A Grammar Tip a Day Keeps the Red Pen Away

 By Ashley Wilemon, Vice President

We are professional communicators in the business of managing reputations and representing brands, so it should be a no-brainer that using appropriate technical language is a critical part of our jobs. Not only are we in the business of creating clear and effective messages, but we are also representing ourselves, our companies and our clients with every keystroke. I’m not advocating that every email should be in AP style or that taking liberties with comma usage can’t be overlooked when scrambling to meet a deadline, but as a general rule, we should be taking the time to send thoughtful, well-crafted messages in emails and formal documents.

At the very least, avoiding some of the more obvious technical writing pitfalls might protect your own reputation. At the most, it gives you something to lord over those who are less informed, and isn’t it that smug sense of superiority what makes grammar so much fun? Here are a few tips you might already know, but if not, now you do!

Affect vs. Effect
Generally speaking, affect performs as a verb and effect as a noun.

• I hope the nasty weather doesn’t affect your mood. 
• Your sour mood had an effect on the party.

However, if you want to describe something that was caused or brought about, the right word to use is effect.

• The new procedures effected some positive changes in the office. 

Affect can also be used as a noun to describe facial expression.

• The young man was in shock; he responded with a flat affect. 
• The woman took the news of her husband's sudden death with little affect.

Anytime vs. Any time (anyone vs. any one, anything vs. any thing, etc.)
Use one word for an indefinite reference.

• Anytime you want to meet works for me.
• Anyone is welcome to come to my party.

Use two words when the emphasis is on singling out or identifying something specific.

• Are you available any time between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.?
• Is there any one game you prefer to play?

Myriad
It’s an adjective that works all on its own (like “many”). There is no need to add “of.”

• Right: I am tempted by the myriad sodas in the fridge.
• Wrong: I am tempted by the myriad of sodas in the fridge.

Directions
Generally, use the lowercase for north, south, eastern, southwest, etc. However, when referring to a widely recognized region or a proper name, capitalize.

• My crazy relatives refer to anyone from the Northeast as “Yankees.”
• Dorothy was from Kansas, which is considered the Midwest. However, she has friends all over the country.
• If you continue driving west, you will drive through southern New Mexico and southern Arizona and eventually arrive in Southern California.
• Carrie and her friends drank cosmos on the Upper East Side.
• Tim can tell you about how a farm boy from South Dakota became a member of north Dallas society.

Seasons
Lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter, autumn and all derivatives (such as springtime) unless they are part of a formal name.

• It was the summer of ’69 (Bryan Adams shout out!)
• Dallas Summer Musicals

P.S. Need a grammar laugh? Follow @FakeAPStylebook on Twitter. You won’t be disappointed. Sample tweet: “To make ‘pants’ singular, use a pair of scissors.”