8 Things You Should Really Delete from Your LinkedIn Profile

There’s a lot you can do to make your LinkedIn profile shine. You list your greatest achievements. You make connections. You take the time to write a great LinkedIn summary.

But for everything you do to make your profile stand out from the crowd, there are a lot of mistakes to avoid on LinkedIn, too. Whether you’re looking for a job or just giving your LinkedIn profile its monthly polish, here are eight problems to avoid.

1 Lies

We all know that lying is bad, and lying on a resume can be especially dangerous.

It goes without saying that you should delete any fudged details. And fudging them accidentally is no excuse. Even if you mixed up your dates of employment or wrote “associate” instead of “assistant” because you hadn’t had your coffee yet that day, not being honest and not being detail-oriented are both red flags for LinkedIn recruiters. Take what Angela Ritter, a recruiter at Grammarly, has to say:

“I pay attention to detail in candidate LinkedIn profiles. I double check that the job title in their intro matches the job they are currently in, that they took the time to outline what they’re doing in their role (at least slightly), etc.”

There you have it: no lies and no mistakes.

2 Posts better suited for Facebook

Vacations. Parties. The world’s most adorable dogs. No matter how perfect those pups are, LinkedIn is not the place. As a rule, pictures and posts related to your personal rather than professional life should be reserved for Facebook, Instagram, and other more socially oriented social media platforms.

If you’re looking for a job, you might want to be careful what you post on those platforms, too. Take a look at social media mistakes to avoid while you’re job-hunting.

3 That high school babysitting job

In general, skip professional experiences from a long time ago or that aren’t relevant to your current career.

However, if a long-ago or seemingly unrelated job helped you develop skills that you want to showcase at your new job or specifically highlight in your interview, you might think about how to spin it, rather than just pressing delete. According to Nicole Williams, Linkedin’s Connection Director:

“You never know—maybe you were trained as a salesperson at The Gap in high school, and the hiring manager looking at your profile went through the same program and wants you for the skills she knows you learned.”

4 The wrong photo Was your photo taken ten years ago? Are you making a goofy face? Is your S.O. in the photo with you? Or—social media gods forbid—are you not in the picture at all, and it shows your dog, cat, baby, iguana, or nothing at all?

Williams shares an analogy:

“It’s a lot like when you’re selling a house. If there’s no photo, it’s like ‘there must be something wrong with this property.’”

No picture is bad, but selfies and vacation photos are also better left to more social social media. Your best bet is to pick a picture in which you’re smiling and looking at least somewhat professional.

5 Company secrets

You want to show off that you brought in millions of dollars of revenue for your company last year. But your company might not want that number floating on the web. Keep specific numbers off public sites—save them for your resume or in-person interviews.

6 Unexciting accomplishments

It’s the quality-over-quantity argument. You may be really proud of that award you won in high school, but unless that was still relatively recent or you have a specific reason for showing it off, it’s smart to remove stale achievements.

As with professional experiences that are irrelevant to your current career, accomplishments that don’t demonstrate appropriate qualifications for your future job end up looking like filler rather than highlighting how great you are.

7 Overused words

Creative. Effective. Problem-solver. Yawn. Some words are used so much they don’t seem to mean anything at all.

Pick your words wisely. Other words show up a lot but will give you a boost: leader, strategic, solution, and innovative are LinkedIn standouts, according to a Grammarly study of language on LinkedIn. Ritter says:

“These kinds of terms help recruiters easily search and find qualified candidates on LinkedIn. Having common business language on your profile is important, but you have to be prepared to talk about your expertise with those terms. ”

8 Bad style

Yes, there’s a style for LinkedIn. It involves consistency, conciseness, and knowing the right words to use. Read up on writing mistakes to avoid in your LinkedIn profile, and grab some extra tips for updating your LinkedIn profile like a pro.

Being smart about what you delete and what you include can help you make an impression, make yourself look good, and make LinkedIn your ally.

Check out Grammarly’s LinkedIn data study for more pro tips.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Your Writing

A few years ago, author Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, became a New York Times Bestseller. Kondo, a Japanese consultant who helps people get organized, detailed her KonMari method of decluttering in her book. We wondered if her principles could be applied to writing and found that they work just as well for creating clean copy as they do for creating a clean habitat.

“In Japan,” writes Kondo, “people believe that things like cleaning your room and keeping your bathroom spick-and-span bring good luck, but if your house is cluttered, the effect of polishing the toilet bowl is going to be limited. The same is true for the practice of feng shui. It is only when you put your house in order that your furniture and decorations come to life.”

Here are some great tips inspired by Kondo’s book to help you declutter your writing and make it come to life.

Tidy by Categories

It’s hard to figure out where to start editing when you look at your writing as a whole, but if you break it down into categories things become a whole lot easier. Kondo’s book will help you clear out a cluttered closet and find a new home for that blender you never use. In writing, instead of taking out the garbage, you’ll be sweeping away the extra verbiage. Finding incidences of some of the words below might be as simple as using your word processor’s “find” feature (ctrl + F or cmd + F), sorting through your finds, and deciding what to dump.

Slash weasel words

Weasel words are qualifiers. They can make your position seem weak or ambiguous, as though you’re trying to create a little wiggle room. Say what you mean! Slash words like: could, can, like, may, might, virtually, up to, as much as, believe, and possibly. You may need a qualifier every now and again, but more often than not you’ll find yourself able to cut them without changing the meaning of what you’ve written. In fact, your writing will be stronger and you’ll sound more confident. How will you know you’ve used a weasel word? If you sound like a politician trying to smooth over a public relations disaster, you’re on the right track.

Toss out very, really, and other empty words

Renowned newspaper editor William Allen White said, “If you feel the urge of ‘very’ coming on, just write the word, ‘damn,’ in the place of ‘very.’ The editor will strike out the word, ‘damn,’ and you will have a good sentence.” Editors disdain the words very and really, so it only stands to reason that you should pitch them out when you’re cleaning up your draft.

You may find you have a tendency to use adverbs to amplify weak adjectives. Instead of saying that death metal concert was “really loud” you could say it was “ear-splitting.” That good-looking salesman may be “very cool,” but why not describe him as “suave” instead? Better yet, especially if you’re writing fiction, do your best to eliminate adjectives that tell readers how to feel. Invoke feelings through narrative, instead.

Just like very and really, there are plenty of other words and phrases in the English language that, more often than not, aren’t necessary in clean writing. When you find them hanging around in your drafts, just like the 150 neckties hanging in your closet (including the twelve you actually wear), strike them out whenever possible:

• That
• Currently
• Presently
• Actually
• In order to
• Start to
• Suddenly
• Because of
• Therefore

Eliminate redundancies

It doesn’t make much sense to have both a toaster and a toaster oven—they’re two appliances with the same function, which makes them redundant. Redundant words and phrases can easily creep into writing, too. Search your draft with an eye out for where you might be repeating yourself. Here’s an example:

Before: Not a soul wandered the dark, deserted streets that night.

The words “not a soul” imply that a place is deserted. “That night” implies darkness. Eliminate the redundancies:

After: Not a soul wandered the streets that night.

Also, keep an eye out for tautologies—phrases with words that mean or imply the same thing. A few examples:

• Baby puppy
• Future prospects
• Added bonus
• 2:00 a.m. in the morning
• Completely devoid
• Final outcome
• Duplicate copy
• Honest truth

Don’t get too attached

Kondo is onto something when she directs her readers to focus on specific categories one at a time. The practice allows you to detach from your writing project as a whole and home in on the specific bits that need tidying up. It also encourages you to be ruthless with your purging. Remember: less is more!

We tend to ramble when we’re writing; it’s our brain’s way of finding just the right words. It’s fine to pour those words out into your first draft, but once the draft is finished, it’s time to start cleaning house. To declutter your living space, Kondo recommends putting all your clothing (or books) on the floor so you can get a clear look at just how much you have and get rid of whatever’s unnecessary. You can apply the same principle to your writing. Dump everything into your draft, but then sort through it, category by category, and keep only what works.

In writing, just as in keeping a home, we often become attached to things that don’t serve any useful purpose. You may love the way you’ve turned a particular phrase, but if it doesn’t fit with the rest of what you’ve written, or it’s otherwise repetitive or unnecessary, then it has to go. As Stephen King said in his book On Writing: “Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”

The joy of tidy writing

Cleaning up your writing, just like cleaning up your home, is a process. It takes time to develop the habits that keep clutter at bay. But, as you tidy up each draft, you’ll begin to learn how to avoid most of the messiness in the first place. When you come across weasel words, empty words, and redundancies, you’ll be able to leave them on the shelf, and your writing will bring you joy.

Say What?! Meet the Interrobang.

Few punctuation marks have as exciting a name as the interrobang. But what does the interrobang do?

The interrobang combines the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!) into a single punctuation mark. It conveys a question asked in an excited way. For example:

Are you really coming over to my house on Friday‽

You can’t be serious! You’ve never seen an episode of Friends‽

He said what‽

Although writers have used punctuation marks in combination in their writing for years, the interrobang was officially created by advertising executive Martin Speckter in 1962.

Many typefaces don’t include the interrobang with the superimposed question mark and exclamation point. However, you can get the same interrobang point across using the two marks next to each other like this: ?!

Thrusted? The Past Tense of Thrust

• Thrust is the standard past tense form of the verb thrust.
• Thrusted exists, but it is rare.

Have you ever flown in an airplane? Thrust is one of the things that makes the aircraft move in the sky. According to HowStuffWorkst, thrust is “the aerodynamic force that pushes or pulls the airplane forward through space.” Planes use jet engines or propellers to create thrust. Why the lesson in aerodynamics? If you understand thrust as a noun, it will help you to get a sense of the verb. To thrust means to propel forward, to push something or someone forcibly in a certain direction.

How to Conjugate Thrust

Look at the conjugation below. Then, try to guess why thrust is one of the easiest irregular verbs to memorize in the present tense.

I thrust you thrust he/she/it thrusts we thrust you thrust they thrust

Thrust doesn’t change much in the present tense! Except for the third person singular form, which features an S at the end, thrust is the form to use. How about the past tense? Typically, you add an -ed to the base form of a verb to form the past tense. Applying this rule, the past tense of thrust would be thrusted. Are there any examples of this form on the web?

Jackson Post 158 was thrusted into the loser’s bracket at the Zone 4 Senior Legion Tournament following Friday’s loss but was able to prevail in thrilling fashion Saturday and advance back to the championship game, where it fell once again to the hosts and ended its season in Ste. Genevieve. —Southeast Missourian

Morin was first to take the stage in the final round of the eighth annual tribute artist competition in Immokalee. He started his set with “Burning Love.” On each “hunka hunka,” Morin punched the air and thrusted his hips, sending the beads on his waistband into a fury. It wasn’t long before a crowd at the Seminole Casino Hotel gathered at the stage, desperate for their moment with — at least in their minds — Elvis Presley. —Naples Daily News

Though you can find examples of thrusted, they are relatively rare. What do writers use instead? Examine these two quotes:

Between the rows of tomatoes were little arachnid weeds that sprouted out instead of up. He knelt down and his right knee—the bad one—flared up from the impact. After taking a moment to wince, he thrust his hand into the soil, which was surprisingly warm for this time of year. He figured the weeds would come up easily, but when he went to pull, they stayed firmly rooted. —Drew Magary, The Hike

Although she has been thrust into the limelight for her stunning performance on a reality TV singing competition in China, Adinda Tasya Mansor is not about to rest on her laurels. —The Star Online, “Adinda already eyeing next round of singing contest in China”

How much more popular is thrust than thrusted? Google Ngram Viewer is an online search engine that compares how many times certain words appear in a large text corpora. In comparison to thrust, thrusted is barely on the chart.

Thrusted just isn’t very popular. Most people use thrust. Now that you know so much about the verb, you can use it to talk about lots of things. In fencing, to jab with the sword is to thrust. You can thrust an object, but you can also thrust yourself figuratively into a conversation or a situation. How will you use this word?

Six of the Best Holiday Books for Students

During the holiday season, students and everyday readers alike love to settle down with a good book, getting nice and cozy to escape the rush. Ideally this literary refuge takes place by a warm fireside, while the snow falls outside. While that might not always be possible, there are a few staples of holiday literature which are guaranteed to put readers in the mood for Christmas while providing some literary value.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

There’s no avoiding this classic novella, first published in 1843, in the world of holiday literature. A quintessential piece, A Christmas Carol is often the first story anyone reaches for to represent Christmas. Charles Dickens is often credited with crafting or popularizing the image of the modern Christmas in this tale. What gives A Christmas Carol true value is that it’s not just a story, but a fable. From the repeating structure to the strong moral message, this story is about changing our ways and learning the values of charity and humility, which have been themes of Christmas tales ever since.

Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien

“If you find that not many of the things you asked for have come, and not perhaps quite so many as sometimes, remember that this Christmas all over the world there are a terrible number of poor and starving people.”

J. R. R. Tolkien, best known for this epic fantasy tales like The Lord of the Rings, also produced a fantastic set of short Christmas stories that can warm cold hearts during the holiday season. These stories, in the form of letters, tell tales of various hijinks taking place at the North Pole. In typical Tolkien style, these adventures include fantastic creatures like elves and goblins, along with a charming take on European mythology. While reading about the misadventures of the clumsy Polar Bear, readers will get a taste for Tolkien’s classic literary style and a slice of whimsical Christmas magic.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling

“What would your head have been doing in Hogsmeade, Potter?” said Snape softly. “Your head is not allowed in Hogsmeade. No part of your body has permission to be in Hogsmeade.”

The Harry Potter books have a notable Christmas feel, despite only mentioning Christmas briefly in each book. Even Harry’s first Christmas at Hogwarts, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, when Harry is alone at school without his family, is heartwarmingly poignant as he finds unexpected gifts. The Prisoner of Azkaban details Harry’s first trip to Hogsmeade, a village which could come straight from a holiday postcard. From the snow and decorations to the scarves and candy, this and other trips to Hogsmeade highlight the relationships (or lack thereof) that Harry has with his friends and family, as the holiday season does for us all. Along with the moral and adventure themes of the books, these scenes make great light reading for the holidays.

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

“DO I DETECT A NOTE OF UNSEASONAL GRUMPINESS? said Death. NO SUGAR PIGGYWIGGY FOR YOU, ALBERT.”

Hogfather is a truly priceless item of holiday literature. This tale starts out as a little theatre of the absurd for comedy’s sake; Death (the iconic, skeletal Death with robes and scythe) must “fill in” for the absent Hogfather (an analogue of Father Christmas) and so hilarity ensues. On one hand, we have excellent comedy as the morbid Death attempts to emulate the jollity of Christmas. On the other hand, Pratchett’s talent for weaving heartfelt truths about the nature of humanity and magic into fantastical situations shines in abundance. This tale has a surprising amount to say about the meaning of Christmas, without ever mentioning it in the usual terms.

The Journey of the Magi by T. S. Eliot

“A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter.”

This seasonal poem is a great example of holiday literature that doesn’t directly follow the usual pattern of Christmas iconography. The forty-three-line poem was written in 1927 and captures the religious air of Eliot’s work after his conversion to Anglo-Catholicism. The poem tells the story of the Magi from the Gospel of Matthew, who traveled to Palestine to meet the baby Jesus. This powerful piece therefore touches little on the modern concept of Christmas but has familiar themes of isolation and stark wonder. Reading this poem is like glimpsing the origin of Christmas, without the typical Victorian aesthetics or Nativity scenes we’re used to.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

“Always winter but never Christmas.”

Some of the best holiday stories are not directly concerned with Christmas, but rather capture the feel of winter and the themes of morality, adventure, and nostalgia. The second tale from The Chronicles of Narnia truly represents Christmas for many readers, and even features a cameo from Father Christmas, who brings magical gifts for the four travelers. This story sees Christmas from the point of view of English folklore. While it is often cited as a Christian tale (and of course all the more festive for it), there are themes which could be called pagan, or perhaps a missing link between the old world and Christianity, such as the way that self-sacrifice is handled as part of the cycle of nature.