Kris Spisak

https://kris-spisak.com

Writing Tip 402: “Affect Change” or “Effect Change”

“Affect Change” or “Effect Change”

When change is in the air—when you can see it in the clouds, on the streets, or anywhere else—what are you going to do?

Oh, I know, you’ve got this. You’ve mastered “affect” vs. “effect.” You didn’t even need Get a Grip on Your Grammar to teach you the difference between this tricky pair. But then came this moment in your life, and you’re ready to “effect change” in the world (or are you ready to “affect change” in the world)? Uh oh. “Affect Change” or “Effect Change”?

Do you still feel as confident as you did a moment ago?

First, some review: More

Writing Tip 401: “Cut and Dry” vs. “Cut and Dried”

“Cut and Dry” vs. “Cut and Dried” - peppers

Are these peppers cut and dried? Yep.

If only the English language was cut and dry—or is it “cut and dried”? Oh no. It’s another expression that you probably felt really confident about until I raised the question. And now it’s ping-ponging back and forth in your mind. “Cut and Dry” vs. “Cut and Dried” vs. “Cut-and-Dry” vs. “Cut-and-Dried.” What is the standard version?

If you’re having a moment of embarrassment, nervous you’ve always said this one wrong, you might feel better because you’ve hardly been alone in this confusion.

Since this expression came into common use around 1700, the correct answer and therefore people’s usage of it have been a bit wobbly. In fact, it started as “cut and dried.” Between 1714 and 1739, “cut and dry” stepped into the lead and then did again between 1744 and 1767 and a third time between 1782 and 1787. But here’s the rest of the story:

As you probably figured out from the graph, the standard expression is “cut and dried,” and it has been for over two hundred thirty years. Isn’t the evolution of the English language fascinating? (Or maybe you’re saying, it’s just exasperating. If so, I get it, but we can all keep working on getting it right.)

  • “Cut and dried” means routine, nice and clear, or ordinary. Some synonyms include deliberate, efficient, and by the book. (Book? Buy the book? Oh, you know I couldn’t let that slip by!)

Because the etymology story of “cut and dried” isn’t actually cut and dried (ironic, right?), I don’t have a full origin tale to share here. It’s likely related to agriculture, but I invite your creativity to fill in the blanks for now. There are endless possibilities.

And—bonus tip!—if you’re using this expression as an adjective directly in front of a noun, don’t forget the addition of hyphens (e.g., What a cut-and-dry answer this is!”). If it’s not being used as an adjective directly preceding the noun, the hyphens are not necessary.

So how’d you do with this one? Did you have the right answer? Either way, now you do. Whether chili peppers, herbs, timber, meat, or English language tips, sometimes having things cut and dried is a good thing.

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Writing Tip 400: “Past Time” vs. “Pastime” (A Time Capsule)

“Past Time” vs. “Pastime” vs. "Pass Time"So this is my four hundredth writing tip. Cue the confetti shaped like commas? The party horns? The shout-outs about my books and my newsletter, ready for more readers and subscribers? I admittedly thought about it, but I’ll save the hoopla for another day. With so much going on in the world at the moment, this author’s little celebration wrapped up in an explanation of “Past Time” vs. “Pastime” can wait. There are so many bigger causes to focus on.

Perhaps you could say that it’s “past time” that Merriam Webster added a new definition of “racism” to the dictionary, a landmark change that happened this week. Perhaps you could say that closely examining language, how we use it, and how it can empower us all is my favorite “pastime.” Do you see the difference in these two spellings?

Words, in all of their subtleties, matter. But you know that by now, don’t you?

Remember:

  • “Past time,” as two words, is often written in a sentence like “It’s past time that…” It’s a reference to something being overdue, to something that should have happened already. “Past time” could also simply be a reference to a “time” in the “past,” as in something historical.
  • “Pastime” is a noun, meaning something that one might do regularly in their free time.
  • “To pass time” is, of course, different still—because the English language likes to keep you on your toes. “To pass time” means to spend time doing something, anything, while time goes by.

The word “pastime,” as in that hobby, comes from the squishing together of “pass” and “time,” not a squishing together of “past” and “time.” Sure “squishing together” isn’t the technical phrase. You can see where the same transformation happened in “nowadays” and “troubleshoot.” We could talk truncation or near-portmanteau’s but I feel you falling asleep just as I’m jotting down this very sentence. As always, knowing the jargon is far less important than knowing how to use language properly.

“Pastime” has been used since the 15th century—that’s the 1400s, everybody. And I can only imagine how pastimes have changed since that time. So much in the world has changed since then. So much is still changing day by day in our present reality.

Am I dating this language tip like I never do in any others? That would be an affirmative. Why is this important? Because this is Writing Tip #400. Because language is important. What words and phrases mean, how they are understood, and how we discuss them are all ideas that are important. The language that trickles out of our mouths needs to be thoughtful and intentional. Ignorance is no excuse. It’s true with grammar, and it’s true with so much else.

Happy 400th writing tip, all—eight years in the making. Now get out there and use your words well. See where they might take both you and the world!

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Write It Down – A Call to Action (video)

Every single day of our lives, we are surrounded by stories, stories that empower us or devastate us, stories true, stories manipulated, and stories that are absolute fabrications. It’s true now, and it has been as long as there have been listeners captivated by a good tale.

But you know what? You can claim your stories. Capture every piece of them, from the moments of fear to the moments of awakening to the moments that drive you to action to the moments that send you back to your family and friends, hugging them tighter than ever.

Eleanor Roosevelt, Frederick Douglass, Anne Frank… so many before us have told their stories and changed the world. It’s your turn.

 

For journal prompt #10, the last in this #WriteItDown series, begin with today’s date. Then write to your future self: what can we learn from this moment in history? The past months. The past weeks. What is essential that we can never forget. There is so much to tell. There is so much that is difficult to put into words. But try. There are so many ways to respond to the world right now. Picking up your pen is just one. But it’s a start.

This may be the last prompt in this Write it Down series, but it’s only the beginning of this call to action. Write down your stories. If you feel so compelled, share them with others. Enable others to understand you so that we may understand each other. Enable future generations to understand this moment so that they can be stronger for it. And listen to the stories of others, seek out the true stories of others, because that is how we empower the world.

Stories touch us, shape us, and make us think. Brands use them, as do world leaders. It’s been true for millennia. And it’s your turn. Write it down, and be a part of the conversation.

Previous #WriteItDown journal prompts:

Follow along here on my blog, on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Everyone has a story to add to this moment. Add your voice.

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Write It Down – Journal Prompt #9 (video)

When we talk about a day-to-day accounting of your life, writing down the moments, capturing your world, your relationships, and your activities, sometimes we don’t take the time to process how it all feels. Take a moment and acknowledge that. How are you doing?

What have been the stages of your emotions through this whole time period? Disbelief? Annoyance? Impatience? Anger? Grief? Determination?

Have you been writing it down, allowing yourself to process the new truths of your life and this moment? Writing anything down gives you time to absorb it, understand it, question it, and spark new ideas.

For journal prompt #9, let’s focus on you.

This is the journal prompt #9 in my #WriteItDown Series.

Previous #WriteItDown journal prompts:

Follow along here on my blog, on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Everyone has a story to add to this moment. Add your voice.

Join 1,000+ subscribers and sign up for my monthly writing and editing email newsletter for more tips like this.

Writing Tip 399: “Emoji” vs. “Emoticon”

"Emoji" vs. "Emoticon"

Sometimes this writing stuff is serious business. And sometimes, it’s finally realizing that yes, there is a difference between “emoji” vs. “emoticon.” One of these words somehow even feels a bit “old school” already. Weird, huh?

Is this a writing rule that your past grammar teachers would have been strict about? Probably not. Depending on your age, these words might not have even existed when you had grammar teachers, but with Y2K as my witness, it’s time to get this right. More

Write It Down – Journal Prompt #8 (video)

So much has happened over the past months. So much was going to happen, perhaps, but didn’t. What happened with those plans? Were they cancelled? Were they transformed?

Write it down. People adapt. It’s what we do. It’s one of humanity’s strongest traits. We find ways to keep going, even when those ways are something we never would have guessed possible a short time ago.

Prompt #8: Start with today’s date. Then pick something that was supposed to happen in one way during this time but that had to change dramatically. What was the original plan? What did the change look like? This is your excuse to capture a moment in your life like a time capsule. You’re living through history. Be bold enough to preserve everything about it. This is a moment where we can all be historians. Let’s embrace it.

This is the journal prompt #8 in my #WriteItDown Series.

Previous #WriteItDown journal prompts:

Next #WriteItDown journal prompt:

Follow along here on my blog, on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Everyone has a story to add to this moment. Add your voice.

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Writing Tip 398: “Bachelors” or “Bachelor’s” degree? (Is there an apostrophe?)

"Bachelors” or “Bachelor’s” degree? (Is there an apostrophe?)

Are those graduation caps hanging up there like apostrophes? Yes? No? Maybe?

There’s nothing like the pride of earning that diploma after years of hard work, but there can be little more embarrassing than making a mistake when talking about your well earned degree.

Is it a “bachelors degree” or a “bachelor’s degree”?
Is it a “masters degree” or a “master’s degree”?

Since the youngest of your school days, punctuation has been out to get you hasn’t it? Just kidding. That punctuation can do you no more harm than an angry emoticon (different from an emoji … more on that soon), but not knowing your punctuation marks can be a roadblock when it appears on your resume. More

Write It Down – Journal Prompt #7 (video)

When everything we know about our world is flipped on its head, we adapt. We shift. We do what we need to do, yet we realize that there will be trickle effects of this moment.

For Writing Prompt #7: Write down today’s date. Then pick an element of your life that has drastically changed (your work, your family life, your relationships, something new because of a choice that you had to make…), and consider the greater effects of that shift. What will be the take-aways from this moment that will continue in some way, after today has passed? Are there lessons learned? Are there new epiphanies that will reshape your future?

Write it down. Because we’re living through history. World history. Your life history. Keep going. Keep scribbling. Keep typing. And take care, everyone.

This is the journal prompt #7 in my #WriteItDown Series.

Previous #WriteItDown journal prompts:

Next #WriteItDown journal prompts:

Follow along here on my blog, on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Everyone has a story to add to this moment. Add your voice.

Join 1,000+ subscribers and sign up for my monthly writing and editing email newsletter for more tips like this.

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