The KellyGram

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COMMON WRITING MISTAKES

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Several weeks ago, my friend and National Speakers Association colleague Beth Terry was kind enough to send me an article posted by editorial consultant Pat Holt in her Holt Uncensored blog. It's titled "The Ten Mistakes: The Mistakes Writers Don't See But Can Easily Fix When They Do."

Her article contains some excellent information on areas where writers often go wrong, including: repeated words; empty adverbs; the "to be" words; awkward phrases; and comma usage. It's too long an article to include here, but you'll find it on the web at http://www.holtuncensored.com/hu/the-ten-mistakes/. It's definitely worth checking.

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WACKY NEW WORDS!

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My friend and colleague Gary Foster, a consultant specializing in the publishing industry, writes an excellent publication called The Foster Letter. In a recent issue, he included a list of "The Top 10 newly coined words compiled from various sources by Cramer-Krasselt," and originally published in Marketing Daily, as follows:

Luxcession: v. - As the economy continues to hit consumers' wallets and affect their purchasing choices, many mass-class luxury items are also taking a hit.

Dotcomrade: n. - A friend or acquaintance you met online but have never met in person.

Greenwashing: n. - The practice of bogus environmental marketing.

Info Snacking: v. - Wasting time at work by surfing the Web.

Blacking Out: v. - To turn off any device by which people can reach you (cell phone, two-way, computer, home phone, Morse code, etc.) in order to avoid someone.

Compunicate: v. - To chat with someone when you are in the same room, each on separate computers, but you talk via Instant Messenger instead of speaking to them out loud.

Defriend: v. - To remove somebody from your established list of contacts, considered the ultimate snub on the social network.

Generica: n. - Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where you go, such as strip malls and fast-food places.

Mouse Potato: n. - The online generation's answer to the couch potato.

Googleganger: n. - Another individual with the same name as you whose records and/or stories are mixed in with your own when you Google yourself.

Gary, by the way, hangs his hat in Van Wert, Ohio. You may email him at gary@garydfoster.com, or visit his web site at www.garydfoster.com.

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EGG ON MY FACE

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In each of the last two issues, I've recommended visiting wordsmith.org and subscribing to an ezine titled A.Word.A.Day, published every weekday by Anu Garg. My recommendation hasn't changed but, in the January issue, I referred to Anu as a woman. Several readers were kind enough to inform me that Anu is a man, and I thank them for taking the time to write. I've been trying to figure out why I assumed otherwise, but I can't. I do apologize for the error.

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SMILE AWHILE

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The following is a list of newly published books, many of which seem certain to become best sellers:

• The Lion Attacked, by Claude Yarmoff
• The Art of Archery, by Beau N. Arrow
• Songs for Children, by Barbara Blacksheep
• Heart Surgery in Ireland, by Angie O'Plasty
• School Truancy Trends, by Marcus Absent
• I Was a Cloakroom Attendant, by Mahatma Coate
• Positive Reinforcement Techniques, by Wade Ago
• Things to Do at a Party, by Bob Frapples
• Just Stop Arguing, by Xavier Breath

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ODDS AND ENDS

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Answer to Fun with Words:

The correct answer to this month's puzzle is "none of the above." It's actually the title of a book, written by one Steve Alton and published in 2007 by The Penguin Group. Aimed at children, this literary gem is subtitled: "A deliciously disgusting plop-up guide to the digestive system." And, having looked at Chewy, Gooey, Rumble, Plop!, albeit briefly, I'd say "disgusting" is right on target, while "deliciously" is really a stretch.

I suppose that, in this day and age, where TV commercials (typically shown at mealtimes) describe in graphic detail virtually every bodily function, a book such as this shouldn't surprise me. But it certainly is a far cry from the books of my long-ago childhood, such as The Rover Boys and the Tom Swift series.

As promised, CGRP describes, in pop-up and fully illustrated detail, the journey our food takes, from the time it enters the body until it makes its exit. Perhaps it's good for our young-uns to learn such things, so I guess I shouldn't be too critical. In fact, I may just go ahead and recommend Chewy, Gooey, Rumble, Plop! for a Phew-litzer Prize.

And, who knows? Maybe some enterprising producer will turn it into next season's blockbuster film. If so, I'd suggest a different title; Winnie the Poop comes to mind.

Enough said. Gotta …..go!

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THE LAST WORD

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"Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!"

(Thomas A. Edison)

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© 2009 by Bob Kelly. All rights reserved.