Grammar and spelling help

I proofread, write, and copy edit for clients. Because I spend so much time immersed in words, I am very aware of incorrect spelling and grammar.

I had to learn to read in a new way (and not subconsciously proofread) when I first tried Twitter. Creative spelling is a necessity when one has much to say and only 140 characters in which to say it. Now I truly appreciate both the amount of useful information that is shared and the succinct manner in which it is conveyed.

However, grammar and spelling are still important. Teachers desire correct, well-written answers. Employers want exceptional people whose words and deeds reflect positively on the company. Clients seek expert problem-solvers they can trust. All of these people may determine how right (or how right for them) you are within seconds based on how you express yourself. If you are unsure of your choice of words or correct spelling, check the better writing tips at AskOxford.

Pass it on but…

Ever receive an e-mail and think, “Can this possibly be true?” Check it out at Snopes.com. They give truth ratings (true, false, multiple truth values, undetermined) as well as the history behind the e-mail.

 

I just received the S.T.R. (Smile, Talk, Raise both arms) e-mail. According to Snopes, this test for stroke was presented at the 2003 International Stroke Conference. While successful in a small study, this has not been endorsed by the American Stroke Association who says stroke warning signs are:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes 
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Know the signs and save a life. Know your facts and pass them on.

ABCs of business

My ABCs of business include

Add value

Be positive

Care

Demonstrate integrity

Encourage

Forge relationships

Give

Have faith

Invest in your business and yourself

Jump at opportunities that appeal to you

Keep it simple

Listen more than you speak

Mentor others

Never return evil for evil

Operate in the black

Plan ahead

Quit spending time on non-edifying activities

Relax and have fun—love what you do

Spend time on what matters most to you

Trust your instincts

Understand others and yourself

Value people more than money

Widen your horizons

Xpect the best from others

Yield to the wisdom of others when you don’t know

Zealously do what is right

 

What is on your list?

How green are you?

Lots of people “think green” on St. Patrick’s Day. Being only a tiny bit Irish by marriage, I tend to equate green with gardening. Today is the day to plant spring’s crop of green peas in the region where I live. Green shoots of hyacinths and daffodils are making a welcome appearance as they poke through the gray mud of winter. Very healthy-looking green weeds are also making their presence known.

 

Spring gardening reminds me of all the energy-saving projects I can still complete while waiting for warmer weather and longer days outside. Determine the energy efficiency of your home or business with this low impact living tool and their impact calculator. Check out the suggested projects and make this your most energy-efficient year ever.

National Pi Day

It’s official. By an act of Congress, March 14 (3.14) is National Pi Day. What are you going to do to celebrate?

 

·         Have donuts, pancakes, or cookies for breakfast. Round things are even better when you remember that pi is a math term describing a circle’s circumference compared to its diameter.

·         Go for a 3.14 mile walk (to work off breakfast) and look for pine trees.

·         Invite friends over for a potluck dinner of round foods or foods cut in round shapes.

·         Enjoy some pineapple, pizza, and pies of all kinds (apple, berry, cream, peach, pecan, pumpkin, even moon pies).

·         Have a pie eating contest.

·         Rearrange your furniture in a circle and play games. Play circle games like Duck Duck Goose.

·         Test your memory and see just how many decimal places of pi you remember.

Organize your home office

It’s Organize Your Home Office Day according to Chase’s Calendar of Events 2009. This is the plan of action I would suggest.

Clear off your desk but leave the essentials: computer, pens, something that brings a smile to your face (a picture? chocolate? music?) and sticky notes. Find a new home for everything else. Put it all in a big box if you have to. If a year goes by without a need for the items in the box, please take the box and its contents out to the trash.

Next, rearrange the furniture. Position your desk at a 90 degree angle to your windows to reduce glare on your computer screen which causes eye strain. Establish a clear work flow by creating project areas. Put related items in close proximity: paper near the copier, current client folders in a file cabinet under your desk, shipping supplies near your fulfillment center, etc. Place the items you use often within easy reach.

Add some personality. I love to use color to organize my work visually with file folders, sticky notes, binders, and Outlook category colors. The comfortable chair with a view of the pond is also essential for my writing spot. You may choose to file everything away in cabinets or bookcases or decide to keep piles of paper within easy reach according to your own personal system. Make your home office a place where you enjoy spending time.

Don’t forget your wall real estate. Add bulletin boards, planners, white boards, calendars, memo boards, and cork boards to capture what is important to you. Slip important scraps of paper into an acrylic frame until you can deal with them, making sure they are not out of sight and out of mind. You can use a glass-topped desk for the same purpose.

Use the over-and-under organizational principle to cut down on clutter. Store seldom-used items under desks or tables, over cabinets or bookcases, under the stairs, up in the attic. Sit back and enjoy the rest of Organize Your Home Office Day.

What organizational tips work best for you?

Spring forward this weekend

Sunday March 8, 2009 marks the start of daylight savings time here in the United States (check http://www.timeanddate.com for times elsewhere). Use this checklist for adjusting your clocks at work and home:

Wall clocks in office and at home

Wrist watch

Alarm clock

Travel alarm

Clock radio

Computer and peripherals

Cell phone

MP3 player

TV

DVD player

Sound system

Microwave oven

Stove

Automatic coffeemaker

Automatic timers on lights

Programmable thermostat

Car console

GPS

Medical equipment

Indoor/outdoor thermometer or weather station

Listing of time zone difference (-5 GT versus -4 GT) on Web Contact Us page

Blog

Social media profiles

Conference call set up menu

Forums and groups with time stamped messages

 

Did I miss one of your clocks?

The snowy day list

Is a snowy day a welcome interruption or an unwelcome disruption to your routine?

 

Besides spending unexpected time with family, here are some of the things I appreciate about a snowy day:

·         the hush before snowplows and cars get on the roads

·         the laughter of children granted a reprieve from school

·         the dull gray of winter blanketed in pristine white

·         the breathtaking beauty of glistening snow when the sun finally comes out.

 

I also appreciate The List—those special activities that are best on a snowy day like cross-country skiing, sharing hot chocolate and fresh-baked cookies, curling up with a good book. By knowing what I want to do, I can be prepared to make the most of the time I have. Surprisingly, a list can also be a day-brightener when one is stranded in an airport due to weather-related cancellations.

·         Carry a list of people or places you would need to call about a change in plans.

·         Keep a reading list and actually read.

·         Start a list of article, blog, e-zine, press release, social media, or tutorial topics you would like to create.

·         List all the reasons you have to be thankful.

 

What is on your list to help you make the most of a new day?