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• The Slang Patrol

  3109 readersEnlivening otherwise dry or somber topics, from Wall Street to Pakistan, is an admirable goal. But tossing in slang or colloquial expressions, a faddish buzzword or some hip lingo from a bygone era is seldom the best solution. Many colloquialisms are almost by definition clichés as well, so they can lower the tone without necessarily

• The Slang Patrol

  116 readersEnlivening otherwise dry or somber topics, from Wall Street to Pakistan, is an admirable goal. But tossing in slang or colloquial expressions, a faddish buzzword or some hip lingo from a bygone era is seldom the best solution. Many colloquialisms are almost by definition clichés as well, so they can lower the tone without necessarily

• Terry McMillan’s Advice to Young Authors: ‘Focus on Your Stories, Not the Fame’

  1363 readersWith millions of books sold and fans already salivating over news that a film version is in the works for her latest release Getting To Happy, Terry McMillan has accomplished feats in publishing that most scribes could only dream of. So, what's the one piece of advice she'd give to those looking to emulate her

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  How to Increase Your Vernacular Vocabulary

  2683 readersIf you would like to receive props for your language prowess and you don't want to sound hinky when talking with others, a good way to start increasing your vocabulary is by watching television.I just heard the word props for the first time while watch...

• The Chatty Effect

  1318 readersAs I've often noted, we strive for vivid and lively writing in straight news as well as in features. But in most cases, slang or colloquial words aren't the best approach. Those expressions can seem out of place in news stories, undercutting the serious and literate tone we seek.

• The Chitchat Patrol

  1661 readerss I've discussed often, we try to avoid colloquial or slang expressions in straight news stories. Even in features we should use them judiciously, for special effect. Chatty or colloquial language, in news stories in particular, can undercut the ser...

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  Follow The Write News on Social Media

  4739 readersYou can keep up with the latest media and publshing news from WriteNews.com by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Our Facebook page is located here and our Twitter page is @writenews. Writers Write, Inc., the publisher of internetwritingjournal.com, also runs blogs covering blogging, books, business, gaming, health, music, science and sports. You can find the Facebook and Twitter

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  It’s, like, totally bitchin’!

  1435 readersTeen slang: What’s, like, so wrong with like? By Denise Winterman - BBC News Magazine Actress Emma Thompson says young people make themselves sound stupid by speaking slang outside of school. But while the use of the word “like” might annoy [...]

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  Dan Rather: My First Big Break

  5077 readers In the latest episode of mediabistroTV’s series “My First Big Break,” we speak to HDNet “Dan Rather Reports” anchor and former “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather. Did you know that if it weren’t for a hurricane that struck near Galveston, Texas, he might never have had his shot at working in network news? That

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  Most News Still Comes From Traditional Media

  4090 readers A new study by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism finds that much of the “news” people receive contains no original reporting. Said another way, only a few traditional outlets report on the news, the rest repeat it. The study examined all the outlets that produced local news in Baltimore, Maryland, over