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Aaron Writes
Volume 23
Writing Tips, An Expensive Comma, and Quotation Marks
February 1, 2007
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Welcome to the 23rd issue of Aaron Writes, the Aaron Language Services (ALS) newsletter. We publish Aaron Writes every month. The format of this issue has been changed, with this monthly issue examining three different writing topics: 11 writing tips, a two million dollar comma, and quotation marks. We hope this issue is helpful for you.

1. Moving from the past to the present: 11 writing tips

In our last issues of Aaron Writes, we went into the past, looking at the writing of Eudora Welty and what it taught us. In this issue, we would like to look on the Internet at 11 Writing Tips suggested by Sherry Roberts. You can find her 11 suggestions at http://www.editorialservice.com/11ways.html.

Roberts has published a booklet titled "11 Ways to Improve Your Writing and Your Business" that she uses with a business writing seminar she teaches. Roberts, like ALS, has tried to simplify and present some of the wisdom and advice offered by skilled, successful past writers. Indeed, if you click the link to the left of her 11 tips at http://www.editorialservice.com/writing_books.html, you will find many of the same titles that we have on our bookshelves at ALS.

Most of these books, however, are far too difficult and long for many ESL students. We suggest everyone begin with "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. Shorter and more manageable, "The Elements of Style" is a must read. Writing such as that of Roberts and our writing at ALS is much more understandable and manageable for students due to our shorter segments and clear approach.

Roberts presents the following 11 tips:

1. Begin with one grain of sand.
2. Give the who, what, when, where, and why.
3. Step up to bat and take a few swings.
4. Adopt a plain writing style.
5. Keep it short.
6. Give the reader a map.
7. Be active.
8. Cut unneeded words and prune windy phrases.
9. Watch out for these four commonly misused words.
10. Stress benefits, not features.
11. Give your writing the conversation test.

She clearly presents the point in each tip. We suggest you read them. Please remember that she is writing for business. You may want to do things differently in some other fields, but most of her points hold true for all writers.

2. The importance of punctuation: the two million dollar comma

Have you heard of the two million dollar comma? This is in Canadian dollars, but it is still a lot of money. Rogers Communications Inc., may have lost $2.13-million due to a comma in a contract. The placement of the comma permitted Aliant Inc., the other company in the dispute, to cancel the contract. The contract was about Rogers Communications Inc. using utility poles in the Maritimes. The Maritime Provinces are the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. They are called the Maritimes in Canada.

Rogers thought that Aliant Inc. would string Rogers' cable lines across utility poles in the Maritimes, thousands of them, for $9.60 per pole per year. However, Aliant told Rogers that they were canceling the contract; the rates were going up. Rogers thought their contract was iron-clad until the spring of 2007, and then potentially renewable for another five years. Aliant said that a comma in the contract meant differently. Page 7 of the contract says that the agreement “shall continue in force for a period of five years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party.”

Rogers wanted a long-term deal of at least five years. The comma said otherwise though. The deciding statement was as follows:

“Based on the rules of punctuation,” the comma in question “allows for the termination of the [contract] at any time, without cause, upon one-year's written notice...”

Rogers still has a chance though. Canadian law requires French and English contracts. The French contract may clarify the English contract and the intent behind the contract. Rogers may yet have a chance to correct their $2.13-million punctuation mistake. So remember, punctuation counts.

--------- Improving your Writing -------------

オンラインでの英文ライティング学習に関心がありますか？ ALSの英文ライティング通信講座では、北米出身で、 言語学などの博士課程修了者による英文ライティング指導を受けることができます。 英語だけによるマンツーマン指導なので、自然に英語を身につけることができます。 詳細は、弊社サイトhttp://www.aaronlanguage.com/writing.htm をご覧ください。 日本語でのお問合せは、englishplus@aaronlanguage.comまで。

3. Not to be freely sprinkled: quotation marks

We have written before about overuse of quotation marks. The rules for using quotation marks are clear. Quotation marks are not to be freely sprinkled like bacon bits on salad. If you visit http://www.bartleby.com/116/406.html, you can find an entertaining explanation by H.W. Fowler. We found this entertaining. We are not sure if you will. While difficult to understand, the explanation clearly shows that quotation marks are governed by rules.

If you would like a clearer explanation about quotation marks, please visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_quote.html and read the rules on quotation marks there. Owl also offers exercises at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_quoteEX1.html and http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_quoteA1.html.

We strongly suggest that you visit the Owl resources above.

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ALS also issues Aaron Says every month. For more information on Aaron Language Services please visit our site at http://www.aaronlanguage.com. If you click on 英文ライティングお役立ち, you will find more help at our site. Our site shows the proofreading, writing, and translation services we offer.

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Aaron Writes is a publication of Aaron Language Services.

日本在住の翻訳、英文校正などの代表者連絡先 ： honyaku@aaronlanguage.com
ALSはグローバル体制で24時間対応。
翻訳品質、顧客対応共にベストな翻訳サービスを提供します。
（なお、お支払いには日本国内の銀行口座をご利用いただけます）。

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アーロン ランゲージ サービス(ＡＬＳ) Copyright 2007無断転載禁止。