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Grammar Corner
Commas
in a Series
There are two schools of thought when it comes to adding or not adding the last comma to a series. Some say use punctuation sparingly and therefore leave it out. Others say the last comma is necessary to clarify the meaning.
I favor adding the last comma. Here's why:
Imagine I'm listed in a will to receive a sum of money that will be divided among a group. Note the possible results, all due to the last comma:
"Split $120,000 evenly among Joe, Donna, Eric and Laurel."
Without the comma, it could be contested that Joe should receive $40,000. Donna should receive $40,000. And Eric and Laurel together, should receive $40,000. (Divide that between Eric and me, and I'm only collecting $20,000.)
"Split $120,000 evenly among Joe, Donna, Eric, and Laurel."
Now, there's no question. Each of us will collect $30,000. (Joe and Donna might not be happy with this punctuation, but Eric and I feel pretty good.)
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My Birds--Chickens, Guineas, and Homing Pigeons
I never realized how many different sounds chickens make until I had my own.
There's the usual look-look-what-I-got clucking; the braaack, braack, braack (not sure how to spell that); and the little moany, groany sounds, too. But, my favorite it their "Woub, woub, woub" sound.
It makes me wonder, because it sounds exactly like the sound the Three Stooges made so often. Could it be they grew up on a farm and were imitating their chickens?
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Greetings!
Best wishes to you and yours! I hope you find this month's newsletter enjoyable and useful.
As always, I welcome your feedback. Email me with your comments, questions, or requests for help or service.
I am growing my business and need your help. Please take a moment to forward this newsletter to other businesses and administrative assistants. Just click here to forward it.
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 8 Ways to Get Their Interest and Win Their Loyalty
With so many newsletters and other information available today, it is important to catch the attention of your readers and then keep it. How do we do that?
- Send it to the right people. Be sure your audience is interested in what you have to offer. Don't send your newsletter out to just anyone, send it to your target market-to people who are interested in your area of expertise and want to know more.
- Build attention-getting subject lines. These should be no more than 30 to 50 characters long, so they can see what's in the newsletter before opening it. Make it appealing, and when possible, use a number ("Top 10" or "8 Ways"). Try to be specific. If the subject line doesn't grab them, they'll never see your content.
- Make your content valuable. Once they've opened it, inform and educate them in such a way that they don't regret their click. Identify their needs and fulfill them. Give them what you promised when they subscribed.
- Share a story. Everyone loves a story; they can be riveting. If you can tell a story and relate it to your message, more readers will be on the edge of their seat following along and getting the point.
- Personalize it. It's all about building relationships. Studies say e-newsletters create closer relationships than web sites. Make sure you cultivate those relationships. Use their name. Let them get to know you.
- Create community. With today's technology, it's possible to allow your readers to connect to you and each other. Link them to your web page. Ask their opinion, and provide incentives. Consider possible connections with blogs, surveys, forums, podcasts, etc. Create engagement.
- Make the beginning of articles and the beginning of paragraphs short and tantalizing. Grab their attention with the opening, but keep it going with the same tone in each paragraph. This helps people get started and then keep reading.
- Make it informal with a 6th to 8th grade reading level. Make your excellent material an easy read. You can use Word's grammar check to determine what grade level you are writing in. If it's higher than 8th grade, reduce the size of words and the length of sentences.
Apply these eight suggestions, and increase the number of people on your list who open and continue to open your newsletters.
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| Making a Difference
Inside the Lyon's Den
Neal Griebling, owner of Future Design Studio, Inc. ( www.futuredesignstudio.com) helps people identify and find work they love. Below, he shares his view on a newsletter he receives:
In his newsletter "Inside the Lyon's Den," Weston Lyon has developed an innovative communication vehicle to share his knowledge with an ever-growing constituency ( www.westonlyon.com). Weston's newsletter is easy to read because the format is minimalist and uncluttered. The eye is able to follow the text effortlessly. Likewise, the content is simple (without being simplistic) and easy to digest.
Weston has important information to convey that will 1) improve health and fitness, 2) offer guidance on letting go of reactive behavioral patterns that do not serve his readership, and 3) link his readers to a wealth of resources to improve their lives. Weston is all about helping others and his newsletter reflects this quality in spades. Highly recommended!
[The experiences related in this column are focusing on "Making a Difference," with the goal of inspiring each of us to create and notice ways that have a positive effect on those we touch. Being featured in this column does not indicate one way or another, my opinion of the person or group featured. If the business or organization sparks your interest, go to their website and form your own opinion.]
[Do you have an experience where a newsletter has made a difference for you or your business? Please email or call me to share your story.]
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Workstation Tips
After an Hour, Take a Break
How long do you sit at the computer without getting up? Three or four hours? More?
Experts around the world agree that you should not sit in the same position for any longer than an hour. Check out these comments:
USA, Carnegie Mellon University-"Typing continuously creates problems because it tires the muscles and makes them generally more prone to injury. Breaks of five minutes every half hour, or ten minutes every hour, are most often recommended. ... Check the supply cabinet, review the hard copy of a report or paper, or do an exercise."- http://www.cmu.edu/rsi/WaysToPreventRSI.htm
Canada, Canadian Physiotherapy Association-"Sitting for extended periods of time without changing position is hard on your whole body. ... Get up from your work station for a short stretch or walk around to promote blood flow to fatigued muscles every hour."- http://www.toronto.com/print_article/1011
Austrailia, The National Safety Council of Australia-"Take a break every hour. ... The National Gallery of Austrailia...introduced WorkPace software for the 200 staff who use a keyboard. The software monitors how long users have been working at a computer and periodically prompts them to take breaks and do stretches." - http://thebigchair.com.au/news/career-couch/comuter-related-injuries?printerfriendly-true
If you haven't already, start the habit of getting out of your chair after an hour of sitting. You can buy speacial software or use a program like Outlook to set an appointment with an alarm to remind you. You could even set an alarm on your cell phone. Then get up and move. Do some filing, check on an order, pick up the mail, or any other part of your job that doesn't require sitting. Your body will thank you.
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