two choices – you have one choice, with two (or three, or ten) alternatives.
Tip 5
An ellipsis is always three dots – no more, no less (and never a random number just to fill a gap).
Tip 6
Stop confusing you’re and your.
You’re is short for ‘you are’.
Your means belonging to you.
“You’re driving to town in your car.”
Tip 7
Blame pronunciation for this one. Saying could’ve, would’ve, and should’ve often leads to writing could of, would of, should of – which is wrong.
Always write could have, would have, should have.
Tip 8
Use fewer for things you can count, and less for things you can’t. Less food = fewer calories.
Ditto number (for things you can count) and amount (for things you can’t).
No more confusing words!
The Little Book of Confusables is jam-packed with simple, memorable, fun spelling tips for 600 commonly confused words – from ACCEPT + EXCEPT to YOUNG + YOUTHFUL.