• Trust TSW’s experience. We have worked with hundreds of clients (and thousands of people), each wanting different things. We also have the professional and academic training for what we do. We will incorporate your experience with ours, and provide you with end results that you’re happy with.
•  If you’re not sure, ask! If something we do or say doesn’t make sense, or you have questions, ask away.
• Be available and punctual. Always be on time for videophone meetings and respond quickly to e-mail. Much like a doctor’s office or an accountant’s office, we have appointments with various clients. If you’re late for your videophone appointment, we cannot wait more than ten minutes because of our next appointments. Also, stay in touch constantly. As the article suggests, “Be available for scheduled meetings, conference calls, Skype chats, etc. Expect to receive questions and updates from your freelancer. Check your email daily so that you can receive and respond to these inquiries. This will ensure your project remains on a steady pace and avoids a stop-go-stop-go routine.”
• Respect TSW’s policies. TSW has policies in place that were developed for specific reasons. As the article states, "Make sure you respect these policies. For example, most freelancers don’t appreciate ‘urgent’ requests. We can’t possibly be available for immediate phone, email, or IM support all of the time.” This is very true; TSW’s videophone rings constantly, but we require appointments. Otherwise, no work would ever get done.
• Pay on time. Late payments show disrespect for the hard work and time devoted to your project. All invoices are to be paid within 30 days. This means we must receive your payment by the due date, not that your payment be postmarked by the due date.

TSW strives to provide the best service possible, and your respect for TSW staff’s time and work helps to ensure that you receive exactly that. 

FOLLOW TSW ON TWITTER 

Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon, wrote more than 100 stories. She died at the age of 42 after an emergency appendectomy, when she kicked her leg for fun and dislodged a blood clot (Parenting Magazine).

To read fun tidbits like the above, learn new things and read interesting quotes, follow TSW on Twitter. Go to www.twitter.com/tswriting and click on "follow."

ASK TSW!

A reader asks: I recently wrote an e-mail to someone and addressed her as “Mrs. Jones.” My boss later told me I should have used “Ms. Jones.” I’m confused; this woman was married, so wasn’t “Mrs.” appropriate? 

This is a good question, and the answer has some history to it. In the past, “Miss” was used to refer to an unmarried woman and “Mrs.” to a married woman. Both words come from the word “mistress,” as in “Mistress of the House,” which is similar to “Mister of the House.” It was during the 1800s that the meanings changed and began to refer to a woman’s martial status.

The most respectable and fairest choice is to always call a woman “Ms.” regardless of martial status, just like one always calls a man “Mr.” However, if the woman prefers to be called “Mrs.” or “Miss,” respect her preference.

Source: www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-miss-mrs-and-ms.htm.

Have a question about American Sign Language or English? Send your question to news@tswriting.com. We'll try to answer your question in an upcoming issue. All names will be kept anonymous.

PERFECT YOUR SPEECH OR PRESENTATION

Think maybe your PowerPoint presentation is too boring, has too much (or too little) information, or isn't the best design? Or maybe you need some help or guidance in your speech or presentation. Or do you have to submit a written version of your presentation for the voice interpreters?

Let TSW take care of that for you! We can create or perfect your presentation to make it one that nobody will forget. We also provide speechwriting services that are easily presented in American Sign Language and/or English.

Contact info@tswriting.com today, and let us take care of your words.

HOLIDAY GREETINGS

We at TSW wish you prosperous, healthy holidays! The office will be closed from December 23 to December 27.

Holiday illustrations in this issue courtesy of http://graphicriver.net/free-illustrations.

ABOUT TSW

T.S. Writing Services, LLC, is a Deaf-owned company that provides writing, editing, design and translation services in American Sign Language and English. For more information, visit www.tswriting.com. If you have suggestions or questions about this e-newsletter, contact news@tswriting.com.