Blogging Web 2.0

How to Screw Up With Style

Posted on December 4, 2007
Filed Under Writing, Copy Writing, Guest Blogging | 5 Comments

When it comes to writing, a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous. Even the nicest among us can turn into grammar snobs without much provocation. I know, because I used to be one.

My life as a snob began almost immediately after I started studying copy editing. Look at me, I have information others don’t! Examples of poor writing suddenly surrounded me. Tsk, tsk; those poor misguided writers. And I didn’t stop at the written word. Naturally, it was incumbent upon me to edit the poor grammar of actors in television commercials and movies, along with the occasional radio personality. Too bad these people weren’t actually in my home where they would have been able to take full advantage of my guidance and expertise.

But the problem with knowing everything is that you can’t know everything. After the initial flush of arrogance wore off and I started applying to myself the same high standards I applied to others, I was a little surprised. Hmm, I thought, maybe my writing sucks sometimes. Worse yet, maybe it sucks all the time. It was something to consider.

Over time, I concluded that it’s virtually impossible to have everything I write be perfect. Even if it were — and that’s a huge maybe — there are different writing style guides that dictate varying standards for editorial perfection. (The Chicago Manual of Style and the Associated Press Style Guide are two of the more important ones. Large companies also often have their own editorial style guides.) Each has its own take on what’s right. So, if they differ, how’s the average blogger supposed to know which take on any given issue is correct?

At least from the perspective of this former grammar snob, the answer to this dilemma is three-fold:

1.) Do the best you can to be informed about spelling, capitalization, etc.
There are a variety of good resources for learning about writing. So, to address suggestion number one, you have to find the resources that work for you. Even then, you’ll find differing advice among them. That’s the reason for suggestion number two.

2.) Be consistent, even if you’re wrong.
Consciously choose a style and stick with it. If you don’t know which style is right, pick one that’s comfortable and ride it for all it’s worth. For example, if you prefer writing headlines with an initial capital at the beginning and the rest of the words in lowercase or the even more unusual choice of using all lowercase, do so consistently and boldly. Be aware though, there will be plenty of people who think the style is wrong. If you do it consistently, however, it will look intentional and become your signature style.

A great example of this is a man I knew who refused to use capitals and periods in his e-mails. To me, his messages looked like they were generated by a monkey. He took great pains to enlighten me, however, that anyone who began sentences in capitals and ended them with periods was simply misguided and out of step. But you don’t have to be that bold. You can still choose your own style; just make it one that’s not quite so far out there. And if you’re still concerned, consider suggestion number three.

3.) Relax, because none of it is worth fretting over.
If you’re still plagued by doubts about your writing after you’ve committed to your own style, just relax. That old adage, “Don’t sweat the small stuff; and by the way, it’s all small stuff,” applies to writing, just as it does in life. In the final analysis, it’s much more important to express yourself than it is to express yourself perfectly.

The bottom line: When you write, do it with confidence — even if some of your choices might be perceived by others as wrong. There’s room to get away with just about anything, editorially speaking. Remember, what one person considers inappropriate could just be someone else’s brilliant but misunderstood style choice.

Carla Chadwick

Author of WordPlayBlog