Hello future public relations mavens! It’s time for more writing insights specifically for you. In the dynamic world of PR, your writing needs to be impeccable. A single grammatical error can mar an otherwise brilliant press release or social media post.
Fear not! Here’s a list of common grammar errors often seen in public relations writing, and tips on how to avoid them:
1. It’s vs. Its
- Error: Confusing “it’s” (it is) with “its” (possessive form of it).
- Fix: Remember, “it’s” is a contraction for “it is.” If you can’t replace “it’s” with “it is,” then you should use “its.”
2. Your vs. You’re
- Error: Mixing up “your” (possessive) and “you’re” (you are).
- Fix: Test your sentence by replacing “you’re” with “you are.” If it doesn’t make sense, use “your.”
3. Passive Voice Overuse
- Error: Using passive voice, making sentences weak.
- Fix: Write in active voice to make your statements more direct and engaging. Instead of “The product was launched by the company,” say “The company launched the product.”
4. Comma Splices
- Error: Connecting two independent clauses with just a comma.
- Fix: Use a semicolon, conjunction, or break into two sentences. “We unveiled the new product, it was a success” should be “We unveiled the new product; it was a success.”
5. Dangling Modifiers
- Error: Placing a modifier too far from the word it’s describing.
- Fix: Keep modifiers close to the words they modify. Change “Walking into the room, the product caught everyone’s eye” to “As she walked into the room, the product caught everyone’s eye.”
6. Redundancy
- Error: Repeating ideas unnecessarily.
- Fix: Be concise. Instead of “free gift,” just say “gift.”
7. Incorrect Use of “That” and “Which”
- Error: Using “that” and “which” interchangeably.
- Fix: Use “that” for essential clauses and “which” for non-essential clauses. “The campaign that succeeded” vs. “The campaign, which succeeded.”
8. Wordiness
- Error: Using too many words.
- Fix: Be clear and concise. Instead of “due to the fact that,” simply use “because.”
9. Apostrophe Misuse
- Error: Adding an apostrophe to plural words.
- Fix: Remember, apostrophes usually show possession or contractions, not plurals. It’s “FAQs,” not “FAQ’s.”
10. Incorrect Parallel Structure
- Error: Misaligning items in a list or series.
- Fix: Make sure all items in your list follow the same structure. “Our strategy is innovative, exciting, and inspires action” should be “Our strategy is innovative, exciting, and inspiring.”
These errors might seem small, but in public relations, precision matters. Keep these common mistakes in mind as you draft and edit, and you’ll enhance both the clarity and professionalism of your writing.
Keep striving for excellence, and may your PR writing be error-free!
What questions do you have about writing? Or maybe you have some tips to share?
NOTES
The framework of this article was inspired by ChatGPT. Images were created using Adobe Firefly.
