And so, when I came across an extensive article on salary negotiations, I realized just how close it hit to home. While it may no longer strictly be true that I have to “apply” for a job and “interview” for a position, per se, many of the mechanisms involved still come into the picture for the professional freelancer. And negotiating is one such mechanism.

The Magic Number

In the article that I mentioned above, the author asserts that you should never speak first when it comes to deciding on a number. That’s in the context of salary negotiations for a more conventional kind of job. He recommends that, when you are asked for your salary negotiations, you turn the question around to the interviewee in subtle and not so subtle ways. You can then respond accordingly.

It can be argued that a similar approach can be taken when offering a freelance rate quote, but I’m not sure it’s always practical or appropriate. Just as you’d ask for an estimate from a plumber or car mechanic, people can expect the same experience with a freelance writer. “How much do you charge for job XYZ?”

As such, there is a lot of pressure on the service provider (freelancer) to speak first when it comes to providing a quote (“salary expectations”). Finding that magic number can be a challenge. Quote too low and you’re short-changing yourself (and possibly giving off the impression that you are desperate). Quote too high and you could scare off the potential client. Not unlike Goldilocks and the Three Bears, you have to find the rate quote that is just right.

Recognize What You’re Worth

When you enter salary negotiations with a new employer, one question is typically asked: how much did you make with your previous employer? It’s a trap. The assumption is that you have gained more experience, more knowledge, and more expertise. Your previous employer may have increased your pay rate as a result, but it’s also possible that you were kept at a lower pay grade too. The question shouldn’t be how much you made, but how much you are worth now.

The exact same mentality needs to be taken when it comes to freelance rate quotes. Sure, you may charge less early in your career when you are still trying to gain experience and exposure, but your rate can be expected to rise as you get better (and better known) at your craft. A top-notch, well-experienced lawyer surely charges more than one fresh out of law school. Freelance writing, graphic design, or any other kind of similar profession is no different. Recognize what you’re worth and charge accordingly.

Flexibility and Compromise

When you enter a standard salary negotiation for a new job, you have to expect to offer some flexibility. You give a little, you get a little, and hopefully you work things out with your employer-to-be. While there is certainly the risk of the lack of a stable income when you become a freelancer, the same kind of open-mindedness needs to be brought to the table.

Some freelancers will argue that your rates should be firm and non-negotiable. There is something to be said there, as you likely don’t negotiate with many other types of businesses, but a win-win compromise is a much better outcome than a hard-edged refusal to budge.

Part of the power of freelancing is your flexibility to take on other clients. If things don’t work out, you can always walk away and still have your other clients. This isn’t really the case with the “permalancer” (the freelancer who takes on a single client on a full-time basis, which is legally grey on the part of the client/employer), but that’s another topic for another day.

The one mistake we are going to hone in on in today’s Grammar 101 posting is the improper listing of decades in numerical format. Referring to the culture or the history of a particular decade is a common feature among blog content creation. Among the most popular blog subjects – homemaking, fashion, pop culture, finance – years are mentioned frequently and thus this is an incredibly important aspect of online grammar that must be addressed.

Simply put, you do not include an apostrophe when referring to a specific decade. For example: “The company Instructure has been developing LMS classroom strategies since the early 2000′s.” is incorrect. In this case an apostrophe would denote possession, despite the decade not being in possession of anything within the sentence. Yet in nearly 50% of the blog postings I read where a specific decade is listed, an apostrophe has been included.

To prevent yourself from making this seemingly common mistake, simply stop and remind yourself the rules regarding apostrophes. A decade is a thing and thus a noun. Nouns with apostrophes are always either in possession or in action. If you are merely referring to the aspects of a particular decade, then you only have to add the “s” to denote plurality.

For those of you thinking about contractions, keep in mind that a decade’s status as a plural subject prevents a decade from ever sitting in front of “is” or “was.” Thus, such a contraction-based reason for writing “2000′s” would never exist in the first place.

So let’s recap: There is virtually no situation where an apostrophe should be included when referring to a decade. It is simply a matter of plurality, and as such needs only an “s” to make sense. Anything more than that is violating basic laws of the English language.

The preceding was a guest post by Nancy E. and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Michael Kwan or Beyond the Rhetoric.

Technology is supposed to save us time. It’s supposed to make life easier and more convenient, but we inevitably try to cram even more into even less time. For better or for worse, this has given rise to an increasingly daunting number of acronyms and shorthand.

Shorthand isn’t anything new and it’s not unique to the Internet. Terms like P.S. and P.M. have been used for ages and many people don’t even know their origin (postscript and post merediem, respectively). Even so, I find myself using even more acronyms and abbreviations in my online conversations with friends and colleagues.

Some of these come from text speak and others evolved with Internet communication, but here are a few prime examples of what I mean.

• AFAIK: As far as I know. I’ve also used AFAIR, meaning “as far as I remember.”
• AFK: Away from keyboard. This is a typical status I use in my GChat to indicate I’m not actually at my computer.
• BBL: Be back later. This indicates a little longer absence than the usual BRB (be right back). According to Stephen, BBL stands for “bye bye la.”
• FWIW: For what it’s worth.
• IDK: I don’t know. Thanks to the power of the Internet, lack of knowledge is oftentimes temporary.
• IMHO: In my humble opinion (or simply IMO).
• YT: “You there?” or YouTube. The meaning is derived from the context of the conversation. Similarly, I use FB for Facebook and TW for Twitter.

In conversations with friends and colleagues, I’ve come to use many non-standard shorthand terms too, like using “img” for image. The 160 character limit of a standard text message got the ball rolling. The 140 character limit of a Twitter update pushed the ball down the hill. Even where there are no character limits, as would be the case with instant messengers, we find these forms of communication spill over.

You would think that, as a professional writer, this degradation of the human language would irk me. While it would bother me to see them used in any formal or semi-formal writing, I have no qualms about shorthand when it comes to casual conversations. What about you? Do you tend to write everything out or have you started to rely more heavily on acronyms and abbreviations for brevity?

Based on the title of today’s post, you may be led to believe that this is going to be a rant on the demise of proper grammar. You may think that I’m about to admonish the rise of text talk, l33t speak, and Internet slang. But that’s not the case.

While I could certainly yammer at length about how the so-called e-generation has systematically degraded what we consider to be acceptable and proper English, that’s not the point of today’s grammar post. Instead, it’s more about how technology has evolved the way that our words (and punctuation) appear on the screen and on the printed page. There are different quotation marks, for example, but that’s only the beginning.

Two Spaces After Periods

Growing up, I was always taught that I should double-space after a period. This was meant to clearly signify the full stop and the subsequent beginning of a new sentence. The same rule was applied to the application of question marks and exclamation marks if they signaled the end of a sentence too.

In the earlier days of computers, this now archaic rule still carried through. Even up until my university days, I wrote essays where periods were followed by two spaces. Such is no longer the case. In all of my web writing, as well as writing I do offline for clients, the standard is a single space after a period. Realistically, I’m indifferent to the change and the single space has become second nature.

Indented Paragraphs

Much like the double-space after a period, this “rule” is likely a holdover from the days of mechanical typewriters. The first line of a paragraph would always be indented. And again, this held true for many of the papers I wrote in college.

Such is not at all the case when it comes to writing on the Internet. Every blog post I write here, every review I write elsewhere, every feature article I post online… they all do not have indented paragraphs. Instead, the paragraphs are simply separated by an empty line. I prefer this, as it is cleaner and easier on the eyes, though we still see indented paragraphs in many printed documents and manuscripts.

Hyphens and Dashes

A hyphen and a dash are not the same thing. You use a hyphen to connect two words, as would be the case with brother-in-law and four-thirds. An em dash is used to break up a thought, as would be the case with the following sentence: He ate everything on the plate–including all the fries–and he still hungered for more.

They may both be horizontal lines, but a dash is longer than a hyphen. In the days of a typewriter, a hyphen would be one stroke like this -, whereas a dash could be signified with two strokes like this --. That changed with the rise of word processors (and the Internet).

Nowadays, if you try to type --, the computer will likely automatically replace it with —. See the difference? Many people don’t and that’s why the distinction between the different punctuation marks (let’s not even get into different dashes) has become so murky.

Evolving with Technology

The English language continues to evolve. Older words are discarded. Newer words are invented. What was once deemed unacceptable is becoming the norm and the continuing growth of technology spurs that along too. Language is not a fixed entity, so we should all understand that grammar rules must too change with the times.

It might only be a matter of time before we get rid of capital letters altogether. After all, it was completely outside convention to use name formations like iPod and TechCrunch just a few short years ago.

When it comes to running a successful business, you are oftentimes asked about your unique selling proposition. Sometimes called a unique selling point, the USP is what sets your product or service apart from the competition. It gives the customer a reason to choose you and not the other guy.

As such, it sounds reasonable that you would want to protect this USP and it is directly connected to the viability of your business. However, in this day and age, that kind of mentality might not work anymore.

Protecting Your Craft

While at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, our creative director Corbin had the opportunity to strap into a full-on Steadicam gear-up (depicted above). This is an expensive set of equipment that, as its name implies, allows the camera operator to get a remarkably steady shot.

It used to be that the Steadicam people were a very tight-knit community and they wouldn’t allow any outsiders into their circle. This made sense. If only a handful of people in the film-making industry knew how to use the Steadicam rig correctly, these handful of people would have a virtual monopoly on those gigs. They protect their craft to protect their livelihood.

These days, though, there are workshops available to learn exactly how to use these kinds of products in the best way possible. This is because there is an increasing recognition that not everyone who wants to learn how to use a Steadicam is applying for a job with Steven Spielberg. They’re entrepreneurs making independent movies. They’re marketers making promotional videos. They’re doing all sorts of other things that don’t compete directly with the professional cameramen who work in Hollywood.

Building the Community

The mentality behind protecting your trade secrets comes from a world view of scarcity. The pie is only of a certain size and if more people want a slice, each individual is going to get a smaller piece. So, as a person with a claim to slice of pie, you want to make sure there are the fewest number of people at the table.

The newer mentality is different. Instead of looking at the pie as a finite entity, we are starting to see that by sharing our trade “secrets” and other insider knowledge, we have the opportunity to bake more and bigger pies. And cakes. And cookies. It is the world view of abundance. This may not be true all the time, but it opens up the doors to business expansion into new areas.

Under the old mentality, I would write very little about my business as a freelance writer. I wouldn’t talk about how to get more efficient or how to improve your grammar. These would be tidbits of knowledge that I would protect in order to protect my livelihood, but that kind of approach isn’t nearly as powerful in the modern age of “everybody has access to everything.” We can all grow together.

Standard English on its own can be very difficult to master, even for native speakers. There are so many rules and then there are even more exceptions to those rules. English idioms can be more confusing, especially when they get significantly detached from their respective origins.

One phrase that I see misused not uncommonly is “all in all,” with many people saying or writing “all and all” instead. The correct term has always been “all in all.” This roughly has the meaning of “with all things considered.” A similar phrase would be “all said.”

For example: The early mornings were difficult and my feet hurt after those long hikes, but all in all, the excursions into the Australian Outback were well worth the effort.

It may be common for people to use “all and all” in that sentence instead, but it is not the traditional phrase and it would be considered nonstandard usage. Hearing “all and all” doesn’t bother me nearly as much as “I could care less,” but it does irk me a little. Both of those phrases make logical sense, so they should be easier to remember than the countless contradictory idioms that are considered to be fairly standard usage.

English is a beautifully complex language, but this also means that you have to make sure you are using it correctly! All in all, I hope this post has been useful. Do you have any grammar questions you’d like clarified? Let me know through the comments below.

Writing with good grammar is only one part of the equation. It’s great when you’re spelling is just right and you use the right kind of punctuation in the right places, but you also want your writing to be interesting to read. With that challenge comes the possibility of bending the grammar rules and you risk making more mistakes.

When it comes to writing style, one tactic that I like to use from time to time is something called inversion. This can take on many different forms, but the inverted sentence structure is one of the most common ones. Basically, you take what would normally be the second “half” of your sentence and put it in front.

Compare these two sentences:

1. I ate a sandwich, because I was hungry.

2. Because I was hungry, I ate a sandwich.

This doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence, but it can change how it feels when someone reads it. In this instance, you may be wanting to emphasize your hunger rather than the sandwich. For a narrative, it can also help to build a sense of suspense.

1. Dominic slid underneath just as the garage door was about to come slamming shut onto the ground, narrowly avoiding certain death.

2. Just as the garage door was about to come slamming shut onto the ground, Dominic slid underneath, narrowly avoiding certain death.

You’ll notice that exactly the same words are used, but in a different order. The grammar is still correct; it’s just that the second sentence is more fitting of a thriller or action story. Just as with maintaining parallel structure, you want to ensure that the right meaning is being conveyed. However, there are times when you may want to bend the rules for additional effect.

“Yoda speak” is another form of inversion and, depending on how it’s used, it can sometimes sounds sophisticated or almost Shakespearean.

1. I don’t have time.

2. Time, I do not have.

This is when you invert parts of a sentence without there being a natural break in the clauses. This is quite unlike the examples above, since those already had a comma to separate the different parts. You may or may not want to use this method, depending on the context and the target audience. It’s the same kind of consideration you’d want to take when using sentence fragments or ending a sentence in a preposition.

Be creative with your sentence structure and your choice of words. Don’t be afraid to experiment and you’ll be amazed at the great writing you can achieve.

In the last week or so, I’ve encountered more than one instance where these word pairs were misused. More specifically, I read sentences where the author paired “either” with “nor,” which really isn’t the way you should go about using these words.

If you are making a comparison and you start with using “either,” then the corresponding word should be “or.” As an example:

I can’t decide what I want to eat. I’m ordering either the beef tenderloin or the roast duck.

In much the same way, “neither” should be paired with the word “nor,” and this is when you are describing something in a negative context:

I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with this problem right now.

Just as there is much confusion over the difference between e.g. and i.e., the proper use of either/or and neither/nor can be confusing too. They shouldn’t be mismatched, but you should also be careful about where you place the words too.

Incorrect: I am either taking the train or the bus.

Since the verb (taking) is involved in both choices, it should come before “either.”

Correct: I am taking either the train or the bus.

If there are two separate verbs for the two separate options, then “either” should come before the first verb.

To balance his budget, he can either increase his income or decrease his expenses.

What’s interesting is that “either” and “neither” should always be followed with their corresponding partner (“or” or “nor”), but “or” and “nor” do not necessarily need “either” or “neither” to be used correctly.

Will you be drinking beer or wine this evening?

I don’t want beer, nor do I want wine. I’d rather drink water.

How you choose to use these words can drastically change the overall meaning of the sentence, just like how comma placement can completely alter how a sentence is interpreted. It’s not just about choosing the right words; it’s about putting those right words in the right places with the right punctuation.

Do you have a suggestion for a future Grammar 101 post? Either leave your suggestion in the comment section below or send me a tweet on Twitter.

A lot of confusion can arise when certain words aren’t used very often, but are still within the common vernacular. People mistakenly say “exercise regime“, for instance, when they really mean to say “exercise regimen.” Similarly, “predecessor” and “successor” are two words that are oftentimes confused for one another. Ironically enough, “predecessor” and “successor” have completely opposite meanings.

A predecessor is a person who had a certain position before the current individual. For instance, you would say that Barack Obama’s predecessor is George W. Bush. The predecessor of Aaron Rodgers is Brett Favre. “Predecessor” could also be used to refer to things in general and not just people. The predecessor to the Nintendo Wii is the Nintendo GameCube.

It is important to note that a “predecessor” is the person (or thing) that immediately preceded the current one. Richard Nixon is not the predecessor to Bill Clinton in the context of saying they were both United States Presidents. It is also important to note that other words may be more appropriate for other circumstances. For instance, the precursor to AIDS is HIV. Other related terms include ancestor and forefather, neither of which have exactly the same meaning as predecessor.

A successor, on the other hand, refers to a relationship that goes in completely the opposite direction. While George W. Bush is the predecessor to Barack Obama, Barack Obama is the successor to George W. Bush in regards to the Presidency of the United States. As before, “successor” is oftentimes used in the context of people in positions, jobs, offices, or titles, but it can also be used for things. The successor to the Nexus S smartphone is the Galaxy Nexus.

In the context of familial relationships, particularly when it comes to royalty, “heir” is another term that has a similar meaning to “successor.” The heir to the throne will be the successor to the throne. He (or she) is the next person in line for that position and will inherit it.

Just as it is very easy to get poisonous and venomous mixed up, predecessor and successor can be mixed up too. Hopefully this post has help to clarify the difference. Do you have a suggestion for a future Grammar 101 post? Let me know through the comment section below.

It’s that time of year again. While many other people are concerning themselves with mistletoe and fruitcake, freelancers and other small business owners need to concern themselves with many other year-end responsibilities. Of course, that’s in addition to the usual holiday cheer and eggnog lattes.

As a freelance writer, there are certain tasks and questions that I always aim to address.

Preparing the Books for Tax Season

Your income tax return isn’t due until April, but that doesn’t mean that you should put off all of that bookkeeping until the end of March! In fact, you should have been keeping accurate records throughout the year to make this dreaded responsibility that much easier.

As we approach the end of the year, you can do several things. Start putting together the rough totals for all your expenses and writeoffs, as well as your estimated annual income and other important figures. These can be finalized in the new year, but having these rough estimates are very informative and useful. You can also start taking the first steps toward preparing next year’s books.

Look Back at This Year’s Goals

A business plan should usually be developed before embarking on any kind of entrepreneurial endeavor, but it is important to revisit these plans and goals on a periodic basis. As such, the goals that you set at the beginning of 2011 should now be reviewed.

Did you reach these goals? Why or why not? What challenges did you face? What obstacles did you overcome? In hindsight, what would you have done differently?

Look Ahead to Next Year’s Ambitions

The kinds of questions posed above lend themselves to looking forward to 2012. Based on what you learned and experienced this year, you can then set your goals (and plans) for the upcoming year. Look at how you can get past the hump and take your business to the next level.

It’s about growth, but it’s also about responsibility. Take care of your business and it will take care of you.