Dr. VDec 22, 20201 minOne Verb!This week, we continue to focus on verbs since they express the action of any sentence. Using the proper verbs ensures that ideas have vi...
Dr. VDec 15, 20201 minMore Extra WordsLast week, we used verbs to illustrate extraneous words. However, extra words can include any part of speech, whether verbs, nouns, adjec...
Dr. VDec 8, 20201 minExtraneous VerbsThis week, we return to verb usage. Clearly ensuring that you use the proper verb to represent the action in your sentence is central to ...
Dr. VDec 1, 20201 minVigorous Verbs!In every sentence, verbs express the action being performed in the sentence. Sometimes, this action is active; at other times, the action...
Dr. VNov 10, 20201 minThis...A common word used when speaking and writing is “this.” Too often, people transfer written ways of communicating into their writing. Yet,...
Dr. VNov 3, 20201 minNouns as Verbs?Concise writing can be achieved in numerous ways. The quickest way is to eliminate unnecessary words in a sentence. By nature, certain us...
Dr. VOct 13, 20202 minWriting ProductivityA question I am frequently asked as a writing coach is how to write productively. While I can answer that question in numerous ways, I wa...
Dr. VOct 6, 20202 minBefore You WriteOne of the most critical writing process topics to cover for academic writers is prewriting. This first stage of the writing process, know...
Dr. VSep 29, 20201 minRevision QuestionsAs an editor, I receive countless requests to "edit" documents. Many people don't realize that editing occurs in two forms: content editi...
Dr. VSep 22, 20201 minThe Correct Word(s)Most writers strive to be concise in their documents, which means seeking to express ideas clearly and comprehensively without the extran...
Dr. VSep 15, 20201 minAcademic StyleWhen writing, audience and subject matter are determining factors for the appropriate level of formality to use to create an academic wri...
Dr. VSep 8, 20201 minWrite Percentages Right!Most academic documents include numerical data, especially quantitative focused works. The numerical information is often represented in ...
Dr. VSep 1, 20201 minNo Expletives!The word expletive has more than one meaning. Most people are familiar with its definition as profanity and use as a noun. However, few p...
Dr. VAug 25, 20201 minCommon Writing ErrorsFor the past few weeks, I have been conducting writing webinars at new graduate student orientation for several universities. The excitem...
Dr. VAug 18, 20201 minShift Phrases!An unspoken rule in writing is not to repeat the same word or phrase too closely together in a sentence or paragraph. While this rule isn...
Dr. VAug 11, 20201 minExcessive DescriptionAcademic must writers use adjectives, adverbs and descriptive phrases to paint a clear picture of their research ideas for the reader. How...
Dr. VAug 4, 20201 minConcise Verb UseIn the English language, sentences revolve around the action of the sentence, which is expressed through the verb. At times, writers incl...
Dr. VJul 28, 20201 minRules of NumbersRules for spelling numbers out and writing them numerically vary. Grammar handbooks state that numbers of one or two words should be spe...
Dr. VJul 21, 20201 minToo Many Ands?Writers want to avoid repetition in their documents. Though we need to include articles (a/an) and conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, ...
Dr. VJul 14, 20201 minTricky Subject-Verb AgreementIn sentences, verbs express the action of a sentence while the subject expresses who or what does the action. The subjects and verbs of s...
Dr. V Dec 22, 2020 1 min One Verb! This week, we continue to focus on verbs since they express the action of any sentence. Using the proper verbs ensures that ideas have vi...
Dr. V Dec 15, 2020 1 min More Extra Words Last week, we used verbs to illustrate extraneous words. However, extra words can include any part of speech, whether verbs, nouns, adjec...