Information StoreHouse

4 Major Mistakes to Avoid when Writing an Article


By avoiding these common mistakes, you will greatly improve your article. The Internet has an overabundance of disregarded content that was written in the same rambling way that the author normally speaks in. Many of these articles would never have been neglected by the general public had the author simply looked for these common mistakes prior to publishing.

Number One: Poor Title

The title, or headline, must grab the reader's attention and reel him or her into the story. It should not be extremely long. The title can be fun and does not necessarily need to be a verbatim description of the article. Sometimes a title is best written last. Keep in mind that we are talking about titles for articles and not books. This is an important distinction because longer titles and sub titles that might be appropriate for books will not work for articles.

Bad Title: Website Promotion Ideas: 8 Simple But Effective Tips To Get People To Visit Your Web Site Again And Again

Why? This long and clumsy title does not work for an article. The title has unneeded words and does not take the intended audience into consideration. The theme was correct and the title could be salvaged by properly rewriting it.

Better Title: 4 Major Mistakes to Avoid when Writing an Article

Why? This title is short, informs the reader what the article is about, and is worded to walk the reader into the article. It is properly targeted for the intended audience.

Number Two: Poor Opening

The opening paragraph, especially the introductory line, must be strong and present the topic. The title should flow nicely into the opening paragraph. If the title is "Saving Money at the General Store" and the article leads with "I really don't understand why more stores don't supply coupons"-it is time to rewrite. In this example, the reader will become confused quickly. It is important to maintain a logical flow.

Additionally, never write the following:

  • In this article, I will show? (Just show it)
  • This article will cover? (Articles do not need a table of contents or an outline)
  • By the end of this article? (Don't talk to your readers like they are in grade school-unless the audience really is in grade school)

Number Three: Poor Flow

Poor flow destroys writing in general. Many writers would benefit from creating an outline and rearranging their writing based on it. Writing that does not follow logical flow is completely doomed. Many article authors seem to simply write in the same order as thoughts occur in and then call the job complete. Meanwhile, the writing is a complete mess and a potentially great article remains nothing more than amateur fodder.

This mistake can be avoided by printing out the work, reading it over, and labeling the main theme for each sentence. In the "poor opening" example, the introductory sentence belonged later on in the article-perhaps the conclusion. Reading the article draft aloud is a professional technique for discovering sentence structure errors.

Number Four: Poor Conclusion

It is poor form to label your conclusion as such in an article. There is no need to type the word "Conclusion" or state "In conclusion". A conclusion should not be a summary of what was already written. It must include fresh writing, illustrate the main point of the article, and bring the article to a logical closing. Moreover, it can't leave the reader with the sense of incompletion. An ideal conclusion will drive the point home and give the reader the satisfaction of having read the article. The closing of the article must be communicated well or the reader will come away unsatisfied-even if the article was great up until that point.

Writing great articles takes practice and adhering to some basic principles. To eliminate poorly written articles, share them with your friends and family. Write down their questions and comments as they read your article. With newfound information in hand, proceed to rewrite your work. Never be afraid to delete and rearrange-every writer must do this. In the end, your readers will thank you by continuing to read your improved work.

©2005 Jason Andrew Martin LLC

Jason A. Martin has been conducting business on the Internet for 11 years. He is a freelance writer on many topics and is currently working on obtaining a degree in Journalism and Law.

His official web site, which contains articles you can use for your web site, can be viewed at: Jason A. Martin


MORE RESOURCES:

Teen weight loss program shows some benefit
Reuters
By Kerry Grens | NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A low-key, long term approach to teen weight loss produced modest benefits in a clinical trial, Australian researchers report, though a version of the program that added texts and emails didn't help kids ...

and more »


For weight loss, cutting back on calories matters most | Timi Gustafson
Tukwila Reporter
There is no real evidence that low-carb, low-fat or high-protein diets make as big a difference as overall calorie reduction when it comes to weight loss, according to Dr. George Bray who worked on the study. “Earlier research had found that certain ...

and more »


Choose a Medical Weight Loss Center with a Superior Safety Track Record
MarketWatch (press release)
Dr. Feiz & Associates is a widely respected source for weight loss in Los Angeles, not just because of their success rate, but also because of their enduring commitment to the highest safety standards. Dr. Michael Feiz and his team have never had a ...

and more »


Us Magazine

Beyoncé's post-baby body is hers -- not ours
The Grio
"A lot of postpartum weight loss has to do with genes or the individual woman. Some women will look like they were never pregnant shortly after delivery, while others will struggle with weight loss," said theGrio.com's health editor Dr. Tyeese Gaines.
Beyonce's Amazing Baby Weight LossExaminer.com

all 383 news articles »


PRunderground

Hypnosis For Weight Loss Has Hypnotherapist Doctor Busy In New York & Connecticut
PRunderground
Dr Ellyn Gamberg is a hypnosis for weight loss hypnotherapist in New York and Connecticut. Yesterday on his show Dr. Oz put that idea in the minds of millions of Americans. People all over Europe have been saying for years that Virtual Gastric Banding ...
Health: Hypnosis Lap Band, A Non-Invasive Way To Lose WeightCBS Local

all 3 news articles »


FHN to offer personalized weight loss program
Freeport Journal-Standard
By Karen Eisenhauer FHN is offering the personalized weight loss class, "Create Your Weight" from 4-5 pm Feb. 20 at FHN hospital, 1045 W. Stephenson St., Freeport. The class offers a personal weight reduction plan developed and led by registered ...

and more »


Weight Loss Rules You're Allowed to Break
FitSugar.com (blog)
Even though there are some very specific guidelines that can help you reach your goal faster, there's no one-size-fits-all weight-loss plan for everyone. Here are five rules you can bend and still drop pounds from the scale.
Ask the Diet Doctor: How Many Calories Should I Eat to Lose Weight?Shape Magazine

all 3 news articles »


Houston Weight Loss Surgeons Discuss How to Choose the Right Bariatric Practice
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Drs. Yu and Scarborough discuss key aspects to look for in a practice before undergoing a weight loss procedure such as gastric plication to help improve results and get patients back on track towards leading a healthier life.

and more »


Mother Nature Network (blog)

Weight loss: A possible benefit of the recession?
Mother Nature Network (blog)
Evidently there is some evidence pointing towards a link between an economic recession and weight loss. While one of the Freakonomics co-authors, Stephen Dubner, thought that the recession would lead to weight gains because people would head for fast ...

and more »


American Medical Association debuts weight-loss app
Yahoo! Philippines News
While there is no shortage of smartphone apps for weight loss on the market, such as Lose It!, Calorie Counter, and My Fitness Pal, the American Medical Association (AMA) recently unveiled its own free app compatible with iPhones, iPad, iPod Touch, ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007   www.Info-StoreHouse.com