Let’s Eat Grandma or the Importance of Commas

If anyone thinks that punctuation is not important in the English language, it’s time to get rid of such misconceptions. There is a popular mem on the Internet that perfectly summarizes my point.

And today, as you may have guessed, I will talk about commas. Commas divide the sentence into separate independent clauses, phrases or words. They are irreplaceable when it comes to long sentences with numerous clauses and different points of view. So, it is important to remember several rules in order to avoid confusion on the reader’s part.

• Commas Are Necessary before Conjunctions

It is necessary to add commas before but, and, so, or, nor, for, yet if the sentence is long and consists of independent clauses.

E.g. Freelance academic writers around the world improve their writing skills by using online courses, but some of them don’t have constant internet connection to upgrade their knowledge all the time.

However, if it is a small sentence with two independent clauses, this rule can be ignored.

E.g. These academic writers are from India and those ones are from Pakistan.

In addition, you don’t have to put comma before a conjunction if it joins subjects or predicates.

Filipino academic writers and American proofreader make a great team that produces high quality content.

• Enumeration Also Needs Commas

When you list some items in your sentence, they surely must be separated by commas (if you end up your enumeration with words or phrases like and so forth, and the like, and so on, etc., they need commas before them). Add a comma before a conjunction that names the last item in your listing.

E.g. Clients usually order essays, research papers, dissertations, case studies, and so on.

• Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses Are Picky

You need to understand the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses first. Restrictive clauses impact the general meaning of the sentence. It means that if you omit one of them, the sentence will focus on an entirely different thing. As a rule, it is used with the pronoun that and doesn’t require a comma.

E.g. The book that I have bought on the fair appears to be very useful.

Nonrestrictive clauses do not harm the meaning of the sentence if omitted. They are usually used with the pronoun which and require commas.

E.g. This book for international students by Stephen Bailey, which I have bought on the fair, appears to be very useful.

• Other Situations When Commas Are Needed

If you have a long introductory phrase at the beginning of your sentence, clarifying additional comments, place-names, parenthetical elements, repeated words or appositives (a word or phrase that follows a noun and plays an explanatory role), they are all used with commas or paired commas.

It is important to remember about these rules if you want your writing to look proficient. Of course, there are more points and exceptions that demand a more thorough examination, but these are the most essential ones. Use them wisely.

Report #7: Academic Writing and Eddie Murphy

Well, this is my last report. When something good ends people tend to feel sad. But I don’t. I feel happy because to be this way I don’t need a challenge anymore. It showed how it is right to enjoy your job.

So, let’s explore how I spent my last 5 days of 30 day writing challenge!

Day #26: Write about an area in your life that you’d like to improve.

I wrote about self-development because I can never manage to combine everything at once and it irritates me much. That’s why I am trying to prioritize and so far it has been well.

Day #27: Conversely, write about something that’s kicking ass right now.

What can I write about  apart from academic writing?

Day #28: Post 5 things that make you laugh-out-loud.

These things are hilarious!

Day #29: What are the difficult things in academic writing that you want to overcome?

I want to overcome many barriers and difficulties. Despite the fact that academic writing is rocking now my life, it doesn’t mean that I mastered it. I need to learn so much more …

Day #30: Your highs and lows for the month.

The most interesting thing is that I couldn’t make up any lows J

Well, that’s it. 30 day writing challenge has ended but my lifetime writing challenge has only begun.

If you are interested how this 30 day writing challenge influenced my life, wait for the article for EssayLancers. They were very excited to publish an article on their blog about my feelings about such a great think. So, coming soon … 

Report #6: Lessons I’ve Learned the Hard Way and Academic Writing

Day #21: What three lessons do you want new freelance academic writers learn from you?

Well, there are many pitfalls in academic writing and it’s not such an easy occupation as it seems to be. So, three lessons I want newbies to learn from me are:

1.       Never think that you know enough about this or that topic.

2.       Always review the structure and peculiarities of the paper you are going to write.

3.       Don’t think you can’t write something; just start and the work will pour out of you.

Day #22: Put your music on shuffle and post the first 10 songs.

Love these tasks the most because my music is always with me!

1.       Disclosure – Magnets (feat. Lorde)

2.       Brika – Expectations (Artiq Remix)

3.       Lido – Lost feat. Muri (Stwo Remix)

4.       Cosmo's Midnight – Snare (feat. Wild Eyed Boy)

5.       Whilk and Misky – So Good To Me

6.       Calvin Harris – Blame (feat. John Newman)

7.       Ben Howard – I Forget Where We Were (Boehm Remix)

8.       James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado – Broken Strings

9.       Gareth Emery – Concrete Angel feat. Christina Novelli

10.   Tapecut – drops ( The XX - Together remix )

Day #23: A letter to someone, anyone.

I wrote a letter to my old friend Nat Cleary. We’ve been friends for almost 10 years and I appreciate this friendship much. This is the kind of bonding that lasts a lifetime. We have an agreement. As we meet very rarely because of different circumstances, we send each other books that we have read and that we suppose to be worth reading. It’s very interesting because our tastes in books are not the same. Yet we always have what to talk about.

Day #24: Write about the lesson you’ve learned the hard way.

I think there are many lessons that I’ve learned the hard way but the most vivid in my memory is the one when I understood that I’m too naïve.  That’s what I wrote about . But after reading this it came to me that I haven’t stopped being naïve. Because I like being that way.

Day #25: Think of any academic word that you like and write something inspired by it.

“Significant”. I classify this word as academic as it can be used in various situations and render the exact meaning you need. But it also can be applied to my life because I have too many things that I care about and it inspires me to live.

That was my second to the last report and I hope you enjoyed it. Because I did.

Wait till my last one and you’ll find out what effects such kind of challenges have on writer’s consciousness.

Report #5: Facts about Myself and Academic Writing

I can’t believe that I’ve passed 20 days of my 30 day writing challenge. I officially announce that I’m proud of myself. I thought I would quit it after 10 days. But you know, regular reporting in front of public makes you more responsible. Besides, there wasn’t a day I wanted to stop. Are there life-time writing challenges?

Day #17: Post about your Zodiac sign, and whether or not it fits you.

I’ve posted but I really don’t know. I used to be suspicious about this Horoscope thing but the more I read, the more I find some similar description that fit my personality characteristics. So, I’m really lost here.

Day #18: Write 30 facts about yourself.

I appeared that most of the facts deal with films, books and music. My constant companions in life J

Day #19: List the most difficult things for you in academic writing.

Although I love my job, I can’ say that it is easy. Vice versa, it’s pretty complicated. But when I overcome some difficulties connected with my job, I become even happier than I am. So, it’s worth it.

Day #20: Take any referencing and change it according MLA, APA and Chicago style.

Ugh … Can’t say that it is the most pleasant stage of my challenge, but I need to do this. This is the weak spot I need to beat.

MLA

Sugarman, Joseph. Advertising Secrets of the Written Word. Las Vegas: DelStar, 1998. Print.

APA
Sugarman, J. (1998). Advertising secrets of the written word. Las Vegas: DelStar.

Chicago

Sugarman, Joseph. “Advertising Secrets of the Written Word”. Las Vegas: DelStar (1998).

Done. 10 more days and I'll tell you how 30 day writing challenge makes my life better.

Report #4: Harry Potter and Academic Writing

Here is me and my 4^th report about #30DayWritingChallenge. Can’t believe that I’m half way down the road. I feel good and that’s the most important thing.

Day #11: Something you always think “What if …” about.

I tried to imagine how the things would be going if I wasn’t a writer. I tried to imagine myself being a teacher and it wasn’t bad. Maybe I will even try it in real life J That’s where this challenge leads me to. Amazing, isn’t it?

Day #12: Write about the things you’ve acquired since you started freelance academic writing.

I just can’t stop talking about how freelance academic writing is great, don’t I? But what can I do if it’s really that wonderful? That’s right, I can do nothing. That’s why I just tell everybody about it.

Day #13: What are you excited about?

I wanted to compare my excitement from the childhood and the feeling I experience now. I guess I still feel excited about many things and I’m very happy about it.

Day #14: Post your favorite movies that you never get tired to watch.

There are so many things that I can consider my favorite that it’s very difficult to choose. Am I the only one with such a dilemma?

Day #15: Bullet-point your whole day.

Seems like a normal day when I have organized it on the paper. Have to do it more often J

Day #16: Something that you miss.

I wrote about my efforts not to miss anything. I think that I’m doing pretty well with it because the point is in self-programming. If you make yourself miss, you will miss. The same thing is with happiness.

That’s it. I feel very balanced with this writing challenge. It opens some new possibilities within me and I don’t see any obstacles to use them.

What about you? Do you want to try it?

Report #3: Adele and Academic Writing

So, here I am with the 3^rd report, still eager to tell you what I have been doing and how everything has been going. I don’t want to rush the things but I just can’t miss the chance to say that this challenge is changing me and my attitude to my work. We’ll see what comes next. I’m very excited. Very.

Here is my portion of writing.

Day #6: Five snacks that get you concentrated on the assignment.

Well, I like talking about snacks.

·         Roasted peanuts;

·         Vanilla yogurt;

·         Carrot sticks;

·         Gummy lollies;

·         Banana chips.

Few months ago I would add cookies and candies here, but now I try to brace myself up and avoid these evil snacks and you know why.

Day #7: List 10 songs that you’re loving right now.

       

1.       Adele – Hello

2.       Glass Animals – Love Lockdown

3.       James Brown – This Is a Man’s World

4.       Flyte – Eloise

5.       Pharrell Williams – Freedom

6.       Hozier – Foreigner’s God

7.       Prince George – Upswing

8.       Khai – Do You Go Up

9.       Oh Wonder – Landslide

10.   The Weeknd – I Can’t Feel My Face

Day #8: Share something you struggle with.

I wrote an essay on my fears because I struggle with them every day as any other human being. They are connected with my career and it’s difficult to talk about them. But I feel much better having written it on the paper. Advise you to do the same.

Day #9: Post some motivational quotes that inspire your academic writing.

Day #10: Write about something that really matters to you.

How I spend my life with my family is the thing that matters me a lot. That’s what I have written about.

Next report in 5 days J

To be continued … 

Report #2: Stephen King & Academic Writing

I am very glad that I’ve taken this 30 day writing challenge. Believe it or not I think about it all the time and it makes me feel so happy. It’s one of the best decisions that I’ve made.

I chose to write in a notebook. I don’t really know why, maybe because it feels more personal. So, here we go. My 2^nd report.

Day #2: Write an essay “The reason I chose academic writing”.

I don’t know how many words I wrote (this is paper notebook) but it rushed out of me without stops. I wrote for thirty minutes and it covered six sheets from both sides. I really admit that academic writing plays a very important role in my life not only because of the benefits I listed in my previous report. But because it changed my life, my routine and me. I write, work and learn. Isn’t that just amazing?

Day #3: Find the paper that you consider your best and justify your choice.

Well, I dug deep to find this one. My favorite type of academic writing is essay and papers of this type take up almost all of my storage space. Of course, I don’t have all texts I wrote (after all, I’ve been 16 years in academic writing business) but I certainly can choose among available. It’s an essay on “How Reading Influences Life”. I think you already understand why I chose this text. Because I wrote it with so much passion as a true book lover and bookworm that I could barely give it away. I will read it to my children when they grow up because there are my thoughts on why everybody on this planet should read every day. And I’m sure they’ll understand it.

Day #4: Write about someone who inspires you.

I even didn’t need to think. Of course, I wrote about Stephen King because this is the writer I respect and admire. I read his books and constantly find topics for essays because he always touches upon serious sociological issues and that’s incredible. Who knew that it’s possible to combine Stephen King and academic writing?

Day #5: List 5 places that you consider the most comfortable and workable for academic writing.

1.       My reading nook. It’s the best place when I have to write about something light.

2.       My kitchen. I have a very comfortable chair and table there.

3.       Park. Mostly because of the sunlight and fresh air.

4.       Café. Sometimes a little bit of bustling is all I need to get started.

5.       Beach. Though I rarely get the chance to enjoy it, I use every opportunity I have.

That’s my report for now. I have to say that I enjoyed these 5 day much. And you?

Report #1: How I Start My 30 Day Writing Challenge

Ok, guys. It's November, 1 and I start my #30DayWritingChallenge. It's nice to begin your day with writing as always and I feel fresh and full of will and strength. You know, when you realize that you do such cool things the sun shines brighter, I swear! You have such an elevated feeling that you can do anything and impossible is nothing.

So, getting down to business.

Day #1: List 7 things that you like about freelance academic writing.

Well, that's pretty easy :)

1. I can take up any topic I want to write on.
2. I organize my time and work load myself.
3. I've got the most useful skill ever: researching.
4. I constantly get to know tons of new things.
5. My speech has become more sophisticated and it's improving every day.
6. I have become flexible in terms of different types of writing.
7. Communication with different clients boosts socializing skills a lot.

Here they are: 7 things I like about freelance academic writing. I can certainly name more because this type of work is the best.

My next report is scheduled on November, 5 and it will surely be bigger, so, get ready to read my stories.

To be continued ...

Bored? Here Is a 30 Day Writing Challenge to Get You Stirred Up!

Dear friends!

Probably it’s just fall time that causes some mood swings and occasional unwillingness to work. Lots of my friends tell me every day that they are bored because they don’t have anything interesting happening right now or they feel drained of strength and can’t finish anything they’ve started. Don’t know about you, but I just can’t stand this feeling when you don’t know what is wrong but can’t get yourself to do things. It means that it’s time to take action! And from now on I declare a 30 day writing challenge!

I think that’s a great opportunity to shake up when you don’t feel like doing anything. It has various perks that will boost your productivity:

•              you improve your skills by writing something every day;
•              you send away your fall moodiness;
•              you form a useful habit that you will surely benefit from.

Doesn’t it sound great? I bet it does. So, I will certainly accept this challenge and we’ll see the results after a month. I will do reports every 5 days to show my daily writing (and to control myself a little bit too). My 30 day writing challenge starts on November 1 and ends on November 30, 2015. I am very excited and encourage you to do the same. I’ve heard a lot of writers’ warm feedback on such kind of challenges and want to have some of my own.

So, who’s in with me?

“Writing Agency of Spring 2015” Award with EssayLancers.com!

 

Here it is! Finally, the event where you can pay tribute to your favorite writing agency and choose the winner of the Spring 2015! EssayLancers.com is holding the “Writing Agency of Spring 2015” Contest, where freelance academic writers can choose the winning writing agencies in several categories. For example, “the most writer-friendly agency” encourages you to select the service with the best conditions of work for its employees. “The most generous agency” suggests choosing the company with the highest salaries (it will be interesting to know :)). “The most punctual agency” means that your employer doesn’t delay your payments and sends everything on time. “The most demanding agency” supports your choice of the company that has the highest quality standards and “the agency with the best design” is a service that has the most functional and creative website and makes you want to visit it again. So, that’s it. A wide range of choice I would say.

Voting is simple. Just go to http://essaylancers.com/writing-agency-award.html and choose the agencies of your choice. Voting is surely confidential. So no consequences implied :)

I suppose this is also a great opportunity for me to express my gratitude to the best writing agency for me – ThePensters. I’ve been working with this company for almost 5 years now and I have only positive emotions and associations with it. And, of course, I will vote for ThePensters :)

So, dear writers! Get to your computers, click this link, create your own accounts and vote for your favorite writing agency … or for ThePensters :).

Thank you!

P.S. If you have concerns that your writing agency will find out you haven’t voted for them, don’t worry! The voting process is totally confidential. So, this is your chance to express your opinion on this or that writing company and share with the public.

Finding AcWriMo – Academic Writing Marathon

I always loved challenges. And I always thought that it is unfair – there are so many various writing competitions for journalists, novelists and poets, but nothing for academic writers. I was wrong. A couple of days ago I found out about an academic alternative to the famous National Novel Writing Month. Now, that is something to get involved into, but, unfortunately, I am 10 days late for this challenge, so I won’t take part in it this year.

So, what is Academic Writing Month? It’s an annual writing marathon, which lasts for a month (not so surprising, heh?) and usually happens in November. Experience doesn’t matter - everyone, who is somehow connected with academic writing, can take part in this write-a-thon. There are no general goals, everything is strictly individual – you can define your own tasks, depending on your abilities and ambitions. In order to take part in this event, you should sign up on the special AcWriMo 2014 Writing Accountability Spreadsheet, mark the goals you want to achieve and let every other participant know about your progress. Well, you could do this challenge on your own, but then there won’t be any emulative spirit.

I think that participating in such writing marathons is very important not only for the development of professional skills, but also for the personal growth. Freelancers can organize their life and work completely on their own, we don’t have a boss, who looms over us and makes us get all the tasks done. We don’t have to compete with colleagues shoulder to shoulder and sooner or later, we lose all the competitiveness. Nothing can motivate people better than competition – and it is much more interesting to compare your results to someone else’s results, than to your own accomplishments last month. It’s just a psychological phenomenon one has to bear in mind.

So, for now I advise you to organize your own little academic writing challenge, and next year we could take part in the real write-a-thon together!