12 Essential Books to Read on LitMas

Merry LitMas!

Joy to the world, the bookish holiday has arrived! How will you celebrate?

We will be cracking the spines of a few of our favorite reads from this year (which, incidentally, make great last-minute gifts for that other holiday that rhymes with LitMas). We may curl up with a book and some tea, stretch out with cocoa and a sweater, or bring a book to a favorite literary haunt. Wherever we end up, we’ll be reading some of the best books of 2016, a year marked by some impressive contributions to the fiction and nonfiction worlds alike.

What will you do today to make the world a little more bookworm friendly? Tweet your thoughts at us with #LitMas.

Here are our official LitMas best books of 2016, neatly organized by category.

Fiction

1 Swing Time by Zadie Smith

It’s no secret that this is one of the best books of the year. It’s been a top pick on even the most discerning book critics’ 2016 lists, and for good reason. Zadie Smith is a masterful storyteller, and this book is proof.

2 Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood

To read or not to read is never a question we ask, especially about this instant classic. Margaret Atwood takes on Shakespeare’s The Tempest from a fresh, Canadian point of view. It has the advantages of a familiar plot arc and brand-new characters, and is definitely worth a read.

3 What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi

Not looking for a long read? This loose collection of stories will keep you reading, without the emotional tax of one narrative. Keep an eye out for #trending references to YouTube stars amidst the magical prose.

Nonfiction

4 Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

If the trailers for the upcoming film adaptation don’t excite you, then we’re not sure what we can say about this important work. It has space, math, strong female characters, and a true story that would rival any novel.

5 Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer

We’ll admit, this one is a bit obscure. But, if you need a gift for the family hipster cousin or want to journey into the weird unknown solo, this is definitely the map to guide you.

6 Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Jahren may be a geobiologist by trade, but she writes like a seasoned memoirist. Her descriptions of her life, peppered with musings on the natural world, are as moving as they are beautiful.

Graphic Novels

7 MARCH by Andrew Aydin

Much like Swing Time, this book comes with its fair share of positive hype. Luckily, its blend of breathtaking illustration and historical fact lives up to every word.

8 Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

For those with younger comics enthusiasts in their lives, Ghosts is a great last-minute gift idea! A touching story combines with bold images to make a lovely graphic novel.

9 Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan

Okay, this one may be stretching the idea of “graphic novel,” since it is actually a series of comics. However, the weird and wonderful storytelling from a bunch of strong pre-teen girls is refreshing enough to make this a must-have on this list.

Books on Books

10 The Bad-*** Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer

Despite its off-color title, this is one awesome (and true) story of literary perseverance. These warriors for knowledge and cultural preservation prove that librarians are the true superheroes, and Hammer’s description of their struggle is at some points touching and at others simply action-packed.

11 A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston

This entry might strike you as a bit odd, since it is a short picture book. However, the wonder the main character experiences when talking about books will help you recapture the feeling of reading your first novel. Read it. You’ll see.

12 How to Write Like Tolstoy by Richard Cohen

If you’re a fan of Grammarly’s blog, the Brain Pickings blog, or any of the other books-and-writing-related blogs around, chances are you’ll love this book. Cohen analyzes different writers’ mindsets, habits, and routines to see how they wrote what they wrote. It’s great whether you’re looking for writing tips or are just fascinated with the eccentric daily lives of writers.

“Are You the Jedi Master or the Sith Lord of Your Office?” Quiz

There is a light and dark side to the balance of office life. Which way do you lean? Find out whether you’re an Office Jedi or Sith with our fun quiz!

What do you think, did we get it right? Share your reactions in the comments.

Is it Used To or Use To? How to Use Both

Don’t feel bad if you mix up use to and used to now and again—it is not an uncommon mistake. Used to is a phrase that can mean “accustomed or habituated to” or refers to something from the past that is no longer true. Use to and used to are also frequently used in English grammar as modal verb phrases.

”Use” Followed by an Infinitive

Before we get into idiomatic meanings for the phrase used to, it is worth pointing out that both use and used can correctly appear before to when to is part of the infinitive of a second verb. That sounds far more complicated than it is, so let’s go straight to some examples.

What do you use to decorate cakes and cookies?

Buttercream icing was used to frost all of today’s cakes and cookies.

In these kinds of sentences, whether you decide to write use to or used to will depend on whether the present or past tense is needed.

“Use To” vs. “Used To” as a Synonym for “Accustomed To”

When your intention is to say the equivalent of accustomed to or habituated to, always write used to and never use to.

Horseback riding was frightening to me at first, but now I am use to it.

Horseback riding was frightening to me at first, but now I am used to it.

Why do people get confused so often with this phrase and incorrectly write use to? It is probably because of our ear’s influence over how we write. When you say used to aloud, the d in used and the t in to blend to almost become one consonant sound. Often, we spell words incorrectly because in our mind’s ear, that is how they sound. A similar mistake frequently happens with the phrase supposed to.

“Get Used to It”—How To Use It Correctly

The construction of the example above involves the verb to be + used to in order to show that the speaker is in a state of being accustomed to something. A closely related construction is get + used to, which is an idiomatic phrase meaning “become accustomed to.” When you use get + used to, it means that the process of habituation is still ongoing. It is also incorrect to write use to in this case.

Horseback riding has been frightening for me, but I will get use to it.

Horseback riding has been frightening for me, but I will get used to it.

Here’s a tip: Avoid writing I am use to it or Get use to it. Always include the d: I am used to it and Get used to it.

“Used To” Shows a Former Fact, Habit, or Action

We also use the phrase used to in the sense of formerly to indicate something that happened in the past but no longer does. While in centuries past there was a corresponding present tense form, use to, we now use this construction only in the past tense.

The grocery store used to be at the corner of Main and Fifth.

Karl used to work out every morning, but he has been too busy to keep up with it.

My father used to take a donkey to school.

The only time you should write use to instead of used to with this meaning of the phrase is when it is paired with did or didn’t. The reason is that did or didn’t will have assumed the obligation of reflecting the past tense.

Did your father use to take his donkey to school?

My father didn’t use to take his donkey to school on Mondays, because it was needed at the farm.

If the negative construction in the above example feels too formal for the setting you are writing in, rewrite the sentence without it.

My father didn’t take his donkey to school on Mondays, because it was needed at the farm.

Now that you have learned about use to and used to, you may want to check out these other commonly confused words.

Make Up Your Mind, English! Conscious vs. Conscience and Unconscious vs. Unconscionable

English is anything but a straightforward language. Words that look alike but actually mean something slightly different are a common source of confusion. Take conscious, conscience, unconscious, and unconscionable. All are derived from the same root, so it’s natural to assume that the first two are the opposite of the last two. But use them interchangeably like this and you are likely to confuse (and possibly amuse) your listeners.

Conscious means “aware or alert.” This word can be used to convey a fundamental biological state (“Hey, I’m awake!”), or it can be used to describe a bit more than just basic awareness:

He was conscious of the fact that nobody was talking to him.

The opposite of conscious is unconscious. And, like conscious, unconscious doesn’t have to relate to awareness or lack thereof. In fact, you can be wide awake but also unconscious, or unaware, of something:

New to the country, Fred was unconscious of the etiquette and began eating before the main host.

Now, conscience doesn’t describe your level of alertness, but instead your inner voice, the one that guides you between right and wrong—the proverbial angel on one shoulder winning out (ideally!) over the devil on the other.

She could have easily pocketed the fresh $20 bill, but she was guided by her conscience and told the waiter that there was money hiding under a napkin.

Something that is unconscionable, on the other hand, is not guided by morality but by an utter lack of it. In other words, an unconscionable act is one that is so unethical that, for many, it is unthinkable.

The harshest forms of punishment tend to be reserved for the most unconscionable acts.

Unconscionable has also taken on another meaning over the years, one that doesn’t relate to conscience. Something that is unconscionable might also be unreasonable or excessive. There doesn’t necessarily have to be any ethical violation.

Many believe that paying 50,000 per year in college tuition is unconscionable.

As long as you’re conscious of the differences above, you don’t have to knock yourself out or bother your conscience to figure out which of these four words to use.

Examples

“What she has said is unconscionable, and ‘hurtful’ barely scratches the surface.” —Slate

“Popes do not endorse political candidates, though he urged Catholic voters to ‘study the proposals well, pray and choose in conscience.’” —Associated Press

“Cognitive science backs up the ancient Indian philosophy that we’re conscious even in deep sleep.” —Quartz

“Your brain can be tricked, and some of the best tricks are the unconscious kind that influence your thinking without you ever realizing it.” —Forbes

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This post was written by Chris Lele, resident GRE expert at Magoosh, a leader in GRE prep. For more advice on taking the GRE, check out Magoosh’s GRE blog.

How to Show Your Writing Chops on a Resume

If you’re a good writer, never miss a chance to show off your writing skills. Think of your resume as an opportunity to tell the story of your candidacy. Why are you the right person for the job? How did you develop your skills? Why will you benefit the company? Let’s talk about how you can reflect your writing skills on your resume and how these talents can land you your dream job.

Be Effective

The best writers know how to get their point across succinctly. When you list your experience, include a few brief statements describing what you accomplished in each position. Choose powerful action verbs rather than boring ones such as taught, utilized, or sold. Don’t use generic adjectives. Instead, use specific vocabulary to describe your strengths.

Be Accurate

The worst thing you can do is overlook an error. Some hiring managers, especially in the writing industry, immediately discard resumes that contain misspellings or grammar mistakes. Proofread your resume several times. Then, ask a friend or colleague to look it over for you. Some people find it easier to see flaws if they review a printed copy of their resume rather than look at it on their computer screen.

Consider Your Audience

Just like when you write an article, you need to consider who will be reading your resume. If the reviewer won’t be an industry insider, avoid jargon and use terms that anyone can understand. If you know that the chief of the department in which you want to work will read it, use terms that show you know how to do the job.

Do a Peer Review

You might enjoy searching for resumes in your field. Print out a few of the best and then compare them with yours. If you were a recruiter, which resume would stand out to you? Which candidate’s word choices reflect intelligence and fluency? If your resume can’t withstand the scrutiny, make adjustments until it’s the best of the best.

Be Logical

The layout of your resume will directly influence how hiring managers perceive your writing skills. If the arrangement is thoughtless or confusing, why would a recruiter imagine that your writing would be any different? Many applicants automatically assume that a chronological format is the best way to go, but you’ll need to do a bit of research to see whether this is the best format for the type of work you do.

Replace the Objective Statement with a Targeted Summary

Many websites about resume writing encourage applicants to omit an objective statement. After all, it’s evident from your experience that you’re a content writer, sales writer, editor, etc. Obviously, you are looking for a position like the one that’s being offered. Therefore, it’s not necessary to spell out the obvious. A better use of the space below your name and contact information is a summary of your strongest qualifications for the open position. But keep it brief because you need the rest of the space for your education, certifications, and experience. You should be able to accomplish this aim in no more than three bullet points or a three-line paragraph.

Write About What’s Related

What have you done besides writing? While you may be proud of your years spent in nursing, it really only belongs on your resume if you want to be a medical writer. Freelance writers must be especially careful. Many of them have worked on everything from screenplays to children’s nursery rhymes. Focus on experience that is most relevant to each job announcement. Otherwise, you might seem like the kind of candidate who applies for everything, even positions in which you have no real aptitude or interest. On the other hand, some abilities are clearly a plus for almost any writing job. Feel free to enumerate your mastery of word processing programs, foreign languages, or typing.

Send a Thank You Note

A thank you note isn’t a part of the resume, but it should be a part of the process. Why? First of all, it’s simply a nice thing to do. Secondly, you can express your thanks and display your personal writing style at the same time. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! Remember, too, that a thank you note can be sent by email. You actually might be more likely to get a response if human resources has your email at their fingertips. Also, ensure that your thank you note has a personal touch. No one likes a canned message!

Include an Attachment

When sending your resume by email or publishing it on a website, it’s easy to upload samples of your best writing. If you have room on your resume, you can make a list of published writing. Published work is always the best option, but newbies might feature unpublished work if that’s all they have. Make sure to organize your works into genres to make it easy to see what type of writing they feature. Place either the most recently published or the most relevant pieces at the beginning of the list. If you are including website hyperlinks, make sure they work before you send the email! Show that you understand copyright law by including only clips of works that you own or have permission to use.

A resume isn’t going to take the place of a short story or a newspaper article, but it can give potential clients a good idea of your writing style. Be sure that your resume reflects your accuracy, organizational skills, and effectiveness with your choice of words and formatting. Remember the questions asked at the onset? Why are you the right person for the job? How did you develop your skills? Why will you benefit the company? If you allow your resume to tell your story, you may just get the happy ending that you deserve!

Simple Future Tense

The simple future is a verb tense that’s used to talk about things that haven’t happened yet.

This year, Jen will read War and Peace. It will be hard, but she’s determined to do it.

Use the simple future to talk about an action or condition that will begin and end in the future.

How to Form the Simple Future

The formula for the simple future is will + [root form of verb].

I will learn a new language. Jen will read that book. My brothers will sleep till noon if no one wakes them up. You will see what I mean.

It doesn’t matter if the subject is singular or plural; the formula for the simple future doesn’t change.

But…

There is another way to show that something will happen in the future. It follows the formula [am/is/are] + going to + [root form verb].

I am going to learn a new language. Jen is going to read that book. My brothers are going to sleep till noon if no one wakes them up. You are going to see what I mean.

The “going to” construction is common in speech and casual writing. Keep in mind though that it’s on the informal side, so it’s a good idea to stick to the will + [root form] construction in formal writing.

How to Make the Simple Future Negative

To make the simple future negative, the formula is will + not + [root form].

Jen will not quit before she reaches her goal. Make sure you arrive on time tomorrow because the bus will not wait for you. He will not say anything bad about his boss. I will not finish my homework in time for class.

Using the “going to” construction, the formula is [am/is/are] + not + going to + [root form].

Jen is not going to quit before she reaches her goal. Make sure you arrive on time tomorrow because the bus is not going to wait for you. He is not going to say anything bad about his boss. I am not going to finish my homework in time for class.

How to Ask a Question

To ask a question in the simple future, the formula is will + [subject] + [root form].

Will Jen finish War and Peace over the summer? Will I have the discipline to study Spanish every day? What will you buy with the money you found?

The formula for the “going to” construction is [am/is/are] + [subject] +going to + [root form].

Is Jen going to finish War and Peace over the summer? Am I going to have the discipline to study Spanish every day? What are you going to buy with the money you found?

Common Verbs in the Simple Past

The “Going to” Construction

How to Write Nowhere, Somewhere, and Anywhere?

There’s only one way to write nowhere, somewhere, and anywhere, and that is as one word. If you write them as no where, some where, and any where, you’re making a mistake.

He was no where to be found.

Tony tried to build his own business, but it went nowhere.

More Examples

Some where over the rainbow there’s candy waiting for you.

He lost his key somewhere on his route home.

Any where she went, she was looking for something that resembled her home.

He felt comfortable anywhere he went for the holidays.