Kris Spisak's Blog, page 39

Writing Tip #147: “I couldn’t care less” vs. “I could care less”

You know who could care less? This little guy. But. It’s. So. Hard… Squirrel!

Hint: if you’re talking to a writer or editor, even on social media, try hard to get this phrase right. Heck, if you’re talking to anyone, it’s worth knowing the difference.

If you couldn’t care less about something, that means that you already care so little about the subject that it’s impossible for you to be interested in it even less than you already are. I couldn’t care less about calculus. Or glittering vampires. Or most forms of reality tv. (Sorry, but it’s true).

If you could care less about something, then that means that you do indeed care about it. You maybe aren’t singing it from the rooftops, but there’s room for less interest. And maybe you are singing it from the rooftops; that’s possible too.

This is a writing and speaking tip really. I have faith you can get it right. I’d say I couldn’t care less if you do, but I just do. I really, really do.

The post Writing Tip #147: “I couldn’t care less” vs. “I could care less” appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Wednesday Writing Tip #146: “I couldn’t care less” vs. “I could care less”

You know who could care less? This little guy. But. It’s. So. Hard… Squirrel!

Hint: if you’re talking to a writer or editor, even on social media, try hard to get this phrase right. Heck, if you’re talking to anyone, it’s worth knowing the difference.

If you couldn’t care less about something, that means that you already care so little about the subject that it’s impossible for you to be interested in it even less than you already are. I couldn’t care less about calculus. Or glittering vampires. Or most forms of reality tv. (Sorry, but it’s true).

If you could care less about something, then that means that you do indeed care about it. You maybe aren’t singing it from the rooftops, but there’s room for less interest. And maybe you are singing it from the rooftops; that’s possible too.

This is a writing and speaking tip really. I have faith you can get it right. I’d say I couldn’t care less if you do, but I just do. I really, really do.

The post Wednesday Writing Tip #146: “I couldn’t care less” vs. “I could care less” appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Writing Tip #146: Empowering Every Sentence (i.e. not starting with “It was…”)

Not since “It was a dark and stormy night,” has “It was…” been a recommended start to a sentence. And, really—if we’re getting down to it—the famous Edward Bulwer-Lytton quote could have been stepped up a notch.

Just think about the difference between “it was a dark and stormy night” and “the stormy night was dark.” The switch is a simple one, but suddenly, the line is more direct and a bit ominous.

A writer could (and should) take it further, practicing the old advice of show don’t tell. This exercise might lead to a more evocative sentence still: “The storm crashed through the night, blackening out the windows of the few night-owls that remained.” Do you see how this line doesn’t simply use the adjectives “dark” and “stormy”? It builds an image for the reader. And as I’ve said before, when it comes to building images, the more specific, the better.

Sure, I’m just fooling around with this line, but the take-away is all about starting a sentence with “it was.” What does this “it” even stand for? If you don’t know, you can do better.

Before you finalize any project—be it a manuscript, an essay, a business document, or dare I say a Facebook post—do a quick search for the phrase “it was.” Nine times out of ten, you can rewrite these weak lines with something more powerful.

Challenge accepted?

The post Writing Tip #146: Empowering Every Sentence (i.e. not starting with “It was…”) appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Wednesday Writing Tip #145: Empowering Every Sentence (i.e. not starting with “It was…”)

Not since “It was a dark and stormy night,” has “It was…” been a recommended start to a sentence. And, really—if we’re getting down to it—the famous Edward Bulwer-Lytton quote could have been stepped up a notch.

Just think about the difference between “it was a dark and stormy night” and “the stormy night was dark.” The switch is a simple one, but suddenly, the line is more direct and a bit ominous.

A writer could (and should) take it further, practicing the old advice of show don’t tell. This exercise might lead to a more evocative sentence still: “The storm crashed through the night, blackening out the windows of the few night-owls that remained.” Do you see how this line doesn’t simply use the adjectives “dark” and “stormy”? It builds an image for the reader. And as I’ve said before, when it comes to building images, the more specific, the better.

Sure, I’m just fooling around with this line, but the take-away is all about starting a sentence with “it was.” What does this “it” even stand for? If you don’t know, you can do better.

Before you finalize any project—be it a manuscript, an essay, a business document, or dare I say a Facebook post—do a quick search for the phrase “it was.” Nine times out of ten, you can rewrite these weak lines with something more powerful.

Challenge accepted?

The post Wednesday Writing Tip #145: Empowering Every Sentence (i.e. not starting with “It was…”) appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Writing Tip #145: Until vs. Till vs. ‘Til

Quick, think fast. Which of these three is the oldest form of the word?

Have your answer?

Are you sure?

I’ll be honest. I assumed the wrong answer for a long time, and this assumption lead me to dark, ungrammatical places. Not so scary, perhaps, but not a place any writer wants to be.

Okay, ready?

The first known use of “till” in its present meaning of “up to the time when” was before the 9th century. That’s right: “till” is the oldest of the three words. “Until” didn’t arrive until the 12th century, combining the known “till” with the prefix of “un” (or more specifically the Norse “und”) in the same manner that brought us “unto” (a bit outdated, but Shakespeare would approve).

In the present day, of course, “until” is considered the standard. Using “till” or “‘til” is considered more casual. Somewhere, we’ve gotten it into our heads that ‘til is the proper abbreviated form of “until,” but this is a newer, not universally accepted form. It seems logical, sure, but the double-Ls win the day.

In your writing, I recommend “until” in most situations, but know that when you want to use a shorter form, “till” is the way to go. This is one of those respecting our elders moments, I think.

Now who had that answer right?

The post Writing Tip #145: Until vs. Till vs. ‘Til appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Wednesday Writing Tip #144: Until vs. Till vs. ‘Til

Quick, think fast. Which of these three is the oldest form of the word?

Have your answer?

Are you sure?

I’ll be honest. I assumed the wrong answer for a long time, and this assumption lead me to dark, ungrammatical places. Not so scary, perhaps, but not a place any writer wants to be.

Okay, ready?

The first known use of “till” in its present meaning of “up to the time when” was before the 9th century. That’s right: “till” is the oldest of the three words. “Until” didn’t arrive until the 12th century, combining the known “till” with the prefix of “un” (or more specifically the Norse “und”) in the same manner that brought us “unto” (a bit outdated, but Shakespeare would approve).

In the present day, of course, “until” is considered the standard. Using “till” or “‘til” is considered more casual. Somewhere, we’ve gotten it into our heads that ‘til is the proper abbreviated form of “until,” but this is a newer, not universally accepted form. It seems logical, sure, but the double-Ls win the day.

In your writing, I recommend “until” in most situations, but know that when you want to use a shorter form, “till” is the way to go. This is one of those respecting our elders moments, I think.

Now who had that answer right?

The post Wednesday Writing Tip #144: Until vs. Till vs. ‘Til appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Writing Tip #144: Regard vs. Regards

Of course, the argument could be made that “in regard to” is business jargon that could be replaced with “about” or “concerning” for a better effect, but that’s another discussion.

Regarding “regards” or “regard,” remember that the singular form of “regard” is proper in phrases such as “with regard to,” “in regard to,” and similar forms. This seems to be a loose rule these days, since it’s found incorrect so often—even in edited material—but if you’re looking for a straight right-and-wrong answer, there you go.

The plural form of “regards,” is correct in signatures and sign-offs such as “best regards” or “warmest regards.” It’s also the proper form when you’re “giving your regards”—to Broadway or anyone else.

This was a great question that came in recently, and I’ve appreciated the recent messages on grammar notes. If anyone has any other word usage quandries, let me know!

The post Writing Tip #144: Regard vs. Regards appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Wednesday Writing Tip #143: Regard vs. Regards

Of course, the argument could be made that “in regard to” is business jargon that could be replaced with “about” or “concerning” for a better effect, but that’s another discussion.

Regarding “regards” or “regard,” remember that the singular form of “regard” is proper in phrases such as “with regard to,” “in regard to,” and similar forms. This seems to be a loose rule these days, since it’s found incorrect so often—even in edited material—but if you’re looking for a straight right-and-wrong answer, there you go.

The plural form of “regards,” is correct in signatures and sign-offs such as “best regards” or “warmest regards.” It’s also the proper form when you’re “giving your regards”—to Broadway or anyone else.

This was a great question that came in recently, and I’ve appreciated the recent messages on grammar notes. If anyone has any other word usage quandries, let me know!

The post Wednesday Writing Tip #143: Regard vs. Regards appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Writing Tip #143: “Up and Adam” vs. “Up and at ‘em” vs. “Up and Atom”

If you’ve always thought the expression goes back to Adam and the Garden of Eden, it’s time to know the truth.

Is the expression Biblical in origin? Abbreviated? Scientific? I have seen all three forms of this one written, and I could almost see a logical argument for each version; however, only one is correct.

To clear up the confusion, “up and at ‘em” is the proper form, as in “up and at them.” The colloquial idiom means, in essence, “it’s time to get moving.” It has nothing to do with Adam’s existence in or out of Eden, and it has nothing to do with quantum physics.

Exactly how long the expression has been used is unclear, but records show its usage at least as far back as letters by Katharine Mansfield (1919) and beyond that by a general at the Battle of Waterloo (1815).

When you say it, you don’t have to know the spelling, but when you write it, precision is essential. Unless you’re going for a witty pun (The Up and Atom Chemistry Department Softball Team?), it’s time to get “up and at ‘em” right.

 

The post Writing Tip #143: “Up and Adam” vs. “Up and at ‘em” vs. “Up and Atom” appeared first on Kris Spisak.

Wednesday Writing Tip #142: “Up and Adam” vs. “Up and at ‘em” vs. “Up and Atom”

If you’ve always thought the expression goes back to Adam and the Garden of Eden, it’s time to know the truth.

Is the expression Biblical in origin? Abbreviated? Scientific? I have seen all three forms of this one written, and I could almost see a logical argument for each version; however, only one is correct.

To clear up the confusion, “up and at ‘em” is the proper form, as in “up and at them.” The colloquial idiom means, in essence, “it’s time to get moving.” It has nothing to do with Adam’s existence in or out of Eden, and it has nothing to do with quantum physics.

Exactly how long the expression has been used is unclear, but records show its usage at least as far back as letters by Katharine Mansfield (1919) and beyond that by a general at the Battle of Waterloo (1815).

When you say it, you don’t have to know the spelling, but when you write it, precision is essential. Unless you’re going for a witty pun (The Up and Atom Chemistry Department Softball Team?), it’s time to get “up and at ‘em” right.

 

The post Wednesday Writing Tip #142: “Up and Adam” vs. “Up and at ‘em” vs. “Up and Atom” appeared first on Kris Spisak.