Saxum|PR

The Red Pen is Mightier Than the Sword

January 21st, 2010 by Lisa Janssen. Posted in Tips and Tricks

As one of the resident editors at Saxum Public Relations, I’m often asked how I find answers to all the grammar, style, spelling and punctuation questions I’m confronted with on a daily basis. I wish the answer were simple, but my knowledge comes from a variety of sources, most of which are situated between bookends on my desk or bookmarked in my favorites.

With so many books, search engines and other resources available for solving writing riddles, it’s helpful to find a few tried-and-true options to keep in your back pocket.

Here are a few of the best resources (print and online) that I’ve found for improving writing skills:

AP Stylebook- An oldie, but a goodie. I don’t mean to be sacrilegious, but this book was my bible in college. Determined to be the best editor in my class, I tagged popular entries in my book with post-its, circled, highlighted and otherwise mauled my once-pristine copy. I used to read it for fun. That’s how nerdy I was/am. Since then, I’ve graduated to an online subscription, which allows for quick searches for stylebook entries.

Working with Words- Originally a college textbook for a news editing class, this is one I decided I had to keep, and I’m glad I did. Also tagged with post-its, my favorite sections include usage, which explains such popular mishaps as the difference between they’re, their and there and an entire section that tells you if a word is one word, two words or hyphenated. That section is my personal favorite for quizzing my office mates, which I’m sure they love.

Grammar Girl- Another online resource I frequently cite is Grammar Girl. She is one of many characters on the Web site, Quick and Dirty Tips, and she provides easy-to-understand tips for better writing. Not only does she provide really useful grammar tips, but the other Web site characters give advice on how to find the best deals, what to do when your dog doesn’t listen and how to keep your child from sucking his thumb. This site can teach you everything you need to know in life. Seriously. Sign up for her e-mails to get a daily dose of advice, become a fan on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @grammargirl.

The Oatmeal- While not a regular grammar resource, this site produced possibly the funniest comic I’ve read in a long time- “10 Words You Need to Stop Misspelling.” Just enjoy that one.

There have never been more ways to connect and find answers than there are now, which is great news for grammar gurus and novices alike. For more AP Style and grammar tips, you can follow me on Twitter @lisajanssen.