enewsletter

Volume 3, Issue 6
December 2008

In this issue:

Books for the holidays
Notable political slogans
Did you know?
Ask TSW!
Spotlight on…you!
Grant writing workshop

Let us take care of your words.

BOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Feeling in the party mood? Want to celebrate the holidays in a traditional way? Check out Happy Holidays! How to Enjoy the Christmas & Hanukkah Season to the Fullest by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, and Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Mrs. Sharp’s Traditions: Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort & Joy.

Or maybe you want to look ahead to the New Year and take a moment to reflect. In that case, get a copy of One by Richard Bach, Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, or Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.

Happy holidays from TSW!

NOTABLE POLITICAL SLOGANS
In honor of the presidential election last month, let’s take a look at some notable political slogans. One of the earliest slogans was used by the Republican party in 1860 when they encouraged people to “Vote Yourself a Farm,” which was a campaign promise that later became a law: the Homestead Act of 1862.

The Republicans came up with another in 1864: “Don’t Swap Horses in the Middle of the Stream,” encouraging people to vote for Abraham Lincoln again. It worked.

In 1964, when Barry Goldwater was running for President, his party used the slogan, “In your heart, you know he’s right” and his opponents came back with “In your guts, you know he’s nuts.” In 1884, the Democrats reminded voters that “A Public Office is a Public Trust,” because the Republican candidate (then the Speaker of the House) was thought to have traded favors with a railroad company.

Source: 199 Things Every American Should Know by American Heritage Magazine, 1990; photo courtesy of www.collectorsquest.com.

DID YOU KNOW? "F" AND "S"
In the 18th century, it was common to substitute the letter f (or a similar character) for s. The “f” was actually a long s, which was also known as the medial s. The medial s was different from the terminal (or short/round) s in that it was used in a middle of a word, while the short s was used at the end of a word. This use dates back to the Middle Ages, and became popular during the Italian Renaissance because of its artistic look. However, the use of a long s made manuscripts very difficult to read and the practice died out in the 19th century. The short s survived and is currently used in the English alphabet.

Source: www.straightdope.com

ASK TSW!

A reader asks: When I write a sentence, I get confused when using that or which. How do I know when to use either word?

“That” is never used with a comma, while “which” is almost always used with a comma. “That” is used in sentences identifying the person or thing being talked about, and is considered a defining/restrictive relative clause. “Which” is used in sentences that give additional information about something that has already been identified in context, and is known as a non-defining/nonrestrictive clause. Here are some examples:

I am looking for a book that is easy to read.
The house that Jack built has been torn down.

The students have been complaining about the textbook, which is hard to follow.
The painting, which was hanging in the foyer, was stolen.

Still confused? Let’s take a look at two versions of a sentence below:

The house that is painted pink has just been sold.
The house, which is painted pink, has just been sold.

What’s the difference between these two sentences? The word “that” in the first sentence helps to identify the specific house being talked about, while “which” in the second sentence doesn’t help the reader identify the specific house, and the fact that the house has been painted pink is now considered extra (and non-essential) information.

For more information, check out www.english-the-easy-way.com/Determiners/That_Which.htm.

SPOTLIGHT ON…YOU!
Each month, TSW profiles one of its clients. For this issue, we’ve chosen to spotlight the most important part of our company: you!

TSW is often asked who its typical clients are, and the answer is always, “You are!” Our clients come from a variety of backgrounds from around the world. Our clients are deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing, and bring diverse experiences with them. In other words – there is no “typical” client.

We are grateful for your support…in making the newsletter possible! – Rochester, NY

TSW works with individuals, small businesses, corporations, and non-profit agencies on writing, editing, design, and translation projects involving American Sign Language (ASL) and/or English. An advantage is that TSW is a one-stop center; for example, if you need something designed, we have our designers work on your project. The work is then handed to our writers/editors, who then review the contents for spelling, grammar and flow. All this is done for one price – no hidden fees. Best of all, all of TSW's writers and designers are deaf or hard of hearing, fluent in ASL and English, and know firsthand the importance of each and every project.

Many thanks! I got an A on my paper! – Miami, FL

Among our most popular services are editing services for dissertations, research papers, and theses. We do not write papers for clients; rather, we edit papers for grammar and clarity. Our team has edited assignments ranging from discussion board postings online to research papers to PowerPoint presentations.

Wow, you’ve turned resume-writing into perfectly said and powerful, professional wording! I could never get it to accurately describe my accomplishments. I am amazed. Thank you…we are sure happy! – Rochester, MN

Yet another popular request is for our resume services. We provide resume writing and editing services at reasonable prices. We carefully tailor each individual’s resume to his/her preferences and needs. Cover letters are provided at a discounted rate if bundled with resumes.

Thanks for providing a fast turnaround and making it a positive experience! – Los Angeles, CA

Among our priorities is to ensure that we provide our services within reasonable time. Many of our clients contact us in a hurry, needing something as soon as possible. We do not believe in delaying work, since that is unfair to our clients. We strive to provide the best quality services in the shortest time possible, so that our clients are not kept waiting without sacrificing quality.

Just wanted to thank you for your wonderful service! I enjoy working with you, and your ability to get things done is an inspiration to me. I know you put a lot of time and effort into them, and hope you know how much I appreciate it. – St. Louis, MO

We receive countless letters and e-mails sharing how our services have helped our clients in their jobs, at school, and in everyday life. And this is the best part of our work: knowing that taking care of words has helped at least one person out there.

I will recommend my friends to use [TSW’s] writing services anytime. – Frederick, MD

A common saying in business is, “The best compliment you can give us is to tell a friend about us.” And that's true for TSW.

None of this could be possible without your support. We are grateful for the hundreds of clients we have served since 2003. We continue to be impressed by people’s eagerness to see TSW succeed, and their continued loyalty to our company.

Thank you for letting us take care of your words.

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
Sponsored by the Gallaudet Leadership Institute and College of Professional Studies and Outreach, Successful Grant Writing: From Ideas to Proposals will be in Overland Park, Kan., on Feb. 6-8, 2009.

From Ideas to Proposals is a three-credit course presented in a hybrid format of face-to-face and online education. Topics include:

Dos and Don'ts of proposal writing
Building relationships with funders
Identifying funding opportunities
Creating a needs statement
Defining goals and objectives
Developing an evaluation plan
Nurturing and developing collaborations and partnerships
Developing different types of budgets
Tailoring proposals to specific audiences
Maintaining databases for funding opportunities

Working in a highly interactive environment, participants will gain hands-on experience in to develop successful grant applications for funding. For more information or to download a flyer, visit cpso.gallaudet.edu/x18855.xml.

TSW often provides writing workshops and courses. Contact us for a sampling of evaluations or to book a workshop.

HOW CAN WE MAKE TSW BETTER?
At the beginning of each year, TSW always takes time out to review its goals and services. How can we make better TSW for you? For instance, one idea is to add video clips to our Web site in ASL - which is something we hope to accomplish in 2009.

Send your suggestions, ideas and comments to news@tswriting.com.

ABOUT TSW
T.S. Writing Services, LLC, is a Deaf-owned company that provides writing, editing, design, and translation services for American Sign Language and English users. For more information, visit www.tswriting.com.

If you have suggestions or questions about this e-newsletter, e-mail the editor at news@tswriting.com.