Whether you’re writing location-based SEO content that incorporates state names in keyword phrases or just wanting to make sure you reference state names right in day-to-day communication, we’ve got your back. The writers of most content creation companies usually write using a popular style guide (AP, APA, Chicago, MLA) mixed with a house style. At BKA, we prefer AP style, which is a standard in journalism. Although the rules seem to change as often as I eat a shameful amount of candy (read: every day), I appreciate the AP editors’ understanding that language is constantly evolving. The same is true when it comes to AP state abbreviations.

What’s New With AP Style State Abbreviations?

Some writers may be unaware that AP changed the rule regarding how state names should be written. In the past, states were generally abbreviated in domestic articles and news stories, but they were always spelled out in international content. In an attempt to be more consistent across the board, AP has changed the ruling so that both domestic and international articles now contain spelled-out versions of state names.

State Abbreviations Are Not Extinct

Because nothing can ever truly be simple, abbreviated state names still are used in the following:

• Lists
• Tables
• Datelines
• Photo captions
• Nonpublishable editor’s notes
• Short-form identification
• Political party affiliation
• Agate editions
• Credit lines

What About Headlines?

AP style isn’t keen on using state abbreviations in titles, so spell them out.

Exceptions to the Rules

It wouldn’t be AP style without an exception or two! There are eight states that should never be abbreviated in text or datelines. Those are Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah.

A great way to remember this exception is to realize that Alaska and Hawaii are not in the contiguous United States, and the other exempted states contain five letters or fewer in their names. To be very, very clear, here are the AP state abbreviations (or lack thereof) for the states listed above:

• Alaska Abbreviation: Alaska
• Hawaii Abbreviation: Hawaii
• Idaho Abbreviation: Idaho
• Iowa Abbreviation: Iowa
• Maine Abbreviation: Maine
• Ohio Abbreviation: Ohio
• Texas Abbreviation: Texas
• Utah Abbreviation: Utah

How To Abbreviate Each State

When abbreviating the state names, don’t make the mistake of using the postal code abbreviations (think OK for Oklahoma). AP Stylebook has provided a list indicating exactly how the states should be shortened.

Alabama (Ala.)	Maryland (Md.)	North Dakota (N.D.)
Arizona (Ariz.)	Massachusetts (Mass.)	Oklahoma (Okla.)
Arkansas (Ark.)	Michigan (Mich.)	Oregon (Ore.)
California (Calif.)	Minnesota (Minn.)	Pennsylvania (Pa.)
Colorado (Colo.)	Mississippi (Miss.)	Rhode Island (R.I.)
Connecticut (Conn.)	Missouri (Mo.)	South Carolina (S.C.)
Delaware (Del.)	Montana (Mont.)	South Dakota  (S.D.)
Florida (Fla.)	Nebraska (Neb.)	Tennessee (Tenn.)
Georgia (Ga.)	Nevada (Nev.)	Vermont (Vt.)
Illinois (Ill.)	New Hampshire (N.H.)	Virginia (Va.)
Indiana (Ind.)	New Jersey (N.J.)	Washington (Wash.)
Kansas (Kan.)	New Mexico (N.M.)	West Virginia (W.Va.)
Kentucky (Ky.)	New York (N.Y.)	Wisconsin (Wis.)
Louisiana (La.)	North Carolina (N.C.)	Wyoming (Wyo.)

I suggest you print this table out and keep it close to your computer until you learn all the AP style state abbreviations. Why New Mexico is N.M. and West Virginia is W.Va. is unclear, but if you’re keen on following AP rules, then this is need-to-know information.

If you’d like a more visually appealing way to reference AP style state name abbreviations, save this map we’ve created with all the names you need.

The Good News

The positive here is that the Grammar Gods don’t care if you abbreviate state names, so if these rules aren’t in line with your house style or your clients’ way of writing, then scrap the guidelines, by all means! If in your mind the Arkansas abbreviation will always be AR and Missouri abbreviation MO, then so be it! This is a judgment-free zone.

Sound Off on State Name Abbreviations

What do you think about these AP style state abbreviation rules? Do they make sense to you, or do they make your head spin? Do you still prefer the Massachusetts abbreviation of MA over Mass.? Or the Virginia abbreviation of capitalized VA over Va.? Comment below! Click here if you’d like to freshen up on some more AP Style rules.

Need Help Writing Location-Based SEO Content?

If you’re a business owner trying to write your own SEO content targeting specific locations (like the states mentioned above), we can help there as well! We have affordable SEO plans that utilize our team of SEO content strategists and writers to find location-based keywords and write amazing content that ranks. Contact us to find out more about our monthly SEO content packages!

If you want to follow the content writing style used by magazines, newspapers, editors and journalists, then you need to study up on Associated Press style, or AP style. This style of writing is very commonly used in SEO content writing such as business blogging, press releases, eBooks, white papers and more. In the past we discussed how to correctly use AP style title case, and now we’re here to tackle the often confused topic of AP style numbers.

 

Knowing the Basics of AP Style Numbers

So how do you know when to spell out numbers in AP style? In general, you should spell out all numbers one through nine and use figures only for numbers 10 and above. While this rule seems short and sweet, there are a lot of exceptions that you need to be aware of.

AP Style Numbers Examples:

– My pet monster has three heads and five eyes.

– Did you know that 10 out of 25 people believe phony statistics?

 

Beginning a Sentence With a Number

When starting a sentence with a number, you usually want to spell the number out. However, there is an exception to this exception (things can never be easy, right?). If you start a sentence with a year, then use the figure.

Introductory AP Style Numbers Examples:

– Four thousand people gathered to celebrate the boy band’s upcoming album.

– 1999 was a good year to party, according to Prince.

 

AP Style Addresses

Always use figures for numbered addresses. However, if the name of the street is a number, then you should default back to the basics: spell out First through Ninth, and use figures for 10th and anything higher.

AP Style Address Examples:

– The President of the United States lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

– The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue in New York.

 

AP Style Ages

Use figures when writing ages:

AP Style Ages Examples:

– My 5-year-old brother is stinky and needs to bathe.

– The actress, 7, is being managed by her mother, 42.

 

AP Style Dates

Use figures when discussing dates, but never turn to ordinal numbers. In other words, when using AP Style numbers writing out July 4 is okay, but stay away from July 4th.

Additionally, if you are writing about a decade or century, never use an apostrophe. The only time an apostrophe is needed is if you are writing a decade and dropping the first half of the figure (‘80s).

AP Style Years, Months, Decades and Dates Examples:

– The Renaissance spanned from the 1300s to the 1600s.

– The ‘70s were all about peace, love, and flower power.

 

AP Style Measurements and Dimensions

Use figures when writing about dimensions—including height and weight. Bonus: Don’t abbreviate the unit of measurement when using AP Style numbers.

AP Style Height and Measurements Examples:

– My grandma is approximately 4-foot-10.

– On average, a garden snail moves 50 yards per hour.

 

AP Style Highways

Follow the example of the popular Route 66 and use figures when writing about highways and freeways.

AP Style Highway Examples:

– You need to take Interstate 5 for 34 miles before you’ll reach your destination.

 

AP Style Millions/Billions

Always use figures.

AP Style Millions/Billions Examples:

– There are 300 billion stars in the Milky Way.

– It has been estimated that over 85 million house cats live in North America.

 

AP Style Money

Use figures when referring to money, whether dollars or cents. All of the numerals will carry dollar signs except when discussing cents. Note that when writing about an even amount, you want to drop the period and zeroes that often accompany a dollar amount ($6.00 = NO!).

AP Style Dollars and Money Examples:

– The business was sold for $5.7 million last year.

– Remember when a call from a payphone only cost 10 cents?

– I paid $6 for that hamburger.

 

AP Style Percentages

Use figures and the percent symbol to express percentages. (This was changed in 2019. Previously we had to write out “percent.”)

AP Style Percentages Examples:

– Approximately 25% of the world’s supply of hazelnuts is used to make Nutella.

– Only 9% of Americans prefer watching baseball more than other sports. 

 

Try to avoid using a percentage to start a sentence, otherwise you have to write out the number and “percent.”

– Two percent of missing remotes are found outside. 

 

AP Style Plural Numbers

Just like when writing about decades and centuries, an apostrophe should not be used with plural numbers.

AP Style Plural Numbers Examples:

– Yesterday I bowled two 300s.

 

AP Style Speed

Use figures with speeds.

AP Style Speed Examples:

– We were going at least 75 mph.

 

AP Style Temperature

Use figures with temperatures.

AP Style Temperatures Examples:

– Even though it was 43 degrees outside, he went swimming.

 

AP Style Time

Use figures with time. Note that you should never use :00 when discussing an even hour. Likewise, midnight and noon should be spelled out.

AP Style Time Examples:

– 5 p.m., 6:30 a.m.

 

Well-Known Expressions in AP Style

Ready for another exception? If you are using clichés or well-known expressions, you should usually spell out the number.

AP Style Expressions Examples:

– Life begins at forty.

– She had her fifteen minutes of fame.

 

Perfecting AP Style Numbers Usage One Number at a Time

The AP style numbers guidelines are extensive, but they don’t have to be confusing. Mastering AP Style dates, temperatures, measurements, ages, time, percent, money, years, hours, speed and more is doable! If you commit one rule to memory each day, in just two weeks you will become an AP numbers master.

Let us know if you struggle with one of these exceptions with AP style numbers. You’re definitely not alone! Click here if you’d like to freshen up on some more AP Style rules.

 

Need Help Writing High-Quality SEO Content?

Just because you know AP style rules, doesn’t mean you should be the one that has to crank out all the content. When you work with a company like BKA Content to help produce high-quality SEO content, we’ll take your writing style guide and implement it into our processes. We’ve written thousands of blogs, web pages, ebooks and more all while properly utilizing AP style.

If you’d like help writing SEO content that ranks, adjusting/optimizing your site’s web content, or tackling large content writing projects at scale, we can help! Contact us to learn more about our monthly SEO blog writing services as well as our custom managed writing services.

You know what I really hate (besides sharks)? When I click on an attention-grabbing headline and find underwhelming content. I’m not talking about poorly written articles; I’m referring to subjects that have been covered over and over again without engaging the reader in a unique way. In reality, there is a stark difference when looking at good content vs bad content.

According to WordPress, the most popular blogging tool available, approximately 38.7 million new blog posts are created via its system every month. With more than 409 million people viewing over 13.1 billion pages every month, it’s vital that your content stands out if you want to attract interest in your site. In order to do that, you have to say farewell to the predictable, boring content writing methods of the past.

 

How to Make Good Content vs. Bad Content

As an SEO content creator, you’re not always going to be given enthralling topics. You can look at it as a negative aspect of your job and write an article about sump pumps begrudgingly, or you can view it as an opportunity to learn something new.

So how do you step outside the ordinary and create unique content using what are oftentimes very commonplace topics? Try implementing the following tips to help move your content writing from bad to good.

 

Get to Know the Client

Always take the time to check out a client’s website before you pick an angle for your article. This is a cardinal rule, and if you break it the angry content gods will send energetic toddlers to your place of work to distract you while you’re trying to make a writing deadline.

Why is this so important? If you’ve been asked to write about car accidents for a lawyer and you discuss ways to seek compensation for damages following a collision, your article won’t be relevant to a car accident defense attorney or his or her clients. It’s not enough to typecast clients into a general industry and assume that your article will apply. Check out their “About Us” section, learn about what makes them unique, and then create an interesting article based off of what you learned. Does a dog groomer have a signature shampoo that smells like rainbows and dreams? Use that to drive your focus!

 

Take It to Google

Making good content vs bad content also includes researching trending issues that relate to the topic you’ve been given. This can be as simple as searching for “jewelry trends 2020” and browsing articles that come up. The idea is not to recreate what you read but to use that information in a fresh way.

Also, look for applicable facts that can add legitimacy to your content and appeal to your reader. Did you know that the average person consumes around 1,500 lbs. of food in one year? Holy disgusting, Batman! It’s a totally true and thought-provoking stat that can now be passed off to your loved ones. You’re welcome.

 

Make Use of the Five Ws (and One H)

Utilizing the Five Ws and one H (who, what, when, where, why and how) is an important journalism concept that can benefit any SEO content writer when trying to create good content vs. bad content. Take a minute to think about questions related to your topic. While researching drain cleaning, I came up with a quick list of questions that can each properly address the topic without taking an overworked approach.

• Who invented the plumber’s snake?
• What causes a plumbing system to make moaning noises?
  
• When drain flies attack, what should you do?
• Where do food and dirty kitchen water ultimately go when you wash them down the drain?
• Why does the kitchen sometimes stink when you turn on your dishwasher?
• How can you prevent mold from growing in your drain?

That wasn’t so hard, right? From there, you can take it up another notch and start branching out to even more related topics. For instance, “10 Things to Never Put Down Your Kitchen Sink“.

Using the Five Ws (and one H) gives you a jump-off point for lots of creativity when content writing.

 

Be Relatable

It’s no secret that humans are creatures of comfort. This doesn’t just mean that we’d constantly live in sweatpants if we didn’t have to attract romantic partners (although I’m willing to bet most of us would). It means that we’re drawn to what makes us feel good. An easy way to bond with readers in a positive way is to meet them on their level, so find an angle that you think would be important to the reader, and go for it.

But what do you do when you feel like you have absolutely no connection to the topic? How do you write an article about acne when you are a standard of health and beauty who would never develop such a distasteful ailment? Just think about what you would do, how you would feel, and what questions you would ask if you did have acne. Being able to write in a way that other people can relate to is a huge measuring stick when it comes to the discussion of good content vs. bad content.

 

Good Content vs. Bad Content: Been There, Done That

Readers love interesting information, so give them what they are asking for. While it may seem easier to simply rework the first article that pops up in the search engine, you aren’t doing yourself, your client, or your readers any favors. If you have any other helpful tips on how to make good content vs bad content, please share them with us below! Check out some of our other content marketing posts for more tips and inspiration.

SEO category descriptions are an increasingly important part of content strategy and are becoming a larger part of the e-commerce content marketing mix. As more companies realize the additional SEO benefits that come from well-written category descriptions infused with relevant keywords, the higher the demand there is for this type of content.

One thing to keep in mind though, is that writing category content requires a slightly different mindset than traditional blogs or other SEO content.

 

How To Write A Stellar SEO Category Description

Before starting your next category content project, remember these five things to create more compelling category descriptions for SEO.

 

1. Incorporate Categorical Keywords

From an SEO perspective, category content is a great way to target broader keywords that you wouldn’t necessarily target on a product page. For instance, if your company sells all kinds of shoes, you’d want to be able to target specific keywords around the many categories you offer and lead people naturally through the e-commerce sales funnel. That way if people search for “men’s shoes”, they find your SEO category description that gives them all of the products that relate so they’re already one step closer to finding what they want.

Blogging is another way to capture these categorical keywords, but increasing SEO rankings for these terms on your category pages is better. Ecommerce SEO is all about getting the right product in front of the consumer as quickly as possible so they don’t get lost along the way.

 

2. Keep It Conversational

The goal of an SEO category page is to establish an emotional connection between the customer and the company. The tone of your writing is a large part of this. Although companies want to stay professional and remain an authority figure in their niche, you don’t want to do this at the expense of alienating your readers. Here are a couple of category description writing tips to consider:

• Familiarize yourself with the personality of the brand and mimic that voice.
• Whether the tone is formal or casual, keep the copy conversational, like you are speaking face to face with the customer.

Don’t get too technical in your category content copy. Product specs are important but belong in product descriptions, not category descriptions. Remember that category pages are the soft sell of the products, helping to reinforce to the reader that they are on the right track to finding the solutions to their problems.

 

3.  Emphasize Benefits With the Right Words

When writing SEO category descriptions, it’s easy to boast about all of the things your company offers that make you stand out from the competition. In e-commerce content writing, however, talking about yourself is a big no-no. People are inherently selfish and want to know what’s in it for them. You need to let them know how the products within that category fill a particular void and add value. Here are some category description writing tips to consider:

• Choose adjectives and other words carefully to appeal to the target audience.
• Use industry lingo when applicable.
• Always say ‘you’ instead of ‘we’

For example, if you are writing category pages for a high-end boutique, you might say, “Join the glitterati this weekend by accessorizing your LBD with one of our opulent necklaces.” As another example, instead of saying, “We offer the widest selection of products…”, say this instead, “You’ll find the widest selection of products here.”

If you ever find yourself at a loss for just the right words, check out The Big List of 189 Words that Convert or reference Words to Use.

Adjectives and other words in an SEO category description go a long way to eliciting the desired response from the customer, but don’t overuse them. Keep the category content clear and concise.

 

4.  Use Complete Sentences

As with any type of content writing, always use complete sentences in your category descriptions for SEO. While it might seem natural to simply write “Free Shipping” or “Measures 3-inches by 5-inches” in a category description, fragments like these activate low-quality filters with major search engines.

The best SEO category descriptions are the ones that flow naturally and reinforce a potential customer’s confidence that they are close to finding what they’re looking for. Good category content is also a great way to subliminally show customers that these products are something you specialize in. What company creates category pages for products they don’t know anything about?

Incomplete sentences do still have a place in e-commerce content writing, though. These fragments are best left for product description bullet points that are quickly and succinctly identifying specific product features.

 

5.  Avoid If/Then Statements

Generally speaking, when writing SEO category descriptions it is best to avoid using if/then statements. The fact that customers are on the category page in the first place means that they are shopping for a certain type of product. Instead, embed a call to action in the copy. Here are some examples of product category do’s and don’ts:

• Don’t: If you are shopping for lighting solutions, you can find a variety of products that brighten up your home here at Guiding Light.
• Do: Brighten up your home with innovative lighting solutions from Guiding Light.

Softly pushing the customer to act is a way to help drive leads/sales. High-quality category pages can help to set the mindset of the customer towards purchasing before ever clicking on a specific product page.

 

Well-Written Category Descriptions Improve SEO

Regardless of what type of client you are writing for, SEO category descriptions that incorporate these five elements perform better. Comment below if you have any other helpful tips on how to write category content! Check out some of our other content marketing posts to find more ways to improve your website’s SEO content.

Our brains are hardwired to make snap decisions. This skill was first put to use as a primordial protective measure that kicked in when faced with the snarling teeth of predators. Today we have less fear of feral animals turning us into breakfast and more concern for how many Twitter followers we can win over. Still, our decision-making systems are always subconsciously primed, influencing everything from the clothing we wear to the type of content we consume.

Sure, our parents instilled in us the errors of judging a book by its cover (or an article by its title), but the truth is that we will never stop. First impressions matter greatly, and if an article title falls flat then the likelihood that someone will read the article drops significantly. When writing online content, keep in mind that your readers will determine whether your articles have the potential to be engaging within the space of just a few seconds. Oh, the pressure! That’s why creating attention-grabbing titles is even more important than ever.

 

How To Create Attention-Grabbing Article Titles

So, now that we’ve established that creating attention-grabbing titles is important, how do you go about doing it? Read on to find 6 great tips how to create good article titles.

 

Keep Your Promises

A good title tells the reader what the article will discuss and delivers on that promise. Never try and trap consumers with an enticing headline that has nothing to do with the content presented. The only thing that will do is push away potential customers (or blog subscribers) and drive credibility way down.

Another term for a title that doesn’t deliver on its promises is clickbait. Don’t create clickbait. However, there are some important lessons you can learn from clickbait about using attention-grabbing words to draw the reader in.

 

Get to the Point

If you want to reel in readers, don’t overwhelm them with lengthy titles. Remember that your ultimate goal is to create interest in the time that it takes to scan a headline, and that’s not going to happen if you bore them to death from the get-go. A manageable title is generally around 5-10 words long. If yours is much longer than that, see if you can cut the fluff while still maintaining your original focus.

No:         Knowing Which Dentist to Choose When You Are Dealing With a Dental Emergency Is Often a Difficult Process
Yes:       5 Characteristics That Trustworthy Dentists Possess

 

Match Your Client’s Style

As an SEO content creator, it is important to ensure that the work you produce for your client positively reflects their company culture. This concept is important to consider when writing both the title and body of the article. For example, if your client has a laid back, witty approach, then creating content that is too sterile won’t fall in line with what they need. One easy way to make sure that you understand what direction to take is to read the client’s About Us page of their website or peruse a few of their more recent blog headlines and then match their tone and requirements.

Regardless of style, it is always important to create an article title that is interesting and will grab the reader’s attention.

 

Don’t Be Mysterious

While you might think that you can draw in readers with ambiguous or mysterious titles, this tactic rarely works. Think about how unproductive it is when your friends post vague social media status updates like, “Stop eating my chips!” This approach accomplishes very little. The problem with generalized headlines is that they are not usually interesting enough to attract a lot of readers. You may get a curious browser or two, but gambling on results isn’t constructive.

No:         Do You Take This Vitamin?
Yes:       Why Vitamin D Is Essential for Strong Bones

 

Take Your Time

Much like with the conclusion, many writers make the mistake of spending as little time as possible creating a title. This is a big mistake! Consider coming up with a headline first to help drive the focus of your article. When you have finished writing your content, rework the title if necessary and ensure that it appropriately fits your article.

Also, work to add any attention-grabbing words that can enhance the title and make it more appealing to a reader. You might also consider inserting SEO keywords to help maximize the online reach of the article through proper SEO optimization techniques. Take the time to craft your title well and it can make a great piece of content go even further.

 

Engage Your Audience

Most people have a fundamental desire to constantly be engaged in something they deem is worthwhile. When you craft interesting, succinct titles, you encourage a reader to take a moment of their time to see what you have to offer. 

Sometimes the angle you’ve taken with the article title is enough to put the reader into the right mindset to consume the article in a new light. For instance, instead of talking about how to remove a stain from clothes, maybe talk about 10 things that definitely WILL stain your clothes. It’s a similar topic that will cover lots of the same things, but the reader is going into the article with a new perspective based on the creative article title.

 

Other Tips for How To Create a Title?

What do you think? What drives you to click on an article title to learn more? Do you have any tricks or tips on how to create a title? Comment below!

Do you ever wonder if you are writing social media, SEO writing terms and general internet terms correctly? For instance, do you know the AP style rules for spelling Wi-Fi? Or have you ever wondered if the word ‘internet’ is capitalized? If so, you’re not alone.

 

Internet Writing Terms List

Use this quick list to help keep your work grammatically correct and maintain your online cred.

 

Backlink

Keep backlink one word and never hyphenate it. Always use standard capitalization rules.

Email

The AP Stylebook no longer accepts “e-mail” and has adopted the cleaner, hyphen-free email. Always use standard capitalization rules.

Facebook

Keep Facebook one word and never hyphenate it. Avoid any yearning you may have to write “FaceBook.” Also, if you want to kick a Facebook friend to the curb, you are unfriending them, not defriending them.

Google+

If you want to follow the AP rules, then write out Google Plus. Otherwise, Google+ is just fine. Note that there is no space between the word and the symbol.

Hashtag

The # symbol is called a hashtag, not a hash tag. To use a hashtag is called hashtagging, and the past tense of that ishashtagged. Always use standard capitalization rules.

Homepage

The Yahoo Style Guide has declared that homepage is correct, not home page. However, both forms are still regularly used, and both follow the standard capitalization rules.

Hyperlink

Keep hyperlink one word and never hyphenate it. Always use standard capitalization rules.

Internet

Go for the lowercase internet.

Keyword

Keep forms of keyword one word and never hyphenate them. Always use standard capitalization rules.

Online

Keep forms of online one word and never hyphenate them. Always use standard capitalization rules.

Pinterest

Pin + interest = Pinterest. Make sure you don’t drop the first E, which is a common mistake (Pintrest ).

Retweet

Posting messages on Twitter is called tweeting (not twittering), and reposting them is called retweeting. Additionally, RT (always capitalized) is the abbreviated form of retweet, which uses standard capitalization rules.

Search Engine Optimization

SEO is the well-known acronym for search engine optimization, which uses all standard capitalization rules.

Twitter

Twitter is a company and brand name, so it follows the rules of proper nouns and is always capitalized. A message on Twitter is called a tweet.

URL

URL is an acronym for Uniform Resource Locator. Since all acronyms are capitalized, a lowercase version of URL should never be used. Likewise, U.R.L. is not an accepted form. More than one URL should be URLs.

Web

When Web is used alone, always capitalize it. When referring to a website, a webcam, or a webmaster, abide by standard capitalization rules (and also keep them one word). Note: Web site is no longer recognized by the AP Stylebook.

Wi-Fi

Many people try to crunch this word together (wifi), but the correct use is Wi-Fi (always hyphenated and always capitalized). This is according to Wi-Fi AP Style guidelines.

YouTube

You can do the word crunching when writing YouTube. Make sure the Y and T are always capitalized.

 

Any Other Internet Writing Terms You Need Help With?

Outside of whether or not ‘Wi-Fi’ is capitalized, or if ‘internet’ is a proper noun, are there any other internet writing terms that you struggle with? If so, comment below!

 

Have you ever wondered if you are writing high-quality articles or high quality articles? Is there even a difference between the two phrases? I never used to care, but then the grammar gods came to me in a vision and told me that the internet would collapse if I didn’t learn about compound adjectives.

There is a strong possibility that I just made up that last part, but let me just say this: I’ve read the Old Testament, and I’m not too keen on enduring a plague of commas as a consequence for not teaching the world something useful about compound adjectives.

 

What Is a Compound Adjective?

A compound adjective (also referred as a phrasal adjective) is created when at least two words are combined to modify one noun. In an effort to avoid confusion, the adjectives should be linked together with a hyphen.

Compound Adjective Examples:

• The cost-effective plan was introduced by a long-haired man.
• I quit my part-time job to become a hamster groomer.

 

What Could Be so Confusing About Compound Adjective Hyphenation?

Certainly in some circumstances discussing the part-time job as the “part time job” wouldn’t be cause for confusion. But what if I told you that I saw a half baked brownie? Am I talking about half of a baked brownie or a brownie that wasn’t fully cooked? Regardless of the treat’s condition, the only thing you can be sure of is that I ate it.

 

Placement Matters

If you’re ready to argue that you’ve seen a well-respected writer drop the hyphen now and again, just take a deep breath. That’s because the compound adjective must come before the noun to be hyphenated, in most cases. In other words, articles of high quality are written by high-quality writers.

Compound Adjective Examples:

Yes: That turtle had a razor-sharp wit.

Yes: That turtle’s wit was razor sharp.

Note: Some phrases are customarily hyphenated even if they are placed after a noun. These include words like brother-in-law, cost-effective, fine-tune, and old-fashioned. The best way to determine whether or not a phrase always carries a hyphen is to check the dictionary.

 

The AP Stylebook Exception to Compound Adjectives

The AP Stylebook had to mix things up even more with this rule: When a modifier that normally would be hyphenated before a noun is used following a “to be” verb, the hyphen should be retained. Is your head spinning yet?

Compound Adjective Examples:

Yes: The reddish-pink rose is pretty.

Yes: The rose is reddish-pink.

 

Joining Adverbs and Adjectives

So, what about phrases like “environmentally-friendly cars,” “happily-married men” and “freshly-cut grass” where at least one of the describing words is an -ly adverb? If you guessed that these hyphenated phrases are all wrong, then give yourself a million dollars because you’re right! Most of the time adverbs should not be linked to adjectives with hyphens.

Here’s where things start getting ugly – What do you do with words that act as both adjectives and adverbs? Examples include well, fast, near, dead, straight, and long. In order to avoid ambiguity, these words are usually hyphenated before a noun. According to the AP Stylebook, the exception to this occurs when very begins the compound modifier. Never hyphenate very!

Compound Adjective Examples: 

I ate at a well-known donut shop.

The long-established truth is that I’m addicted to sugar.

I had a very good time watching that documentary on hiccups.

 

Compound Adjectives: Cry If You Have To

Learning how to properly hyphenate compound adjectives is not easy for a lot of seasoned writers. So, have patience with yourself and take it one concept at a time. You’ll be a master of hyphenation in no time!

If you have any tricks of the trade that can make using compound adjectives easier to swallow, please comment below!

My sister and I recently had the following conversation via text:

This chat highlights the dependency many of us have on the exclamation point (and my love for Rice Krispies treats). It also leads me to question if this overly used punctuation mark is losing the identity it once had.

 

The Mark of Admiration or Exclamation

In the 15th century, the exclamation point was known as both the “note of admiration” and the “sign of admiration or exclamation.” At that time, admiration referred more to wonder, so an exclamation mark was used to denote awe, amazement, and a cause of surprise. Over time, the exclamation point was also popularly used to indicate shouting, danger, and strong feelings for something.

Today those primary applications are still present, but many individuals now subscribe to an implied set of grammar bylaws that promote a constant need for the exclamation point. Much like my sister believed that I was only mildly interested in her delicious dessert because I wrote “K,” instead of “K!,” many writers (of anything from texts to SEO content) feel that leaving off exclamation marks can leave their writing bland or prevent the reader from fully grasping the excitement that’s being expressed.

 

When to Use Exclamation Points?

If your writing is conveying admiration, making a declaration or showcasing legitimate surprise, then using exclamation points will do the trick! A well-placed exclamation mark can emphasize a point, give the reader a breather as far as tone, and break up the text in a manner of speaking. That being said, it’s still best to use the exclamation point sparingly.

 

The Punctuation That Cried Wolf

The problem with overusing the note of admiration is that its true intentions will often become diluted, and it will turn into the punctuation that cried wolf. If you want your readers to feel enthusiasm for or the importance of something, then peppering your content with exclamation marks is the wrong direction to take. All it will do is cause a lot of eye rolls and lead your readers to glaze over the exclamatory phrases and read them as declarations instead.

 

How Many is Too Many Exclamation Points?

In regards to professional writing, the only definitive advice I can give is to always avoid using a string of exclamation points (!!!) as that will only showcase an absence of professionalism. Apart from that, you’re on your own to determine what’s right for your article or manuscript. Keep in mind that even just one exclamation mark can be inappropriate in some cases. For example, a phrase like “Act fast!” may read as an energetic call to action, or it may seem pushy and manipulative, depending on the context and the preceding punctuation. Whenever you’re in doubt, the best bet is to opt out and use a period instead.

 

Ration Your Exclamation Marks

While using exclamation points in formal writing was mostly unheard of in the past, the birth of technology and casual online connections have altered the way we communicate, even in professional settings. Still, if you want your exclamatory sentences to be taken seriously, use them only when you really mean it!

To exclaim or not to exclaim? Share your opinion of when to use exclamation points below.

If I said that I feel badly, would you tell me to eat a cup of chicken noodle soup and rest, or would you wonder why my sense of touch is messed up? The bad vs. badly misunderstanding is persistent, so let’s make sense of these commonly confused words.

 

Bad vs. Badly at a Glance

The main difference between the words bad and badly comes in their meanings. See below:

* Bad means “unwell.” It is also used to describe the opposite of good.
* Badly describes how something is done, or it is used as an intensifier.

 

When To Use Bad

The adjective bad often comes after linking verbs (appear, be, feel, smell) to describe a subject’s state of being or condition. Bad generally means “not good,” “unwell,” or “inadequate,” and it also modifies a noun.

Examples of Using Bad:

– Jane felt bad when her dog ran away. (Jane was sad when her dog ran away.)
– Jane had a bad dog.  (The dog was disobedient.)

 

When To Use Badly

Badly is an adverb that modifies action verbs.

Examples of using Badly:

– Tim played the piano badly. (Tim is not skilled at playing the piano.)
– I slipped on the badly cleaned floor. (Someone didn’t do a good job of cleaning the floor, so I slipped.)

Badly also acts as an intensifier, which enhances the emotional influence of an expression.

– Jack’s arm was badly broken. (Jack’s arm is severely broken.)
– I badly want the job. (I want the job so much.)

 

Still Confused on Whether To Use Bad or Badly?

One reason bad and badly are confused so often is because many linking verbs can be used as action verbs. For example, you can use “feel” to describe your state of being and the act of touching something. If you’re a little shaky on whether a word is being used as a linking verb or an action verb, try substituting the word you want to use (bad/badly) with a similar word and see if it makes sense.

– The hotel guest felt miserably.
– The hotel guest felt miserable.

Which bad vs. badly example sounds more natural to you? Number two, right? Right! So in this case, bad is correct, unless you want to portray that the hotel guest was in a competition for touching and did a terrible job.

– The hotel guest felt bad.

 

Bad vs. Badly: Don’t Be Bad at Grammar

Viktor E. Frankl once said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation … we are challenged to change ourselves.” A lot of people are going to use bad and badly incorrectly, but you don’t have to be one of them. Memorize these grammar rules and kick the bad vs. badly confusion to the curb. If you use a trick to tell these two words apart, please share below!

When I first started writing professionally, I would rework my content so much that I sometimes made around $4 an hour. That barely covers my cream soda addiction! Most writers are interested in things like paying bills and feeding their children, so a low rate like that doesn’t fly. Well, at least it doesn’t have to.

If you’re looking for tips on how to write faster, then one of the best places to learn is from freelance writers who have been there before. Listen to them (me!), and there is no doubt that you’ll be able to write faster and see an increase in your article output (and your paycheck), all without letting work quality slip.

 

How To Write Faster and Better

In the freelance writing realm, the faster you write, the more money you make. Most content writing gigs are paid out per article, and the payout is usually determined on a per-word basis. The more words you can complete in a quicker time frame, the higher your pay per hour becomes.

The key is to be able to increase your writing speed without seeing major drops in quality. Sure, you can mash the keyboard and get lots of letters on a page, but if your content provides little-to-no value, then you’ll likely lose clients, jobs and opportunities for higher-paying work.

So, without further ado, here are eight great tips on how to write faster and better and how to make more money at the same time.

 

1. Understand the Learning Curve

The most important tip is to realize that there WILL be a learning curve when you first start writing content professionally. I’ve talked to so many writers who’ve spent multiple hours on their first paid article only to find that they were averaging less than $5 bucks an hour. I get it; that rate sucks. But you have to remember that learning how to write a blog post fast doesn’t happen overnight. Just like anything else, it takes practice.

For one, when writing articles for clients that you haven’t written for before, you have to learn about their industry, what they do and what their writing requirements are. Sometimes understanding the writing guidelines and industry nuances takes way more time than actually writing the dang article. However, once you get it, the content creation process can speed up exponentially.

The trick is to start slow. Take one article at a time, ask the client (or editor) you’re working with for feedback, and try not to get overwhelmed. For most new freelance writers I’ve worked with (and I’ve worked with thousands), writing starts to get much quicker, better, more familiar and easier after about 2-4 weeks. If that’s too much time for you to wait, then this gig might not be for you. But just remember that few people pay for skills that anyone can do right off the bat.

 

2. Sometimes Less Is More

I know this heading is vague, but it has multiple meanings when it comes to how to write fast and neat for clients. Ultimately, the point is that if you become a specialist in certain industries, clients or content types, you can reduce the amount of research, back and forth, client headaches and general mayhem in your professional writing. This ultimately leads to quicker writing and higher pay. Here are some specific examples:

 

Do More Article Writing for Fewer Clients

In the beginning, you may be tempted to take on work from every client you can. This is a mistake. With every client having different style guides, writing requirements and communication/feedback styles, you could spend hours learning the ins and outs of each client. This increases your writing time; it doesn’t make your writing quicker. So you may have more work, but you’re being much less efficient, which isn’t ideal.

Instead, start with just a few clients you can write lots of content for. That way, you can invest time early on in their style guides, industry nuances and terminology, which will allow you to perfect the writing style for each client. Once you’ve done five or six pieces, you’ll start creating your own shortcuts for getting great content that the client can use. While there may be less variety in what you’re writing about, you’ll maximize your efficiency, and your writing will get quicker.

 

Do More Writing of Fewer Content Types

In the same vein as the previous tip for writing faster, try reducing the different types of content you write. In the freelance writing world, there are ALL kinds of content you could be writing. Some examples include:

• Press releases
• Blog posts
• Case studies
• Web pages
• Social media posts
• Product descriptions
• E-books
• Location pages
• White papers

And that’s just to name a few! Remember that all of these different content types have different requirements that make them unique from each other, and learning the ins and outs of each again increases your research and time investment.

Like writing for fewer clients, to learn how to write faster, you should first work on perfecting fewer types of content writing where the formatting and purpose are similar. For instance, if you love writing sales copy, try creating product and category descriptions. You’ll still get the experience and efficiency of writing lots of sales copy while getting the variety of writing for different e-commerce products. This can help you to plug and play formatting guidelines and speed up the writing process.

 

Incremental Increases Lead to Efficient, Well-Rounded Writing

Lastly, I don’t want to discourage any writers from branching out in their writing for different industries or content types. This is the spice of the writing life! The main point is that if you’re frustrated or overwhelmed with how slow your writing is, that this is one way you learn how to write faster. Start with less, then move up to more once you’ve mastered the others. Add to your writing repertoire incrementally instead of all at once.

 

3. Turn Off Distractions

You don’t need to find out what your friends had for lunch or look at pictures of their babies when you should be writing. Some of the biggest distractions for writers include:

• Social Media
• Texting
• Candy Crush
• Online Boggle/Scrabble
• Phones in General
• Pets
• Kids
• The Internet
• Video Games/Fortnite
• Books
• Basically, Anything and Everything

The truth is, there are so many distractions when you’re a freelance writer working remotely. The key is to identify the biggest personal distractions for you and learn what works for you to turn them off and set them aside while you write a blog post, article, e-book or anything else. Reward yourself with a voyeuristic jaunt online after your article is complete.

For now, silence your phone, sign out of all 15 of your social media accounts, and get prepared to start focusing. I have had to put my phone on the other side of the room so that I didn’t mindlessly check it just because it was there. That’s a real obsession, but one of the steps to recovery is admitting that you have a problem, so I think that I’m doing alright.

 

4. Plan Time To Write

One of the easiest ways to write faster is to set aside dedicated time just for writing. Literally, make an appointment with just you and your keyboard. Sometimes, you’re not actually a slow writer, but because of the way you’ve organized your day, it feels like you’re slow as molasses.

For example, let’s imagine it’s just past lunchtime. The baby has gone down for a nap, and you have a few extra minutes to yourself that you figure you’ll put to good use. As you sit down to start writing, the phone rings, a package comes to the door (which wakes up your baby from the nap) and all of a sudden, you are busy with more day-to-day things to take care of. As a result, the writing goes on the back shelf.

From the time you first started writing to the time you ended, perhaps 3-4 hours have gone by! But in reality, you were sitting at your computer writing for only an hour of that. The rest was you multi-tasking like a champ. If you can plan dedicated time just for writing, you may be surprised with how much you get done and how quickly you are actually writing.

 

 

5. Find Your Focus

Finding your focus has less to do with centering your chi and more to do with coming up with a topic to write about. Sure, you could do an open online search of your keywords and see if something interesting pops up, but I guarantee that if you take that approach, you will still be researching after 30 minutes (unless you have more control than I do). Researching can be very interesting, but without a focus, you can easily find yourself reading an enthralling article about celebrities and the people they used to date.

As soon as you sit down to work, think about your topic or the keyword you’ve been given. Then, follow our tips for getting rid of predictable content and ask yourself one of the following question starters:

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• How

Come up with one or two questions to help drive your focus before you research. For example, if your topic is about swimming pools, then you might ask yourself, “How can I make a pool safe for children?” Once you have that question in mind, look for content that helps answer it.

Another great thing about the internet is that there are lots of free tools available to help you when you aren’t feeling particularly creative. One such tool is called answerthepublic.com. If you are looking for how to write a blog post fast, simply type in a keyword or topic, and it will give you an ideation wheel using data that is currently being searched for. This method of finding a focus can give you TONS of directions to take the article. Give it a go!

 

6. Cut Back on Research

It seems counterintuitive, but it is possible to research too much depending on the type of content you’re writing. As SEO content writers, we need to remember that we’re not typically writing a thesis, so we shouldn’t research like we are.

Instead, your research should match the topic/purpose of the content at hand. If you’re drafting a 300-word article on a common topic, it doesn’t pay (literally) to spend 30-45 minutes looking up facts and tips. Plus, sorting through loads of information after you’ve gathered it can be time-consuming.

 

How To Research and Write Articles Faster

Limit yourself to a relatively short but reasonable period of time to find your source material. Time yourself if you need to. In many cases (like when rewriting existing product descriptions, for example), it’s possible to find solid information in under five minutes.

On the other hand, if you are a specialist in an industry and have been asked to write expert-level content, you should increase your research time to make sure you’re speaking knowledgeably about the subject. Typically, you’ll be paid more to do more intense research for a project like that.

 

7. Prepare an Outline

Whether you are writing a blog post, an SEO article, or the next great American novel, do yourself a favor and create an outline. This should be done while you are researching. Having a basic structure to work from keeps you from mindlessly staring at a blank screen. Every writer attacks the outline in an individual way, but a common trick is to write the headings and then fill them in.

When it comes to how to write a blog post faster, I use a template. First, I come up with a title, leave room for an introduction and include three to five main points I can turn into headers. Lastly, I end with a conclusion. I don’t always write the main points in succession. I frequently move the sections around after I’m done, depending on the flow of the article when I’m proofreading it at the end.

The trick is to give yourself five or six starting points. You’ll gain momentum as you start filling in the blanks and watch your screen fill up with words.

 

8. Silence Your Inner Critics

If you want to write quickly, then you need to learn to shut off the voices in your head telling you to write an award-winning sentence before you move on to the next. This is my biggest weakness. Start with a first draft, but realize that it won’t be perfect. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write without stopping or editing. Get out all of your thoughts, letting your stream of consciousness flow.

Lastly, abide by this list of don’ts:

• Don’t stop writing until the timer dings.
• Don’t backspace.
• Don’t read and reread what you’ve already written.
• Don’t stop to look up a smarter sounding word or check the article requirements.
• Don’t toggle between researching new information and writing content.
• Don’t worry that you’ll be shamed for life if someone reads the draft before you have time to polish it.

You may think that this technique will leave you with a mess that will take even longer to fix, but try it out and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the gems that come to mind when you get outside of your head and let the content flow. Once you’re done with the rough draft (aka information dump), you will definitely have to rearrange a few paragraphs, run spell check, and incorporate the article guidelines.

But, I expect you’ll be giddy with excitement to see how much time you saved because of how much faster you were writing.

 

Share the Wealth on How To Write Articles Faster and Better

I challenge all writers to diligently try this process for a full week (at least). Share it with your writer friends, and let us know if you’ve noticed a difference in how much you can get done every day. Lastly, please share any other fast writing tips you have on how to write faster in the comments below.

Happy and fast writing!