nPostednon March 8, 2015
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nWhennyou talk to me, there are all these cues and clues I use to graspnyour meaning. I listen, not just to your words, but your tone. Arenyou being sarcastic or lighthearted, solemn or straightforward? Inlisten to which words you group together, which words you emphasize,nand which words you add after a pause, as an afterthought.
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IfnI can see you as you talk, I notice your expressions, your gestures,nyour body language.
IfnI can see you as you talk, I notice your expressions, your gestures,nyour body language.n
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nWenshare a context – we are speaking “in the moment,” and we mightnbe in the same place at the same time. We share, perhaps, history.nWhen you mention someone by just a first name, I might know exactlynwho you mean – there is only one Heidi that we both know, fornexample. n
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nBut…
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nWhennyou write, a lot of those cues and clues are gone!
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nTherenis a reason that letters and emails and text messages and tweets arensometimes misunderstood. A serious statement might be taken asnsarcasm, or vice versa. Even uses of emoticons or can go awry – andnis that LOL laughing with me or at me?
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nWhennyou write poetry or novels, essays and reports, you might benexpressing your ideas to complete strangers who live in a veryndifferent place and time than you.
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nThat’snone reason that communicating through writing is harder than talking,nand writing well is harder still.
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nAndnit’s one reason that proofreading is so important.
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Notnonly will some people judge you if you use their or therenwhere you should use they’re (andnof course teachers and professors sometimes dock grades for suchnmistakes), errors in spelling and punctuation have actually causednmisunderstandings, even fights!
Notnonly will some people judge you if you use their or therenwhere you should use they’re (andnof course teachers and professors sometimes dock grades for suchnmistakes), errors in spelling and punctuation have actually causednmisunderstandings, even fights!n
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Younprobably don’t need to proofread every text message to every friend,nbut be sure to proofread important stuff, such as ANY message to yournboss or teacher, messages that will be read by lots of people, evennif it just a tweet or Instagram message, assignments and reports thatnhave real-world consequences, items that will be published ornreproduced or displayed, and creative expressions that you hope tonstand the test of time.
Younprobably don’t need to proofread every text message to every friend,nbut be sure to proofread important stuff, such as ANY message to yournboss or teacher, messages that will be read by lots of people, evennif it just a tweet or Instagram message, assignments and reports thatnhave real-world consequences, items that will be published ornreproduced or displayed, and creative expressions that you hope tonstand the test of time.n
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- Herenis some advice on how to proofread.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nVasaloppetnin Sweden
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nAuthor Kenneth Grahame’s birthdayn
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nJosephnLee’s birthday (he was father of the playground movement)
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nPiratenAnne Bonny’s birthday
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nDaylightnSavings Time begins
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nInternationalnWomen’s Day
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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n Marchn holidays
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nApriln holidays
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