8 More Wondrous Winter Idioms

Feeling under the weather? Walking on thin ice with your vocabulary variety? These idioms will have a snowball effect on your language use this winter. And they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

Take a chill pill

If you’re going to tell someone to calm down, why not do it in rhyme? “Chill” means a feeling of coldness, as in, “there was a chill in the air.” Sometime in recent decades, probably the 1970s, the word also came to mean “relax”—just imagine a hippie flower child flashing a peace sign and saying “Chill out, dude.”

Eventually, “Take a chill pill” emerged. It might have shown up in the early days of ADD and ADHD medications like Ritalin, which were designed to calm hyperactive folks and therefore very logically dubbed “chill pills.” Other sources attribute the origin of the phrase to 1990s slang, specifically, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you’re stressed about the actual origin, we’ve got one thing to say: take a chill pill.

Cold shoulder

If Cher turns her back on Dion, Dion will see Cher’s shoulder. And the act shows dismissal or indifference to Dion, so it’s pretty unfriendly, or “cold.” Boom: an idiom is born.

Some unsavory sources claim that a custom back in Shakespearean times was to serve unwelcome guests a “cold shoulder of mutton”—i.e., not the tastiest meal, and a hard-to-miss sign of “would you be so kind as to get out. Now.” But etymologists are chilly on that origin, tending to favor reports that Scottish author Sir Walter Scott coined the phrase “cauld shouther” in 1816. With that literary proof, you can turn a cold shoulder on the meat story.

Cold turkey

Let’s say you love turkey. You eat it all the time. Then, the doctor tells you it’s bad for you. You better stop eating it—right away. Really? You can’t just slowly ease off it, eating a little less turkey each day until you’re down to none? NO. No more turkey for you.

That’s called “going cold turkey”: abruptly stopping a habit that’s bad for you. People often use this term when they talk about ways to stop smoking or taking a drug, but you can also use it when you’re talking about diet or other habits. The phrase may come from addiction doctors in the 1970s, noting the “cold, clammy feel of the skin during withdrawal,” while its earlier uses (back to the 1800s) have to do with straightforward talk or a sudden occurrence.

(Note: Grammarly is not licensed to give medical opinions about turkey.)

Under the weather

Weather can be nice and sunny or cloudy and miserable. In the case of this idiom, the idea is the latter. If you’re under a raincloud, chances are you’re not going to feel 100% healthy, happy, and ready to party. So if you’re feeling sick, “under the weather” is a way to say so.

If you ever forget, just visualize getting followed around by a raincloud. That should remind you to feel sick. Etymologists believe that the first folks to say it were probably sailors in the 1800s. If you’re feeling sniffly, consider yourself lucky you’re not also on a ship at sea.

In cold blood

“In cold blood” means without mercy or emotion, suggesting that a cruel act was committed in a calculated, unfeeling way. It’s usually used pretty violently: “The victim was murdered in cold blood,” or “Darth Vader killed Obi-Wan in cold blood.”

Etymologists trace the idea to the 1700s or even 1500s. Medicine back then wasn’t exactly what it is now, so people thought that blood got hot in the heat of passion. Therefore, to do something dispassionately was to act “in cold blood.”

If you go on a diet cold turkey, you might feel like you did this to yourself in cold blood. It’s just that painful.

Snowball effect

If something has a snowball effect, that means it might start out small, but keeps growing in importance. Just picture it: a snowball is rolling down a snowy hill, and as it rolls, it gathers more and more snow, getting bigger and bigger. Next thing you know, you’re running from an avalanche.

While an avalanche is usually bad, a snowball effect can be a bad thing or a good thing. You buy an Xbox, and then a trip to Cancun, and then a car, and then go into debt: that string of purchases has a snowball effect on your finances. Bad. One black woman becomes an engineer, and she paves the way for other minorities to get similar jobs, and that creates a snowball effect that leads to equality in the workplace. Good. (Also the plot of Hidden Figures). One person protests a government, the government arrests him, then more people protest, and back and forth until the government makes reforms or gets overthrown. Could be bad or good, depending on the government. But either way, that first person started a snowball effect.

When hell freezes over

Most notions of hell are that it’s a pretty hot place to be. So the chances that it would freeze there? Pretty much zero. “When hell freezes over” is basically a way to say “never.” There are variations on the “freezing in hell” phrase, too. Here are examples of each: “I suppose you think you can go on living on [the Union] till hell freezes over.” —Guy Wetmore Carryl, The Lieutenant-Governor (the first-recorded use of the phrase was in this book in 1903) “My first writing teacher told me it would be a cold day in hell if I ever won a National Board of Review award.” –Terence Winter (writer of The Wolf of Wall Street) “I don’t think the president’s plan has a snowball’s chance in hell of succeeding.” —General James Conway

Walking on thin ice

Again, this one gives a pretty clear mental picture: you go for a walk on a lake that’s iced over, but if the ice isn’t very thick, you might crack it and fall to a shivery doom. It’s a metaphor for being in a situation that might be dangerous or lead to negative consequences. If a kid is whining a lot and refusing to go to bed, her parents might tell her, “you’re on thin ice.” If an employee has been late to work every day for two weeks and is caught asleep at his desk, he’s probably walking on thin ice with his boss. Variations include “treading on thin ice,” “skating on thin ice,” or just “on thin ice.” The idiom’s first recorded use was in 1841: “In skating over thin ice our safety is in our speed.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson, Prudence

The tip of the iceberg

Less than 10 percent of an iceberg’s mass shows up above the water’s surface. That’s why they spell disaster for a fair number of ships, including the famous, Oscar-winning Titanic, which had an accident with the mass that was lurking below. As an idiom, “tip of the iceberg” means a small or visible part of a much bigger issue, and it usually has a negative connotation. For example: Sherlock finds the first clue to a murder, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg in unraveling a grand conspiracy. A classroom is using outdated textbooks because the school can’t afford new editions. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg where funding for education is concerned. On a brighter note, in the musical words of the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma: “I’ve always thought the sound that you make is just the tip of the iceberg, like the person that you see physically is just the tip of the iceberg as well.” That may just be the tip of the iceberg where winter idioms are concerned, but now if you’re put on the spot for a frigid phrase, you’ll have more than a snowball’s chance in hell.

Grammarly Is Now Available for Microsoft Edge 15+

As previously hinted during the recent Microsoft Edge Summit, Grammarly has, in fact, made its way to Microsoft Edge 15+.

Grammarly’s browser extension for Edge will make sure your messages, documents, and social media posts are clear, mistake-free, and impactful. Adding Grammarly to Microsoft Edge means that your spelling and grammar will be vetted on Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr, and nearly everywhere else you write on the web.

Once you register your new account, you will start to receive weekly emails with personalized insights and performance stats (one of our most popular new features). Working on a large project, an essay, or a blog post? No sweat. You can create and store all of your documents in your new online editor.

“Our goal is to help you write everywhere you want to work,” said Grammarly product manager Nicholas Stanford. “Support for Microsoft Edge was a top requested feature from our users. Our users on Microsoft Edge can now bring Grammarly with them.”

Why you should download Grammarly for Microsoft Edge:

Contextual spelling checker

Grammarly detects correctly spelled words used in the wrong context. You can stop worrying about misusing homophones like lose/loose, affect/effect, lie/lay, there/their/they’re, and many other commonly confused words.

Grammar checker

Grammarly can fix hundreds of complex grammatical errors, including problems with subject-verb agreement, article use, and modifier placement, to name just a few.

Trusted by millions of users

Grammarly is trusted by students, writers, business professionals, bloggers, and plenty of people who just want to write better. Grammarly adapts to your needs and writing style, giving you the confidence of mistake-free communication every time you write.

Grammarly Premium

If you want to supercharge your writing performance and leave no error unchecked, Grammarly Premium is your answer. Here’s what you can do with Premium:

• Check for over a hundred additional types of errors
• Get vocabulary enhancement suggestions
• Detect plagiarism and get citation suggestions
• Get suggestions for different writing styles, including academic, technical, and creative

5 Basic Proofreading Habits for a More Productive 2018

Well, here we are, a new year and a clean slate. That’s great news, particularly if you’re still holding onto some embarrassment about an ill-timed typo or grammar gaffe you may have committed in 2017. Fear not! Things can be different in 2018, especially if you commit yourself to developing these five proofreading habits.

1 Make a list of your personal bugaboos.

What trips you up? Maybe you always second-guess yourself about the spelling of acknowledgment. Or maybe you accidentally type the wrong homophone when you’re in a hurry. Perhaps you can never quite remember whether or not to use a comma before and.

Start a list of things you have trouble with and include the correct spellings, rules, definitions, etc. Make sure to keep your list somewhere visible. When you have easy access to the answers, you’re more likely to double-check what you’re writing. And, after a while, you may just find that these snags don’t really trip you up the way they used to.

2 Read it. Wait a minute. Then read it again.

You probably know about this one already, but you may not always do it: before you hit send, go back and read what you just wrote. Check for obvious typos. Make sure no words are missing. Run spell-check.

If you can, walk away and do something else for a little while. Then come back and read it again. The more time that passes between writing and proofreading, the better you’ll be at spotting mistakes your brain skipped over the first time through.

By the way, there’s no shame in tracking the words with your finger when you go back to edit. There’s a reason kids are taught to point at each word when they’re learning to read. Finger tracking forces you to slow down and actually look at each word instead of just scanning for big words and filling in the rest by guesswork and assumption.

3 Read backward.

It may sound kooky, but reading backward is an effective way to spot errors. When you’re not distracted by the meaning of the sentences, it’s easier to spot mistakes in your writing. Start with the last word and work your way forward, word by word, until you reach the beginning. This technique is particularly good for helping you spot repeated words, misspellings, and weird formatting.

4 Change the view.

Do something to make your writing look different. Zoom way in so you can see only one sentence at a time. Change the font. Print it out.

The idea is to make the text feel unfamiliar so that your brain is less likely to fill in gaps and blind you to mistakes. If you don’t have time to let your writing sit for a while before going back to edit, this technique can help you see it with fresh eyes.

5 Read it out loud.

Shut your office door (or hide in a broom closet if you have to) and read your writing aloud. It feels a little silly at first, but it’s one of the best ways to make sure your writing is correct and clear. Take your time and pronounce every word carefully—it’ll help you spot misspellings. Also, try reading each sentence in a flat monotone. Pause only at the commas and periods. Remember, your reader won’t be able to take cues from your facial expression, vocal emphasis, or conversational pauses. Reading your message like a robot can help you spot missing punctuation and wording that might confuse your reader.

Now, get out there and make 2018 the year you vanquish writing mistakes for good!

Do you have a favorite proofreading technique? Tell us about it in the comments!

Ellipsis

What do you call three periods in a row? Take your time, we’ll wait . . .

The Ellipsis

Those three little dots are called an ellipsis (plural: ellipses). The term ellipsis comes from the Greek word meaning “omission,” and that’s just what an ellipsis does—it shows that something has been left out. When you’re quoting someone, you can use an ellipsis to show that you’ve omitted some of their words. For example:

Hamlet asked whether it was “nobler . . . to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles.”

In the sentence above, the words “in the mind” have been omitted from the quote. Occasionally, you might need to leave out part of a quote because it’s irrelevant or makes the quote hard to understand in the context of the sentence. The ellipsis shows that you have left something out.

You can also use an ellipsis to show a pause in speech or that a sentence trails off. This technique doesn’t belong in formal or academic writing, though. You should only use the ellipsis this way in fiction and informal writing. For example:

Andrew, can you, um . . . never mind, I forgot what I was saying. So, do you think we should . . . ?

How Many Dots?

How many dots are in an ellipsis? The answer is three. But, if the ellipsis comes immediately after a grammatically complete sentence, that sentence still needs its own period. So you would end up with a period, plus an ellipsis, which looks like four periods in a row. For instance:

“Call me Jonah. My parents did, or nearly did. They called me John.”

might be shortened to:

“Call me Jonah. . . . They called me John.”

Spacing

Whether you put spaces between the dots or not is a matter of style. The Chicago Manual of Style calls for spaces between each ellipsis point. The AP Stylebook says to treat the ellipsis as a three-letter word, with spaces on either side of the ellipsis but no spaces between the dots. You can use either style; just be consistent throughout your document.

7 Useful Tips on How to Write a Perfect Professional Email in English

It’s an exciting day—your first at a new job. And it’s the kind of gig you could get used to: Sitting in a comfortable chair and handling emails isn’t exactly backbreaking labor, right? But parts of it may not come naturally to you, at least not right away.

Maybe you want the emails you draft to project confidence and control, but are nervous about arranging each part in the right order. Maybe you’re uncertain as to the best way to say hello. Maybe you didn’t grow up speaking English at home; maybe it’s still not the language you dream in.

Whatever the case, you needn’t worry, because with some practice, writing the perfect professional email will start to feel easy, even automatic. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1Greet the person you’re writing to.

It may seem odd to address a stranger on the Internet as Dear, but it’s standard in formal correspondence. Other respectable but less commonplace options include Greetings and Salutations.

When possible, it’s best to put the recipient’s name. Follow it with a comma or colon, as in these examples:

• Dear Chad,
• Dear Mr. Oswald:
• Dear Ms. Picard-Mimms:

If you’re not sure whether a woman you’re writing to is Ms. or Mrs., then Ms. is usually the safer option. Another solid, gender-neutral approach is to simply put the recipient’s full name:

• Dear Alex Lee:

By contrast, the generic Dear Sir or Madam seems impersonal and should be avoided.

2Are you thanking the recipient, or are you responding to a recent message from them? If so, start there.

(If you’re reaching out to a stranger you’ve never corresponded with before, begin the body of your email with Step 3.)

What you choose to write about first tells the reader what you think is important.

If you have something to express gratitude for, you want to do so at the beginning, so it doesn’t feel like an afterthought. Similarly, if you’re already in the midst of a back-and-forth conversation, you want to stay on track and not change the subject. Some examples:

• Thank you for your kind contribution to Red Panda Conservation International.
• Thanks for your interest; my client would be more than happy to chat at the time you suggested.
• The replacement parts you requested for your DeLorean are scheduled for delivery this week.

The key here is to get to the point quickly; you don’t want to keep a busy reader wondering.

3Explain what you’re writing about.

There are two questions you need to answer plainly. What are you hoping to make happen, and how can the person you’re writing help? For instance:

• I’m writing to inquire about your research on how cats groom their coats.
• I’m a local radio producer looking to schedule a live interview ahead of your performance in Oakland next week.
• My architectural firm is in need of expertise on treehouses, and several colleagues tell me your insight is unrivaled.

In stating your purpose, you want to be direct, but not to the point of seeming brusque or rude. If this feels like an awkward balancing act, err on the side of formality. Just as it’s better to be slightly overdressed at work than too casual, it’s usually better for your first email to a new contact to be exceptionally polite.

4Remember to keep it short.

Professional emails shouldn’t be epic in length. Be respectful of your readers’ time, because if they feel your message is unduly long, they’ll likely start to skim.

If a weighty subject requires lengthy discussion, look for better ways to communicate about it than email. Use your message as a way to set up a meeting or discussion, rather than a venue for a dense treatise on the subject.

5Wrap up with a closing line.

Your email should conclude with one sentence that makes your meaning clear and sets up whatever’s next. It might nudge the reader to take action, or be a way of gently winding down the conversation.

• I’ll look forward to discussing this with you further at 11 a.m. Thursday.
• Please look over the draft manuscript I’m attaching, and let me know what revisions or questions come to mind.
• Your guidance has been extremely helpful, and I look forward to being in touch.

Just as your message might’ve begun where a previous email left off, you want this one to end by setting up future correspondence.

6Sign off with an appropriate closing

There are lots of ways to end an email before putting your name, but in the interest of professional decorum, it’s probably best not to get too creative. Many people gripe about distracting email sign-offs like “cheers” and “VR” (very respectfully), so choose one that won’t feel out of place. Some of the most reliable options are:

• Sincerely,
• Yours truly,
• Thanks again,
• Appreciatively,
• Best regards,
• Respectfully,

At this point, you’re nearly done—there’s just one last important step.

7Take a moment to proofread.

Looking back over what you wrote before hitting send shouldn’t be a time-consuming chore: Remember, the ideal email is concise.

Make sure your greeting looks right (nothing feels worse than realizing the name of the person you just emailed was misspelled) and that you say thanks when it’s appropriate. Double-check that any request you’re making is straightforward and easy to understand, but not abrupt or presumptuous.

Also, this is your last chance to catch any subtle typos; we’ve watched more than one email thread jump completely off the rails when someone meant to type “now” but accidentally put “not” instead—as in, “We’re not trying to have the presentation ready by Thursday.” Be vigilant.

Grammarly is here to help.

10 Autocorrect Text Fails You Need to See Right Now

Does your phone’s autocorrect drive you crazy?

Maybe it’s never caught on that you’re “doing well”. . . not “doing we’ll.” No matter how many times you type “gave” it still insists you meant to say “have.” Or it may even think that swapping words like “baked” and “naked,” or “stapler” and “stalker,” is a good idea. (It’s not.)

That feeling when autocorrect does the wrong ‘its’ in a reply to someone with a huge following… pic.twitter.com/gWy8m1zbGl

— Young Moooooan �� (@ThrupennyBit) October 7, 2017

Not cool, autocorrect. Not cool.

Confusing, error-filled messages should not be the de facto norm of smartphone communication (or any type of communication). That’s why we’ve created a mobile keyboard that finally brings the magic of Grammarly to your iPhone—embarrassing texts, tweets, and posts can become a thing of the past.

But first, let’s take a trip down memory lane with these ten hilarious and cringeworthy autocorrect fails.

1“Luke, I am your badger.”

Hey autocorrect, I’m dressing up as “Yoda” for Halloween . . . not “Yoga.”

2Emily? Hello?

Tired of autocorrect sabotaging your romance? Typing on a tiny touch screen is tough, and it’s inevitable you’ll hit some wrong letters along the way. When autocorrect jumps to conclusions about your word choice, the meaning of your message can get even more garbled (and potentially embarrassing).

3Give ’Em the Ginger!

Autocorrect wants me to say I gave someone the ginger so here you go. pic.twitter.com/dAWEE9PVKl

— JoyceEerie������⚰️�� (@quirkisms) October 11, 2017

You deserve accuracy when describing your latest adventures. Which is why we’ve been working hard to develop an improved autocorrect feature for our new mobile app.

4Any Barking Dads on the Loose?

Things can get pretty confusing (and silly) when autocorrect chooses the wrong word.

So if it’s truly not clear which word you meant to type, the Grammarly keyboard will suggest a correction (which you can accept or reject), instead of automatically changing your misspelled word to something totally different. (So long, barking “dads”!)

5It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses a Kidney

Wouldn’t it be great if your message was understood the first time around?

6Sir-Auto-Correct-A-Lot

My banana Fonda don’t want Nuns unleashed you got bunnies hung.

– Sir Auto-Correct-A-Lot

— ..And Justin For All (@Staggfilms) October 20, 2017

Sometimes autocorrect has a life of its own. Fortunately, you don’t have to let Sir-Auto-Correct-A-Lot commandeer your writing. You can take back control.

7“We Hates It, Forever!”

Put an end to the confusion and feel free to express your inner nerd. Our new mobile app recognizes the names of your favorite fictional characters.

8Something’s Gotta Give

i spell something wrong so much that autocorrect doesn’t even suggest the right spelling anymore pic.twitter.com/lh2juQNaNe

— loo (@laoorentubbe) October 10, 2017

The struggle is real. But don’t worry, with hundreds of types of grammar and spelling checks, the Grammarly Keyboard provides accurate corrections and feedback for your common mistakes.

9So Much For Good Parenting…

Okay, it’s time to get a better keyboard! Avoid misunderstandings and show up as your best self at home, at work, and in romance.

10What’s My Name Again?

Stop trying to anticipate what I’m going to say, autocorrect. You are always wrong.

Sincerely, Annex ….I mean ANNETTE

— Annette Christie (@MsAnnetteMC) October 3, 2017

Flawless writing is a beautiful thing. Ready to experience the Grammarly Mobile Keyboard firsthand? Click here to download the keyboard for iOS.

4 Networking Email Templates That Will Get You Noticed

Networking is an artform. When you’re good at it, you become a Michelangelo, finely crafting relationships that will advance your career. But when your skills need work, you’re that guy on the street corner hawking pictures of Elvis painted on black velvet. Nobody responds to that guy’s email.

I’ve been writing and sending networking outreach for twenty years as a business owner, freelance writer, and media relations expert. With each carefully crafted email, I’ve increased my level of artistry. Networking does take work, but the results you’ll achieve by applying that effort are like the difference between a black velvet oil painting and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

First, We Research

Before you begin networking, you need to get a sense of the person you plan to reach out to. In order to not sound like the black velvet Elvis salesman, you need to be authentic. The key to authenticity lies in doing research and learning more about the person you’re hoping to connect with.

Find the person on social media.

The easiest way to research is to look for the person’s public social accounts. Check LinkedIn, for starters. Note the person’s background and professional experience and the recommendations and endorsements they’ve given. Their volunteer activities will help you understand their interests and passions.

Does your potential connection have a Twitter account? The things a person tweets can tell you a lot about her. Less obvious but equally valuable social sites like Quora and Instagram can also help you gain insight.

Lay some groundwork

Lay a little groundwork as you’re browsing public social accounts. Follow your potential contact. Have they shared something interesting and relevant? Like, reply, or retweet. Upvote or comment on Quora posts. Do they write a blog? Post a comment when a blog post speaks to you. We humans like to be noticed.

As you research, look for common ground. Maybe you share the same home state, or you attended the same college. Although it’s not related to professional pursuits, maybe you like the same hobbies, or you both love dogs. These are all things you can use to help break the ice and establish a relationship. You don’t have to be a creeper, just find a few relevant things you can build upon once you make a connection.

Doing some early reconnaissance will allow you to approach your contact in a way that shows genuine interest. We tend to like people who sincerely want to know more about who we are and what we do.

Email Networking Tips

We’ll get to the networking email templates in a moment, but first let’s cover some important tips for crafting an email. There are a few guidelines that email experts agree upon.

• Keep it short. Research by Boomerang (the email productivity app) showed that emails between seventy-five and a hundred words long yielded the best response rates. But the rate of return dropped off slowly after that, so don’t be too concerned if you need more words to get your point across.
• Personalize it. If the stakes are high and getting a response is important, take the time to customize your email so that it doesn’t look like a template. You’re more likely to get a response if your recipient feels that your email was meant for him and only him.
• Use emotion. Boomerang also discovered that emotional language nets better response rates. Instead of writing Would you be interested in meeting for lunch next Tuesday at noon?, write It would be wonderful to chat with you over lunch. Does noon next Tuesday work?
• Don’t ask for anything right away. It’s much better to start with a warm-up if you can. Send a hello and a sincere compliment. Wait until your second email to ask for anything.
• Ask for just one thing. When you do ask for something—whether it’s for feedback, advice, or a meeting—ask for it clearly and confidently. Don’t cloud your email by presenting multiple options or by asking for more than one thing at a time. If getting to your goal will involve multiple steps, ask for step one and wait for an answer before moving to step two and beyond.

Four Networking Email Templates

If you’ve read this far, you already know that you shouldn’t use stock templates for outreach—a personal touch can mean the difference between getting a response and having your email summarily sent to the recipient’s trash folder. But these examples will give you a good starting place so you can craft an email masterpiece of your own.

The Getting-to-Know-You

Hi Lucy,

I’ve been following your blog for a while. Your new post inspired me to finally get in touch. I loved how bold you were in stating that serious writers should look into traditional publishing before going the self-publishing route. The reader comments about this controversial topic were also fascinating to read. Quite the spectrum of opinions!

You communicate with your reader base masterfully. I aspire to do the same with my blog, The Unknown Author, someday. Thanks for showing us how great blogging is done!

All the best,

Charlie

Why It Works:

• It’s personal and offers sincere praise.
• It’s short (85 words.)
• It makes an introduction without asking for anything.
• It uses emotional language (inspired, loved, fascinating.)

The Ask

Hi Lucy,

It’s been awesome to have an email conversation about blogging and your experience on both sides of the publishing industry. I feel like I’ve learned many useful things from you already.

I’m hard at work revamping my blog strategy to boost my pageviews and reader engagement. You’re clearly doing all the right things with Lucy’s Five-cent Blog—I’m so impressed by its popularity and influence! I’d love to meet you for lunch and dig into some serious shop talk. You mentioned that you live downtown. Would you like to meet at Ivar’s at noon on Tuesday?

Of course, I understand if you’re busy. In that case, we can make it another time or just continue the conversation in email.

All the best, Charlie

Why It Works

• It builds on the existing relationship.
• It includes one clear call-to-action (CTA).
• It gives the recipient an option to say no, making her twice as likely to say yes. (A classic copywriting technique supported by forty-two studies.)

The Follow-Up

Hi Lucy,

I got in touch last week to see if you’d like to grab lunch with me to talk about blogging. I didn’t hear from you, but I headed down to Ivar’s anyhow and had some jumbo prawns in your honor!

I’d still love to connect. Is there a time or place that works better for you? Of course, if you’d rather stick to email, that’s fine, too.

All the best, Charlie

Why It Works

• It’s very brief.
• It uses a touch of humor.
• It maintains the “out clause.”

The Thank-You

Hi Lucy,

Thanks again for a great lunch. The food was tasty, but the conversation was even better. I left feeling energized. I’m already mapping out my next steps to revitalize my blog.

Let’s keep the channel open! I sent you an invitation to connect on LinkedIn. Maybe, once I get the new content strategy you helped inspire in place, we can collaborate on a guest post exchange or some other project.

Talk to you soon, Charlie

Why It Works

• Everybody likes to feel appreciated. (Thanks for lunch.)
• Everybody likes to know that their contributions have had an impact. (“I left feeling energized.”)
• It lays the foundation for future collaboration. Networking goals achieved!

Do You Say “Fall” or “Autumn”?

Mixed Constructions

A mixed construction is a sentence with incompatible elements that begins with one type of structure and shifts to another type of structure. In these sentences, the speaker sets out to say one thing and abruptly switches to something else, resulting in confusion.

A sentence that is logical has a subject and a predicate. When a subject is introduced in a sentence, an expectation is set up about the grammatical direction the sentence is going in, and when that expectation is not met, the sentence does not sound right. Take this mixed construction example:

Teachers, a noble profession, involves a lot of patience.

Teachers is not a profession; teaching is. When teachers was introduced as the subject of the sentence, it created the expectation that the rest of the sentence would describe something teachers do or are. The predicate involves a lot of patience takes the sentence in a different grammatical direction, making it a faulty predicate. We could rewrite the mixed sentence this way and it would be grammatically correct:

Teachers have a lot of patience.

However, the original sentence clearly intended teaching, as a profession, to be the subject, and the predicate was intended to show that teaching does indeed require a lot of patience.

Teaching, a noble profession, involves a lot of patience.

Teaching is a noble profession that involves a lot of patience.

Of course, it would also be correct, if a little less elegant, to simply divide the sentence in two.

Teaching is a noble profession. Teachers have a lot of patience!

Sentences with mixed constructions can often be found in first drafts of writing; the writer sets out with a stream of ideas that sound misconnected on a second reading. This is just one of the reasons reading over and editing your writing is always a great idea.

7 Brilliant Tips on How to Proofread Emails

That typo or grammar goof you just made in an email might make a bad impression. It could signal that you lack attention to detail. At worst, it could make you seem less intelligent, conscientious, and trustworthy.

Although email typos happen to everyone, they happen less frequently to those who take a little extra time to proofread. Here’s a foolproof step-by-step guide to getting it right before you hit send.

1 Get your contact’s name right.

Did you spell your contact’s first and last name correctly? It’s important. And, if you doubt that, think of the last time you got an email from someone who got your name wrong. At the very least, you probably groaned or rolled your eyes. We get annoyed when people misspell our names because we assume they don’t care enough about us to pay attention to that basic detail.

If you’re uncertain about the spelling of your contact’s name, do a little research to see if you can come up with it via Google or social media. If all else fails, use a generic greeting like “Hi there” that doesn’t use a first name.

Here’s a tip: Make sure you’ve spelled business and website names correctly, too. It’s even a good idea to double-check how the name is formatted. Is it Buzzfeed, Buzz Feed, or BuzzFeed? (Hint: It’s the last one.) Little details do matter.

2 Check your tone.

Does your email sound cold or terse? It might. Often, what sounds fine in our heads doesn’t come across well in text. When you don’t stop to review and proofread your email before you send it, you risk being misinterpreted.

The trick here is to apply some empathy. Clear your head and imagine you’re receiving your email rather than sending it. Does anything you’ve written sound negative or even hostile? There’s a big difference between “I’m looking forward to chatting with you” and “I’ll be expecting your call.” One is friendly and positive; the other sounds as though you’re saying “You’d better call or else.”

3 Make sure you’ll be understood.

Make sure your recipient has enough details to understand what you’ve written. Remember that you and your recipient may not have all the same information—the things you understand aren’t necessarily things your recipient will know. Reread your email with this in mind and fill in the blanks as needed.

Here’s a tip: If you find yourself giving too much background information, take a step back and rethink your strategy. You may want to start with a simple “just the facts” approach that leads into a more involved discussion. For instance, instead of breaking down a multi-step plan in a long, complex introductory email, you might first write a quick summary and ask your contact whether they’d like you to share more details.

4 Check for clarity.

Make sure what you’ve written reads smoothly and conveys your precise meaning. Look for unclear pronoun references.

Scan your emails for words like it or they and then make sure your text conveys what those words refer to. If not, rewrite to replace those pronouns with something concrete.

When we hold it directly after the keynote, it always has good attendance.

Hold what after the keynote? What has good attendance?

When we hold the copywriting workshop directly after the keynote, the workshop always has good attendance.

Better. But we can rewrite to simplify the sentence and avoid repeating the word workshop.

The copywriting workshop always has good attendance when we hold it directly after the keynote.

Keep your sentences simple and direct. Emails written at a third-grade reading level have significantly better response rates. Long, complex sentences and big words can make your text more challenging to read for a busy person who’s rushing through emails. Do consider your audience, however. If you’re writing to a doctor of sociology to ask for an interview, go ahead and use lush language and more complex structure. Otherwise, make “simple is better” your default.

5 Watch out for wordiness.

Part of simplifying your text involves streamlining it. Eliminate filler words and phrases. Get rid of adverbs and use stronger verbs. (Instead of incredibly happy, try overjoyed, thrilled, or ecstatic. Instead of ran swiftly, how about dashed or sprinted?)

Consider George Orwell’s six rules of writing:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figures of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.*

*About Orwell’s rule #6, see our rule #2.

Here’s a tip: Grammarly Premium will help you find overused words and filler words. As you become more aware of your use of filler words, you’ll automatically use them less often. Win!

6 Proofread carefully.

Up to this point, we’ve been talking about proofreading in the broader terms of a developmental edit. Now, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty and proofread line-by-line. Have you spelled everything correctly? Did you use the proper homonyms? (Did you type “There going to the festival” when you meant to type They’re?) Is your punctuation on point?

An app like Grammarly will help you catch and fix your errors. But keep in mind that it’s a tool to enhance your proofreading ability, not replace the need for proofreading altogether. The advantage of using a proofreading app is that every mistake the app catches will teach you something about your writing and ultimately make you a better writer.

7 Sit on it.

Some emails need a while to simmer, especially if they’re sensitive. Let’s say you have to write an email to report the inappropriate conduct of a coworker, or you have to draft a performance review for someone whose performance hasn’t exactly been stellar. Emotion can make you write things you’ll later regret.

Draft your email in your word processor rather than your email client so you’re not tempted to send it impulsively before you’ve given it a thorough review. If you’re able to hold off for a bit, sit on that email for a day before sending it. When you reread your email in the light of a new day, you’ll often find things to revise, especially in terms of tone and clarity.

Here’s a tip: When it’s critical to deliver an error-free email that won’t be misunderstood, it may be helpful to have someone else (particularly someone impartial) look over your draft.

At the very least, make sure the unsend feature is enabled in your email client. (Here’s how to do it in Gmail.) The few seconds of time it will buy after you’ve hit Send will occasionally rescue you from being owned outright by a glaring typo. I once received an email with the subject line “This learning toy made my child crap with glee!”

I’m pretty sure that’s not what the sender meant.

Quiz: Do You Practice Good Email Etiquette?

Email has transformed the way we communicate. However, just because it’s easy and quick like many other kinds of digital communication doesn’t mean you should skip all forethought about how your message is received—literally and figuratively.

Email etiquette matters, especially as email increasingly becomes our more formal mode of communication. Take this quiz to find out whether you’re a master of email manners or you have some schooling left!

Do you need to brush up on your email manners? Here are our top email tips.

4 Ways to Find Writing Inspiration and Finish Your Work

Just a page. Just a paragraph. Just a word.

When you have a case of writer’s block, you’d take anything, any progress to get the creative juices flowing again. But it can seem like the well’s run dry.

Overcoming a creative block is a process. Sometimes the fog suddenly lifts, but more likely you will have to work until the sun shines again. It will take some willpower. Part of that process is understanding what causes writer’s block and the scientific ways it can be improved.

What Is Writer’s Block and Why Is It Happening to Me?

Creative blocks of all kinds are prolonged periods of being unable to create or being deeply unsatisfied with the quality of your creative output.

These difficult periods are usually temporary, often reflect emotional or mental state changes, and are characterised by unhappiness, lack of motivation, and limited creativity. Research by Michael Barrios and Jerome Singer, two Yale University psychologists, showed that writer’s block derives from four mental roots: anxiety/stress, interpersonal frustration, apathy, and anger/disappointment. The logic works out this way:

• Writers blocked by anxiety or stress are usually hampered by self-criticism.
• Writers blocked by interpersonal frustration worry about the comparison with others—good or bad.
• Writers blocked by apathy seem to have truly run out of ideas and are unable to find inspiration.
• Writers blocked by anger or disappointment most often are searching for external motivation or reward.

Now with this understanding, you might be balking at the idea that there is some deep-seated emotional trauma you need to work on or that writers suffering from a creative block must schedule time with a therapist.

It’s not like that at all.

First, writer’s block can pop up during times of change and doesn’t necessarily reflect a profound mental or emotional crisis. Second, further research by Barrios and Singer showed that while mental and emotional states seem to block creativity, creativity unblocks such states. Art itself can be therapy.

So, what can you actually do about writer’s block? It turns out that science and experienced writers have come to the same conclusion:

Focus on creative exercises of all kinds to get your writing mojo back.

Activities to Boost Creativity and Stop Writer’s Block

1 Just write.

Experts agree that one of the best things you can do to unblock your writing is to keep writing, even if it’s painful and terribly boring stuff.

“When one feels writer’s block, it’s good to just keep putting things down on paper—ideas, knowledge, etc.”

—Scott Barry Kaufman, Wired to Create

Maya Angelou said the same:

“What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’”

—Maya Angelou

In fact, many professional writers insist on writing No. Matter. What.

2 Try something else creative.

Just because you’re blocked in one creative art doesn’t mean you can’t stimulate your brain with other artistic ventures. Art can serve as a form of therapy, so why not try your hand at something new? Drawing, building, and singing are all easy ways to get inspired. Inc.com has compiled a helpful list of creative outlets for you to try in thirty minutes or less.

Go ahead. Try something. We’ll wait.

“If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to ­music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don’t just stick there scowling at the problem. But don’t make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people’s words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient.”

—Hilary Mantel

3Get moving.

Creative output nearly doubles when you’re walking versus sitting. It’s still not clear whether it’s the increased blood flow that helps or the change of scenery. Nevertheless, physically getting out can help get your mind out of the box.

4 Build your creative confidence.

Increased confidence is particularly helpful for people who are concerned with criticism—their own or other people’s. David Kelley has some helpful thoughts for silencing the critics (or at least turning the volume down) and learning to trust yourself again.

. . .When we track them down and ask them what’s going on, they say something like, “I’m just not the creative type.” But we know that’s not true. If they stick with the process, if they stick with it, they end up doing amazing things. And they surprise themselves at just how innovative they and their teams really are.

—David Kelley

In fact, TED, has a great creativity playlist to wake your inner creative genius and unblock your writing.

Regardless of the cause of your writer’s block, all writers can succeed with some creative development and a dose of determination.

What kind of writing block do you identify with? What techniques help you write more and be more creative?

11 Tips to Clean Up Your Dirty, Wordy Writing

Get out the pruning shears: a big part of good writing is good editing. And a surefire way to give your writing a confidence boost is to eliminate words that weigh down your writing and make you sound uncertain.

We call these weasel words. Like weasels, they’re not necessarily bad on their own. In fact, they’re kind of cute. But weasels are known for escaping situations (ever heard of someone “weaseling out” of something?). Plus, if you’re a rabbit, they’re deadly.

Weasel words won’t kill you (or rabbits). But you’ll still be safer if you avoid them. So give your writing a confidence boost with these tips for cleaning up your writing.

Get rid of these dirty habits

1 Weasel words Specifically, weasel words are qualifiers that might make you sound sort of like you’re not sure of yourself. Or maybe like you’re trying to create a little wiggle room. For example:

• Like
• Sort of, kind of
• Maybe, perhaps
• Might, can

Let’s try that again. Weasel words are qualifiers that make you sound unsure of yourself, like you’re trying to create wiggle room.

Don’t get us wrong: in some cases, you need these words. But if you want to convey an idea or make an argument, remove words that make your readers think of slimy politicians trying to avoid stating something directly. Maybe it can make a difference.

No, really: it makes a difference.

2 Adverbs Like weasel words, adverbs aren’t evil on their own. They’re like seasoning: a little goes a long way. Who wants pasta with more pepper on it than cheese?

Stephen King wrote in his book On Writing:

The road to hell is paved with adverbs.

We’re not going to bring devils and brimstone into the picture, but we do strongly recommend that you seriously think about taking out the adverbs, unless you actually need to significantly modify an idea.

Oh look, it happened again. Here’s that sentence without the padding: we recommend taking out the adverbs unless you need to modify an idea. Stronger, right?

Here are some of the most common do-nothings in the adverb world:

• Actually
• Basically
• Currently
• Presently
• Really
• Suddenly
• Very
• Seriously

When you catch yourself using one of those words, read the sentence to yourself without it. If it doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence in a significant way, axe it.

3 “There is” and “there are”

There is nothing more boring than a sentence that starts with “there is.” In other words, sentences that start with “there is” are boring. In other words, write interesting sentences. Constructions that start with words like “it,” “here,” or “there,” followed by a form of the verb “to be” fall into the category of empty filler words.

Instead, try to start with yourself or a subject—or better yet, a verb—to focus on the action and the idea. After all, there are so many interesting writing styles out there. Er, that is, emulate interesting writing styles to keep your prose powerful.

Replace these signs of weakness

1 Excessive Punctuation

Sure: sometimes a colon, semicolon, or other fancy punctuation—dashes, for example—can help you get a point across; it’s elegant and convincing.

But often, shorter sentences are better. If your writing feels weighed down by long sentences crammed with lots of punctuation, try taking out some of the extras in favor of sentences that are short and sweet.

2 Too many negatives

Yes, that goes for your mood, but it also goes for your writing. If you’re finding lots of instances of “shouldn’t,” “can’t,” “don’t,” and other variations of “not” in your writing, try to diversify by picking a verb that doesn’t require the word “not.”

For example:

You shouldn’t use negatives in your writing.

Vs.

Use positive words in your writing.

Now there’s a boost to your writing style and your mood.

3 Excessively fancy words

Fancy words are fun. They make us feel smart. They remind us that we took the SAT, and despite the tribulations of the egregious experience, passed with equanimity and aplomb.

It’s a bit much. Sure, a 50-cent word here and there can help you convey ideas precisely—for example, “with equanimity” is a lot more specific than “doing a good job and staying calm.” But don’t just toss in the big guys to make yourself sound smart. Your writing will be clearer and more powerful if you use them sparingly. After all, you can have too much of a good thing.

4 The word “thing”

Really, just destroy that thing.

Pretty much every time you use the word “thing,” you could pick another word that is more specific and precise.

Take these examples:

I’m trying to strengthen my writing with things that sound better to an audience.

Vs.

I’m trying to strengthen my writing by gearing my style toward a target audience.

See? Rewriting can be a powerful thing.

Follow these key rules

1 Make verbs stronger

In other words, strengthen your verbs. That just about covers it.

2 Think about icebergs

You know, the tip of the iceberg. It’s an idiom that means a small or visible part of a much bigger issue, and it’s how Ernest Hemingway thought about writing as a whole. Here’s the idea in his words:

If a writer of prose knows enough of what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an ice-berg [sic] is due to only one-eighth of it being above water.

The metaphor: the dignity of writing is also due to slashing what you want to say down to what you need to say. Maybe one-eighth sounds extreme, but even if you have a different fraction, the rule stands: show, don’t tell, and if you’re showing, show it in a shorter way. Whether you’re writing fiction, nonfiction, or something that defies definition, it’s a good rule of thumb.

3 Listen to George Orwell

In an essay called “Politics and the English Language,” he defined six rules of writing. If they worked for the author of 1984 and Animal Farm, they may just work for you. Here they are now:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

There you have it: keep your writing simple, brief, active, free of clichés, and to the point.

But Orwell gives you a little bit of leeway: if something sounds “outright barbarous” (in simpler terms more in line with his own rules: brutal, uncivilized, or bad), you might just have permission to break these rules. Which leads us to our final guideline:

4 Use your own best judgment

These rules will help you maintain clean, clear prose that argues, convinces, or portrays efficiently and powerfully. But there are always exceptions: sometimes a grandiloquent word best serves your purposes, or the word “thing” really comes in handy. You don’t have to treat these rules like a religion, but if you keep them in mind when you’re polishing your writing, you’re likely to have a more powerful product. Even the weasels can’t argue with that.

Behavioral Interview: 11 Questions and Answers You Need to Know

During your job interview, your prospective employer is likely to ask you some behavioral questions. Unlike job-related questions that focus on past performance, behavioral questions help the employer get a better feel for who you are and how you’ll carry yourself on the job.

Here are some of the common behavioral interview questions you can expect, with advice and examples to help you answer them.

Ability to Work and Play Well With Others

1Tell me about a time you had to work closely with someone whose personality or work style clashed with yours.

It’s okay to be honest here, but don’t bash your former colleague. It’s important to show that you can be flexible and overcome challenges.

“I had a supervisor who was ultra-creative, and so he had a creative person’s impulse-driven approach to projects. I need more structure, so we worked together to develop an Asana project where he could add creative input when inspiration struck, and I had a central place for project notes to keep me on task.”

2Talk about a time when you made a mistake that affected a colleague. How did you handle it and what was the outcome?

The employer wants to see that you own your mistakes rather than mounting a defense or deflecting blame. Admit something you did, and explain how you corrected the mistake.

“I contacted a lead that my colleague was already working with and ended up taking his sale. When I caught the error, I realized that I’d forgotten to check the client database before reaching out to the lead. I apologized to my colleague and split the commission with him. Then I put some measures in place so that I’d always remember to check the database before getting too enthusiastic about client outreach.”

3Let’s say you need something important from a coworker and that person isn’t responding. How would you deal with this?

It’s important to show that you’re persistent and able to follow through. Just be careful not to give the impression that you’d be unreasonable or belligerent.

“Things fall through the cracks sometimes. I’d follow up with my coworker by email or Slack, and if that didn’t work I’d check in with him personally. If the problem grew to a point where it was going to be detrimental to the project, I’d ask a supervisor for an assist.”

Time Management Chops

4Tell me about a time when you had to manage multiple responsibilities. How did you handle that?

If you’re a great multitasker, you may be tempted to brag. Resist the urge. Instead of trying to make yourself sound like a superhero, try showing your capacity to learn.

“My partner left for a new job right in the middle of a major project and her responsibilities fell to me. It was a huge challenge! I spent a day prioritizing the project steps and created a timeline for keeping everything on track. I ended up putting in some extra hours, but the project was completed by deadline.”

5Let’s say you’re working on a major project and you’re in the weeds. How do you find your way out?

We all end up in the weeds now and then, so don’t blow off this question by saying it’s never happened to you. Even the most productive rockstar can think of a time when things went south.

“I’ve worked hard to get good at time management, so I’m usually in good shape. But I did once get overwhelmed when I was working on my department’s annual report. I had too much information to compile, and I was overthinking it. I called in a couple of my colleagues to help me sort and prioritize, and we got the report finished on time.”

Professionalism and Client-Oriented Skills

6Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer service.

Saying that you go above and beyond every day is a cop-out. Think of a story you can relate here that will demonstrate how much you care about providing great customer service.

“We were preparing to give a video presentation to a potential new client when I learned that someone on their team was deaf. The presentation was scheduled for the following morning, so I stayed late captioning the video so she’d be able to experience it. The client was impressed by our attention to detail and we landed the account.”

7We all deal with difficult customers from time to time. Tell me about a challenging client-facing situation and how you handled it.

The employer wants to see that you can keep a calm head when difficult situations arise, so share a narrative that shows your ability to resolve conflicts.

“We had a customer who complained frequently and was becoming hostile toward customer service reps. I did some investigating and discovered that our CS agents were repeating the same templated scripts to him and he felt as though his complaints weren’t being heard. I helped devise an escalation system so that this endless CS loop wouldn’t happen again. Then I contacted the customer personally to apologize and thank him for helping us find and fix a glitch in our process.”

Flexibility

8Sometimes we have an all-hands-on-deck situation that may require everyone to work extra hours. How would you handle that?

Like it or not, we’re working more hours these days. Although you don’t want to become a slave to the office, if your prospective employer has asked you this question, you can be sure she’s going to need you to be a team player.

“I try to keep a good work/life balance, so I’d do my best to help my team meet project goals during working hours. That said, crunch times happen. I’m dedicated to putting in the extra hours when they become necessary.”

9Everyone starts somewhere. Talk about a time when you were new on the job and had a lot to learn. How did you manage that?

Here’s your opportunity to show that you’re eager to learn and keep learning.

“I love being a newbie! It’s exhilarating to learn new things. When I was new to marketing, I immersed myself in the many great blogs, video presentations, and books available about current trends. In fact, I still do that. Things change rapidly in this industry, so I make a point to stay informed.”

Aspirations and Values

10I’m interested in how you recharge when you’re not working. What do you do with your downtime?

Try to mesh your leisure activities with the company’s values, which you will have researched before your interview. Let’s say the company has an active, energetic culture. Talk about your most active leisure pursuits. If the company has more traditional values, talk up things like volunteer activities.

“I love to recharge with a good long hike on the weekends. Your company culture webpage said that your company went on a team-building kayaking excursion last year. I’d definitely be on board for something like that!”

11Give me an example of how you set goals for yourself.

The employer wants to know that you’re focused on goals and what process you use to achieve them. Prepare an example that illustrates the steps you took to accomplish something in your career.

“When I wanted to move from staff writing to content management, I started by breaking that goal down into manageable steps. I looked for an entry level position where I could learn the ropes for a couple of years. I worked hard, went to workshops and conferences, and was promoted in my department within the first year. Now I’m here, ready to take it to the next level!”

Colon

A colon introduces an element or series of elements that illustrates or amplifies the information that preceded the colon. While a semicolon normally joins two independent clauses to signal a close connection between them, a colon does the job of directing you to the information following it.

Many people are confused about using colons, but their function is actually quite straightforward. Think of it as a flashing arrow that points to the information following it. When a colon appears in a sentence, it usually gives the silent impression of “as follows,” “which is/are,” or “thus.”

There are three types of muscle in the body: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.

The colon in this sentence signals that you are about to learn the names of the three types of muscles the sentence already mentioned. We might silently read the sentence this way.

There are three types of muscle in the body (and they are): cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.

Colons are often used with lists, as in the example above. They can also be used to signal further clarification.

We have two options here: stay and fight, or run like the wind.

One might silently read this as:

We have two options here (and they are as follows): stay and fight, or run like the wind.

Colons can also introduce a quotation:

He ended with the immortal words of Neil Young: “Rock and Roll can never die.”

Colons Separating Independent Clauses

A colon can be used to separate two independent clauses when a) the second clause is directly related to the first clause (not just vaguely related) and b) when the emphasis is on the second clause. While you can also use a semicolon or a period between two independent-yet-related clauses, the colon is a little softer than the period, but a little harder than the semicolon.

A dolphin is not fish: it is a warm-blooded mammal.

The research is conclusive: climate change is a reality.

In British English, the word following a colon is not capitalized unless it is a proper noun or an acronym. In American English, styles differ, but it is best to capitalize the first word after a colon if what follows forms two or more complete sentences.

I have several plans for my immediate future: First, I’m going to win the lottery. Second, I’m going to buy a unicorn. Third, I will marry Brad Pitt.

Misuse of Colons

A colon should not separate a noun from its verb, a verb from its object or subject complement, a preposition from its object, or a subject from its predicate.

To illustrate, here is one of our sentences from above rewritten incorrectly.

The three types of muscle in the body are: cardiac, smooth, and skeletal.

Putting the colon here separates the verb are from its subject complements (cardiac, smooth, and skeletal).

When I graduate, I want to go to: Rome, Israel, and Egypt.

The colon should be removed from this sentence because it separates the preposition to from its objects (Rome, Israel, and Egypt). To write this sentence correctly, the colon should be removed.

When I graduate, I want to go to Rome, Israel, and Egypt.