Writing well gets jobs, saves jobs

Seattle Times ^ | Sunday, July 27, 2003 | Pamela Sitt

[ValerieUSA]

The spelling police are not evil - we are your friends. We want you to succeed.

[lodwick]

bttt

[dfwgator]

Strunk said it best, "avoid needless words."

[Tall_Texan]

Parker recommended the course to colleagues and, after telling her manager about it, the course has become a requirement for members of her team next year.

Seems like Pamela Sitt and her editors could also use this class...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The spelling police are not evil - we are your friends. We want you to succeed.

We don't need you.

We will just change the language.

For instance, we don't like the word "complement" used in its proper context.

As a matter of fact, we don't like the word "complement" at all.

We have misused it so much that it has been discarded.

The proper word is now "compliment," regardless of context.

Our goal is to reduce the entire English language to four-letter words, and even some of those are too difficult.

There is nothing you can do.

The lowest common denominator always wins, because it is the tolerant, inclusive thing to do.

[Tall_Texan]

"I think that the person who can write is the star. They stand above the crowd."

It's TRUE! Just ask Jayson Blair...

[Kevin Curry]

Even Ebonics is too complicated:

"Yo buss dis. We ain't need you. We will jus fix de language. fuh instance, we ain't likes de word "complement" uset in its propuh revlant. As a mattuh uh fact, we ain't likes de word "complement" at all. We has misuset it so much dat it be discarded. De propuh word be now "compliment," regardless uh revlant. Our goal be to reduce de entire English language to foe-lettuh words, an' evun some uh those be too difficult. Dere be nothin you can do. De lowes common denominator always wins, because it be de tolerant, inclusive thin to do. Sheeit!"

[Semper Paratus]

For us older workers writing is one big edge we have over the recent graduate of American schools.

Also if your writing skills are poor, your reading skills are poor as well.

[ValerieUSA]

The person who can write - singular
They stand - plural

Our work is not complete.

[VOA]

bump

[Kevin Curry]

The secret to writing well is to read well (as in "well read").

[goodnesswins]

LOL....JOURNALISTS today need THIS course....and one in REPORTING, NOT MAKING, the news.

[Fawnn]

"I think that the person who can write is the star. They stand above the crowd."

Julie got herself some mighty fine free publicity via the article, but for her to be credible, I certainly hope she was misquoted above.

[goodnesswins]

I would think the the "international world" English writing skills will also serve us well. India and China won't be able to write manuals/directions for all that techie stuff they'll be developing....LOL...at least not manuals/directions that can be understood.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Even Ebonics is too complicated:

LOL!

[dfwgator]

Save your money, go to a used book store and get a copy of "The Elements of Style."

[Alas Babylon!]

The military has been doing this for years. For example, the military briefing is based on the ABC factor. Accuracy, brevity, and clarity. It has an introduction, a body and a review. In other words, "Tell them what you're going to say, say it, then tell them what you said". The business world would be in better shape if more people wrote this way.

[Drew68]

I certainly hope she was misquoted above.

From the article:

"I think that the person who can write is the star. They stand above the crowd."

I'm not certain this is necessarily incorrect. An individual who can write correctly will be a star. There will be many individuals who can write correctly. These people, collectively, will stand above the crowd.

[Fawnn]

These people, collectively, will stand above the crowd.

Drew: Methinks thou overparseth the sentence. (However, in fairness to Julie, the person who wrote the article very well could have shortened the quote -- and failed to place ellipses for omitted words.)

[gcruse]

Yes, writing well is important in getting a job.
Writing well, personal hygiene, and being under fifty. ;)