5 Things I Learned About Writing from Grammarly

5 Things I Learned About Writing from Grammarly 5 Things I Learned About Creative Writing from Using Grammarly Martin Cavannagh is a writer and member of the Reedsy team. When he's not writing blog posts about publishing, he can be found scrawling short stories and writing screenplays in his free time.Spelling and grammar checkers have come a long way since the early days of Microsoft Word. Back then, we would learn to hate the green squiggly line that appeared under sentences - along with cryptic suggestions for improving your document - to the point where we’d turn off the grammar check to preserve our sanity.One of the most prominent online writing services emerging in recent years is Grammarly. It’s an app that integrates into your browser, allowing it to scrutinize the spelling and grammar in your tweets, Facebook updates, and emails. You can tweak the software to what you’re writing, tailoring it for US or UK English, for example. It will also vary its suggestions depending on whether you’re writing a blog, an essay, or a medical journal.Full disclosure: Re edy has recently become an affiliate of Grammarly - however, that has given us a chance to test drive it for the past month. In fact, this post is currently being checked using their service. And while I doubt automated grammar checkers can replace the job of a proofreader anytime soon - it has had the unexpected benefit of allowing me to examine my writing tics and improve my natural writing style.So, based on my everyday use of the app, this is what I’ve learned in the past month:1. Don’t rely on passive voiceThat's one of the most common ‘complaints‘ I get from Grammarly. And while it isn’t necessary to eradicate all instances of passive voice, it can often improve your writing. One of the most useful things I find with using Grammarly is its constant reminder to get to the point and not get bogged down by wordiness.Long sentences are not necessarily a bad thing, and sometimes entirely required. But as the Grammarly app points out, â€Å"the average number of words per sentence should range somewhere from eight (very easy) to twenty (somewhat difficult) words per sentence. Sentences longer than thirty words are often very difficult to follow.†So unless you’re the ghost of David Foster Wallace, you may wish to break long sentences into a series of shorter ones. Also, by varying their lengths, you can create a much more satisfying reading experience. We’ve heard it said that you should ‘write music’ - meaning that the rhythms and changing pace should be as important as what the words mean.It’s worth noting that Grammarly is incredibly helpful for writing emails and letters. I would go so far as to say it can even aid y ou in polishing a draft of the book you’re writing. I would not, however, recommend using it to write your first draft. Editing-as-you-go can often hamper your productivity and break up the flow of ideas, which is crucial when you’re in the process of â€Å"creating.†And while writing software has become incredibly sophisticated - it has yet to reach the point of being able to replace a professional proofreader. And until we get to that point, it’s always worth considering getting a qualified pair of eyes to look through your manuscript before publication.Do you use a program to help you sharpen your prose? If so, we’d love to find out about it and hear about your experience. Share your thoughts, comments, and questions in the box below.

The Super Easy Guide How to Negotiate a Raise and Promotion

The Super Easy Guide How to Negotiate a Raise and Promotion You’ve put in your time at Company X. You don’t just do the bare basics  like showing up on time, not abusing your lunch and break privileges, and keeping the Twitter scrolling to a minimum–you go above and beyond, day in and day out.  You know how hard you work and what value you bring to the company, and now you’d like to see that in the form of a new title and a salary increase. So what now? How do you go about negotiating a raise and promotion? We’ve compiled some of our best advice on how to negotiate a raise and  a) whether or not the timing is right to ask, b) how to go about making your dreams a reality, and c) what to do if you fail.How to Design a Plan of Attack for Approaching Your BossFirst thing’s first. Are you ready to ask for a raise? And if so, where do you begin? Here are some great places to start if you’re early on in the process:How to Ask Your Boss for a RaiseHow to Get a Raise at Work6 Scientific Tips for G etting a Pay RaiseFirst, you need to be honest with yourself: do you want a raise, or do you deserve a raise? We all want more money and a more prestigious title. But in order to get these bumps, you’re going to have to prove (with concrete examples, with written lists, with references from people you’ve helped, etc.) you’ve earned them. No manager, no matter how cool, is handing out raises like free candy. It’s a big deal that involves a lot of signoffs from people at all levels. So before you go in, ask yourself: Do I really deserve this? And, if so, start planning on how you’re going to prove it.Create a Pitch Your Boss Can’t DenyAs you continue to plan your pitch, you’ll really need to figure out how to articulate your awesomeness in terms that your manager and any other higher-ups can understand. You’ll also have to be ready for all sorts of situations–your ideal might not happen, but they might offer an alternative you’d never considered. What then?6 Strategies to Prove You Deserve a Raise4 Things We’ve Learned From a Redditor’s Quest for Getting a RaiseA Google HR Chief Shares The Secret to Getting Promoted3 Strategies for Getting a PromotionAs easy as it would be, and as much as you know you deserve it, you  can’t just walk in and declare: â€Å"I’d like to make more money,† or â€Å"I think it’s time for a title change.† You need to approach your request with a well-thought-out strategy. And before you go in, think of any and all responses you might get†¦and how you’ll respond to each. Preparation is  key. You deserve it; now prove it.You’re Going to Have to Ask for What You WantJust because, in your mind, of  course everyone knows what a good job your do and of  course if an opportunity were to open up, it would be yours does not make it true! Offices are big places with lots of stuff going on. Your interna l monologue is not real life.5 Myths Stopping You From Getting PromotedAs in real life, in an office everyone is more preoccupied with themselves than what you’re doing. Oh, you stepped in and finished up something that technically wasn’t your gig? That’s awesome and kind, but most people will just be relieved they didn’t have to do it and move on with their lives. Keep a running list of these â€Å"above and beyonds† so you can share it when the time is right. Waiting for someone from higher up to magically bestow you with the promotion you deserve? Likely not gonna happen. You did all the hard work, and how you’re going to have to do the harder work of asking for what you want and proving it beyond a shadow of a doubt.What to do When the Best-Laid Plans FailOf course, things don’t always go as planned. If getting a raise or a promotion were easy, we’d all be rich CEOs. Or, you know, retired. Read the below, dust yourself off, and try again.When You Get Promoted Without A RaiseWhat to Do If You Didn’t Get the PromotionYou’re (hopefully, since you’re a good worker) not going to slack now that you didn’t get what you wanted. Either you’ll put your head down, continue to do the work, and ask again later†¦or put your head down, continue to do the work, and look for a job elsewhere that might appreciate you more or have the funds to give you what you want. If elsewhere is where you want to go, try signing up with TheJobNetwork  to get matched with an ideal job for you and your career path.Just remember–always stay classy and work hard, and your reputation will follow you wherever you go.

American history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

American history - Essay Example The revisions made on the book have been aimed at getting the complete attention of his students and according to him those who have tried reading it find it indispensable. This book provides fresh evidence in each chapter that it contains and also includes other recent research findings that have been made by scholars. It provides details on the wars that occurred between the natives and the colonials in the 18th and 19th centuries. The wars that took place between the Indians and French people have also been detailed by the author. The author has provided information concerning the activities of the Indians and their relations to the settlers who came into the country. Most of the book’s chapters speak on issues that are fundamentally the same though they have been reorganized to become more appealing to the student. This book also speaks about the treatment that different people got for their religious beliefs along with the practices of the protestant denominations existin g in America during the 19th century. In addition, the issue of slavery and a history of the southern part of the country have also been highlighted. The author describes the causes and events that led to the Mexican war, immigrants who came to the country due to the Irish famine and the issues of political machines in American towns. Unlike the previously released editions, this book talks about the racial issues that took place within the country in the 20th century and brought about the rise of civil movements during the 1950’s. Finally, the book provides a history of the country’s social along with culture and an insight into the religious practices of the 20th century. The book by Conlin does not however tell us how the early American history has affected the current lifestyle of the American people. The source confirms the picture of the history of early America by using the findings from the works of other research as information sources. Castillo, P. (2000). Th e American Beginnings to 1877. New York: Prentice Hall. Has the early American history affected the way the country currently relates with other countries around the globe? This book tries to ascertain the American history up to around the year 1877 and highlights other activities that have taken place since then. The author of this book is also a professor and targets students who are undertaking American history. His book provides greater insights into issues like the European exploration of the country and the activities of the colonial period. It also provides details concerning the American Revolution and the early formation of a republic, the country’s constitution and the growing of a youthful nation under the stewardship of Thomas Jefferson. The author has provided insight into the union’s problems and the issues that threatened its unity. This book describes issues concerning the problems that immigrants encountered upon entering the country along with the dif ferent rights that have been accorded to the people. The cultural clashes that occurred when various people were settling on the western prairies, on their great plains and the activities of the populist movements have also been described by the author. This book differs from the book by Conlin since it describes how the new industrial period came into being, the expansion of American industries, railroads and labor markets. The book has also provided insight into the immigrants who were coming into the country, the challenges that the country