Writing & Editing

Read on for an alphabet’s worth of tips to craft zippy, snappy, satisfying story-toppers.

Writers often rely on common language constructions to excite and enthrall readers. However, do they always know where these phrases come from?

Avoid loose sentences. Keep related words together. And don’t write your copy with beer.

Each is a verb and a noun, but correct usage depends, of course, on the context and intended meaning. Here’s guidance for veteran writers and novices alike on keeping them straight.

Work on your weaknesses, read authors who inspire you, and pack an emotional punch in each portion of your piece.

The writer’s workweek and overall career arc can seem nebulous, so adding structure—as well as identifying clear objectives—can help you set your course and stick to it.

The fights over grammar and usage are bitter here at Ragan. But we all know when to call it a day.

The resource isn’t just for journalists: Communicators of all stripes should refer to the style guide to sharpen their writing. Here are several new and edited entries.

From the writing itself to collaborating on text to blocking out distractions, these programs and apps can help communicators tackle the most vital—and often most daunting—of their duties.

Unless your opening captures attention, creates interest and compels people to keep reading, delete it. To grab and keep attention, thrust your reader ‘into the midst of things.’

Did you know that ‘host’ and ‘hostile’ have the same derivation? Check out how such terms as ‘corps,’ ‘platoon,’ ‘detail’ and ‘echelon’ came into being—and infiltrated the vernacular.