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What’s Your Style?
Those of you who have ever taken an English grammar class probably learned about the importance of being consistent in your writing by using parallel structure.  Another way to show consistency is to choose one style and stick with it.
For example, if there are several acceptable spellings for a word, you should choose one of the variants and use it consistently.
Website
According to yourdictionary.com, the word website can be spelled web site, Web site, or the initial way. No matter which version you prefer, write it one way and keep it consistent.
Style and Credibility
As usability expert Jakob Nielsen points out in his latest “Alertbox” article, linguistic style can also impact website credibility. Having an inconsistent linguistic style can create the impression that a site is foreign (read: irrelevant) or careless. Nielsen uses British vs. American English as an example. If British English is used when a site is based in America and caters to an American audience (or vice versa), the audience will receive confusing mixed signals.
Yet another reason to watch your spelling!
Clean It Up
As a writer and someone who pays excessive attention to words, I beg everybody to take another look at their online content and polish up any style inconsistencies you may have. This is also a good time to look at typos and other common grammatical mistakes. Don’t forget to think about the search engines, too.  And don’t just take my word for it: take it from the usability expert.
If you’re looking for more writing tips, start with copyblogger.com, a clearinghouse of great copywriting information and instruction for the digital age. Also try Logomaniac for thought-provoking, practical blog posts about words. Plus, there are countless style manuals in print, starting with Strunk and White’s classic The Elements of Style.
Hey man, what’s your style?
–Lou Reed, “”Kicks,” Coney Island Baby
Photo courtesy of Kuttibalu via Flickr
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