| If you are engaging in a writing career, whether full or | | | | is a good book on English grammar. I prefer a very |
| part time, you can't do without the basic tools of the | | | | basic one that doesn't take you too far into the |
| trade. Sure, you've learned to master the construction | | | | "depths of literary learning" and sticks to basics such |
| of sentences, paragraphs and have even mastered | | | | as subject/verb agreement, punctuation and other |
| the art of maintaining a coherent line of thought for the | | | | grammatical bogeymen that must be dealt with |
| reader to follow throughout your article or short work | | | | regularly in this profession. It's surprising how often you'll |
| of fiction. I'm not referring to intellectual tools you have | | | | feel more comfortable about the quality of a sentence |
| obtained through training or by trial and error. I am | | | | or phrase if you spend five minutes assuring yourself |
| discussing, rather, the physical tools you need to get | | | | that it meets the book's criteria for good grammar. |
| the job done. You need more than a good personal | | | | While there are some decent grammar primers on-line, |
| computer or laptop with a decent spell/grammar | | | | I'd stick with the book in this instance. |
| check program to succeed as a writer. You need a | | | | Finally, and this might not be a help to those of you |
| little help from some trusted old friends. | | | | who have great memories or exhaustive vocabularies, |
| The first friend I'd like to re-introduce to you is the | | | | I like to keep a book that lists synonyms. Mine is an |
| dictionary. Yes. I know your PC has a spell checker | | | | ancient out-of-print book from the 1960s. You can |
| and your grammar check program might even help | | | | probably find one more up-to-date, and doubtlessly |
| you out with rewording a sentence that suffers | | | | some enterprising individual has an on-line version. I use |
| structural issues. Neither of these sources is going to | | | | this book when I am forced to do a lot of repetitive |
| provide you with the meaning of a word. You can go | | | | writing and feel as if I'm using the same terminology |
| with the tried-and-true book form of the dictionary or | | | | over and over. The use of a synonym to replace a |
| use one of the on-line versions. No good writer, | | | | repeated term can open the work up and enliven the |
| however, is going to be caught in the process of | | | | flow thought. It can also get you out of a mental bind. |
| working without one or the other handy. | | | | So, keep your four friends handy. I am old-fashioned. I |
| The next of your four friends is another very familiar | | | | like to keep mine on my desk in worn, dog-eared book |
| fellow. Roget's Thesaurus has been helping us find the | | | | form. You might prefer on-line versions or software |
| right word or words for a very, very long time. Any | | | | applications instead. The point is not what form you |
| thesaurus can prove to be an invaluable tool when you | | | | keep them in, but that you do keep them close by for |
| are in search of a word or feel like there is a better | | | | easy reference. These are the sorts of tools that, as |
| way to phrase something. Again, you can get either a | | | | they are used, will enable you to improve your writing |
| hardbound book or a piece of software, but keep the | | | | skills and, as such, will help you succeed in your |
| thesaurus at the ready. | | | | endeavors. |
| One friend that might not have come so easily to mind | | | | |