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Ronald Sires and
Michelle Baker are now friends 5 years ago
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years ago
The word “orient” is a verb meaning “to become accustomed to one’s surroundings.” The word “disorientated” is an adjective means “not accustomed to one’s surroundings.” The verb “orientate” was mistakenly formed from the adjective. It is a longer (and a useless and a more irritating) form of the verb orient.
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Dovell Bonnett and
Michelle Baker are now friends 5 years ago
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years ago
Dominant is an adjective meaning “having greater strength or numbers.” Dominate is a verb meaning “to be in control of.” The two sound similar, so editors should be aware that writers from oral traditions may confuse them.
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 1 month ago
Lists, including bullet points, should be presented in parallel structure, meaning all items should be in the same grammatical form. Sometimes that means we have to search our vocabulary banks.
X Current literature clearly indicates that authentic leaders have qualities such as being positive, optimistic, and self-assured, and possessing moral…[Read more]
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 1 month ago
“Effect” is most often used as a noun meaning “the result produced.” (The effect of the damp on his asthma was to make it hard for him to breathe.)
“Effect” also has use as a verb, when it means “to bring something into being.” (Through their tireless efforts, the NGO effected a change in policy.)
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 1 month ago
“Affect” is most often used as a verb meaning “to produce some result.” (The damp affected his asthma and made it hard for him to breathe.)
“Affect” also has use as an intransitive verb (without a direct object), when it means to “act as if, to adopt an air, or to pretend.” (She affected a superiority he neither felt nor possessed.)
Fi…[Read more]
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 1 month ago
Writers will sometimes use the word “impact” to substitute for “affect” or “effect.” The words are not exactly synonymous. As a synonym for result, “impact” carries the negative connotations of being strong and bad. “Impact” also has the secondary meaning of being hit with physical force.
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 2 months ago
Did you know that all government writers, except public affairs specialists, should use the Government Printing Office Style Manual to keep their documents consistent? The GPO, as it’s commonly called, contains guidance on everything from capitalization and commas to presentation of numbers. Check it out!
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 2 months ago
Are you using one space or two between sentences? The Government Printing Office Style Manual, 2.49 says that one justified space should be used between sentences in all government publications.
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 2 months ago
Today’s Daily Writing Tip: Differentiate Between the En Dash and the Em Dash
The two marks of punctuation look similar, but one is slightly longer than the other, and they each have specific uses. Government writers should check out the Government Printing Office Style Guide Manual 8.60-8.75 for a complete list of correct uses. For a more general…[Read more]
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 2 months ago
Today’s Daily Writing Tip: Differentiate Between the En Dash and the Em Dash
The two marks of punctuate look similar, but one is slightly longer than the other, and they each have specific uses. Government writers should check out the Government Printing Office Style Guide Manual 8.60-8.75 for a complete list of correct uses. For a more general…[Read more]
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Michelle Baker started the topic Daily Writing Tip 2-15-2016 in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 2 months ago
Hi everyone – Michelle Baker here, founder of Conservation Writing Pro. I’m contributing to GovLoop as a guest blogger for the first quarter of 2016, and I thought you might appreciate a daily writing tip as well.
Let me know if you have specific grammar questions. I’m happy to address them here or in a future blog post.
One of the three uses…[Read more]
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Michelle Baker and
Shayna Carney are now friends 5 years, 3 months ago
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Michelle Baker joined the group
Science Communicators in Government 5 years, 3 months ago
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Michelle Baker joined the group
Federal Communicators Network 5 years, 3 months ago
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Michelle Baker joined the group
Training and Development 5 years, 3 months ago
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Michelle Baker joined the group
Internal Communications 5 years, 3 months ago
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Michelle Baker joined the group
Plain Language 5 years, 3 months ago
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Michelle Baker replied to the topic Writing Training in the forum Miscellaneous 5 years, 3 months ago
Hi Janna -I see you’re from the DHHS. I have not worked with your agency, but I would be willing to talk with you to determine what your needs are.
Lori – given my specialization in conservation writing and environmental scientists, we would probably be a good fit. I would welcome the chance to talk with you at your convenience.
Currently, I…[Read more]
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