Mom’s Red Pen: 5 Tips for Clear Written Communication
Mom’s Red Pen
5 Tips for Clear Written Communication
Mom’s red pen: the story
“Please and thank you”
“You are welcome and May I help you?”
“Respect your elders and love your neighbor”
These and more are lessons we may have learned from someone we called Mom. I am fortunate to have had a mother who brought so many great qualities to her task of parenting. As one of her five children, I was a beneficiary of her love, strength and wisdom. We witnessed her live her life with integrity, honor and grace.
Part of our childhood memories would have to include doing our homework at the kitchen table until we were done. We could always count on Mom checking our progress, bringing her keen eye to bear on the details, especially the writing assignments. Good penmanship was required (Oh, what she would think of my handwriting today… Oh my!) and a job half-way done was unacceptable.
Now, to an elementary school boy the importance of the finer points of English composition remained lost on me. Much like the study of Geometry, I just couldn’t see how this would be useful much less valuable for my future. However, my Mom would continue to teach in spite of my indifference. Fast forward to that unimaginable future, I found myself needing Geometry to do carpentry-based home repairs and I now find myself blogging. Really?
During these homework sessions was Mom’s constant companion, the red pen. A tool I was none too fond of then and yet, now I cherish. Yes, the red pen. You see, all composition drafts were done on lined, margined note paper and were brought under the scrutiny of formal expectations. Red ink would be found within the text and in the margins pointing to the necessary corrections. Arrows and lines littered the otherwise black and white page. The “red ink” of verbal critique was heard, also.
“What is this sentence saying?”
“You misspelled receive, again.”
“What punctuation should go here?”
I do believe I learned more from her than any professional teacher in this regard. Even as I type, I am seeing Mom’s red pen directing my communication. Pushing, prodding, now embellishing, now shortening and always striving for excellence. I give into it now. No more refusal of the influence. Only gratitude marks my attitude. Only thankfulness for the standard she set. The Bible is correct: “Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Although I am not an English major by any stretch of the imagination, allow me to share five tips I use when I write. If you're interested in the content for each heading in the outline, click on the link above to access the original blog post. No spamming... I promise!
Tip # 1: Start with an Outline
Concept development
Create Broad strokes
Tip # 2: Get to the point
Edit like a surgeon
Less is more
Tip # 3: Be your own Grammar Nazi
Watch your spelling and punctuation.
Watch for excessive wordiness. Too many embellishments can be unnecessary.
Watch for repetitive use of words. Using the same word over and over again shows a lack of imagination.
Watch for running sentences. These are sentences that can be shortened or divided into two or three shorter sentences. Shorter sentences are easier to read and comprehend.
Tip # 4: Take a break; Okay, come back now!
Walk away. Take a break for goodness sake!
Fresh look. Find the things you need to change with fresh eyes.
Tip # 5: Revise, revise, revise...
Revision is not a dirty word
Does revision result in clarity? It should. Being clear and concise is of utmost importance.
How much is enough? How much is too much? Find your balance. Remember, the goal is to present good, clear and concise content with your reader in mind. They can be pretty forgiving if they’re receiving valuable information.
Conclusion
Unleash the “Mom” in your head. What example did you have when first learning to write? Was it a parent? Was it a teacher?
If you’re wondering how you’re doing with your writing, let other “Moms and Dads” help! Allow someone you know is capable and you trust to proofread some of your work. It could shed some valuable insight on the things you might need to improve but you weren’t aware of.
I hope you have your own “red pen” experience to draw upon when you write!
Greetings to all of you in “Blogland” and remember to keep your margins open for Mom’s Red Pen!
~Bob
Check this resource out:
10 resources all in one provided by Grammarly
https://www.grammarly.com/blog...
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Recent Comments
34
I remember the red pen from when I was grade school. Now, I miss that red pen because it helps to learn your mistakes. Of course, I am blessed with children who are grammar Nazis. My daughter, 28, and my son, 15. Both always correct me and they are my fresh eyes when looking for a post for me. Very good information. Thank you.
Thank you for reading and sharing, Melissa. That's great about your children. I know many who would not be able to accomplish that task, although would still love to correct their parents. :-)
~Bob
I am quite familiar with the marks of the red pen. I learned to write before the advent of computers. I was even an English major my first time in college. I did fairly well, too. That being said, I am still well out of practice when it comes to writing.
I think the most important thing you can do when writing is to take a break and clear your head of what you meant to say. It turns out that the human brain will see what you intended to be there rather than what is actually there if you don't take a break.
Thanks for sharing this advice!
Anita
I've seen how taking a break works. The human brain thing happens to me all the time.
You're probably much more worthy to be giving English advice than I am!
Thank you for sharing!
~Bob
I was an English major my first two years in college as well, Anita. Wanted to write, but didn't know how I'd support myself while writing my first best seller! Transferred to Washington University med school for my OT degree after I learned about the field in my general psychology class. We had a video about a day in the life of a psychiatric patient, and they showed the role of an occupational therapist, which I'd never heard of before. I was intrigued, wrote my term paper on the topic, and the rest is history! Now I'm back full circle writing again, and lovin' it! Have a great day. Carol
I studied emergency medicine when I went back to school, Carol. I really enjoyed it. I loved being a paramedic! I still miss it. I tore my left rotator cuff lifting a patient which effectively ended my career, though. Then I got sick. I think it had to do with losing something I loved so much.
My grandmother used to say that she knew a lot of people who had died within a year after retiring from jobs they really enjoyed. She wished she had never said it later though because my grandfather died on year to the day after he retired.
I know what you mean, Anita. I had to quit practicing OT when my neck went south on me, and I couldn't lift my patients any more. Had a cervical strain in an accident in the 70s, and have DDD and DJD now. And still have muscle spasms and headaches all this time later. Had a ruptured disc at C7-T1, in 1999 as a result of the post traumatic arthritis.
Had an identity crisis when I had to quit working. Too much of my self esteem was tied up in my career. That was almost 20 years ago, and I still have recruiters trying to hire me! Got an email for a job in Alaska offering 150,000/year. They must really be desperate! If I was younger and healthier, I would have considered it for a couple years to get my house paid for!!
Now we both have WA careers instead of medical ones, and such a wonderful WA family to help us along!
Have a safe, happy, healthier WA New Year!
Carol
Bob,
This reminded me of my Mom correcting my writing when I did homeschool. I would get so irritated back then, but I appreciate all that correction now! I worked as a tutor and edited papers for other students in college. I also worked as a grader for one of my professors on essay exams.
In my career as a graduate student myself and now in my job for State Government writing water use authorizations for the largest oil companies in the world (or sending them letters explaining why they can't get exactly what they want), these skills are necessary. Yes, that was a bit of a run-on sentence!
I use the red pen myself now when my boss brings me things to edit.
I am glad you are pointing out these guidelines that often get forgotten nowadays!
Jessica
Bob don't judge, Jessica! :-)
It's amazing how this stuff sticks in our brains.
Thanks for stopping in and for sharing.
~Bob
A powerful list Bob - Many thanks! I've picked up bits of this list from others over the years, but the list really puts emphasis where it should be. Awesome commandments - I will use them.
We owe your mom a huge thank-you - she has mothered our writing as well as yours...
Thanks,
Steve
Thank you, Steve. She would have been touched by your kind words. I know I owe her more than I can say!
~Bob
Hi Bob, great post. It really brings back the memories. I used to have more red than black on most of my papers. I always loved to write, but I never really understood the grammar thing. Fortunately for me, some of It eventually soaked in. Thanks for sharing this information, I will for sure check it out. I need all the help I can get.
Don
Yeah, me too, Don. That's probably why I see the red pen when I type!
Thanks for checking in.
~Bob
I've bookmarked this to share with others Bob. We were at a Vineyard recently, and the gift shop had (among other things) a number of funny little signs. One read, "I'm Silently Judging Your Grammar." And that cracked me up because, well...that's me, to a degree.
Every day I read posts here (and elsewhere) and I wonder:
1) What is your purpose in writing this?
2) Do you really think some offhand observation warrants a post? I mean, dude, you're not Seinfeld.
3) Have you taken even 30 seconds to spell check your post?
4) What is your purpose in writing this?
Yes, I know that #1 and #4 are the same, but if you can't answer either, don't hit Publish. Maybe just keep it to yourself. We all have an interesting way of expressing ourselves, or speaking, but I recall Momma's Red Pen, and it encourages me to this day. Be yourself, and make it natural. But write something worthy of reading, and make sure it's correct.
Now, let me check and recheck this before I publish! lol Peace my friend! :-)
Yes, check and recheck, but remember this "Bob" don't judge! :-)
Please, feel free to share. The quality matters because of the reader. It's similar to writing and performing music. We want to be good enough so as not be a distraction. If the audience is focused on the mistakes, they're probably missing the message.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Bob.
~Bob
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Hi Bob, Lovely memories. I can't remember having either of my parents correcting my work. I'm not such a great speller but can usually know when something is spelled wrong, may not know how to correct it though. Have the biggest and heaviest dictionary here, never got to use Grammerly. How does that go?
Cheers Jae
Hi, Jae. Such fond memories for me. She was a sweet, selfless person.
As far as Grammarly is concerned, I haven't used it, yet. I've been using the checker in SiteContent and MS Word. The link I posted has 10 relevant resources for learning the "rules", if anyone is interested.
As far as dictionary, nothing heavier than my phone. I use a Merriam-Webster app which gives synonyms and other info as well as the definition. I keep that close by while I write.
Thank you for reading and leaving a comment.
All the best,
~Bob