In this issue:

• It's Versus Its
• Did You Know? The Earliest Letters in History
• Ask TSW! The Questions You've Always Been Too Embarrassed to Ask
• Spotlight on...Chuck Baird
• New Workshop Booklet Available!

Let us take care of your words.

IT'S VERSUS ITS
One of the most common mistakes in writing is the confusion of it's with its.

It's is the contraction of it is, just like don't is the contraction of do not or I've for I have. However, its is a singular possessive pronoun that shows who something belongs to. For instance:

• It's spring, and summer break is just around the corner!

• Can you tell if it's an eagle or a hawk?

• It's a tradition in Deaf culture to share experiences through storytelling.

• The turtle retreated into its shell.

• The school has its own athletic program.

• The community treasures its language, culture and history.

Keep in mind that it's = it is while its = possession.

A Web site with more information:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-its-and-its.htm

A list of English tests and games:
http://www.edufind.com/english/englishtests/list_of_english_tests.cfm

DID YOU KNOW? THE EARLIEST LETTERS IN HISTORY
The first letter is believed to have been written more than 4,000 years ago in the Near East. Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts writes in her superb, easy-to-read Writing Successful Business Documents book, "The kings of Egypt, for example, wrote letters to their vassal princes on moist clay tablets. The tablets were then baked and sent to the recipient by messenger. Because hard clay tablets were heavy, brevity and conciseness were important for letter-writing even then. If the king's letters had taken up too many tablets, the messengers would have collapsed from exhaustion."

ASK TSW!
The Questions You've Always Been Too Embarrassed to Ask
Is there an ASL or English question you've always wanted answered, but were too embarrassed to ask? TSW will answer your questions and give tips and suggestions.

A reader asks: I want to send e-mail to my boss and share some frustrations, but I feel my grammar isn't clear enough. I don't want her to think I'm dumb or unskilled. What can I do?

TSW responds: You're not alone. This is one of the most common feelings among our clients: feeling inadequate or unsure about writing skills in the work place. Even professionals who have college degrees feel this way. It's always difficult to discuss sensitive issues anyway, but then to have to do this in a language you're not completely comfortable with is even more challenging.

The best thing to do is to plan by considering the three Ps: purpose, person and point. Think about what the purpose of your e-mail is. Is it to "complain," or is it to find solutions to your frustrations? Next, who is the person you're writing this to? In this situation, it is your boss. Think about the tone of your e-mail; it should be professional. Finally, think about what points you want to make in your e-mail.

One possible solution is to write the e-mail, then ask someone, or work with TSW, to proofread the e-mail. Next, take a day or two off before you send the e-mail. This will give you "fresh eyes" to revise the e-mail, and let your emotions settle a bit.

Another solution is to e-mail your supervisor and ask for a meeting with an interpreter present so that you both can communicate better. Also make use of various resources, such as Web sites that provide information on grammar. Even the most experienced writers must always practice their grammar by reading, writing, and studying the language. Anyone, deaf or hearing, will tell you that mastering the English language is a lifelong process.

A Web site that provides a list of examples for correct and incorrect English usage:
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html

One of the most well-known English resources, Strunk and White's Elements of Style, is now online.
http://www.answers.com/topic/the-elements-of-style

Have a question? Send your question to info@tswriting.com, and we will answer your question in this column. Your name will be kept anonymous.

SPOTLIGHT ON...CHUCK BAIRD
Each month, we profile one of our clients. This month, we talk with Chuck Baird, one of the best artists in the nation, if not world

Take a look at Chuck Baird's artwork, and the first thing you'll see is a rich variety of vivid colors blended together to create beauty.

This is Baird's trademark style: an appealing mix of color with reality and sometimes a dab of humor. "Art is as simple as pure communication, where I express my thoughts and views with a certain style I choose that gives me pleasure, much like storytelling," he says. "I always try to begin anew with each project. Whatever comes to me from the world around me, I absorb it and juxposition it, maybe adding an interesting twist. Color is my strongest area, like music for the eyes. My subjects often switch from one to another, sometimes related to the Deaf experience - or not. I paint from deep in my soul."

Born in Kansas, Baird now makes his home in Bee Cave, TX, near Austin. He also travels internationally, presenting on De'VIA (Deaf Visual Image Art) and other art topics. Most recently, he commissioned artwork for the 2007 Deaflympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is currently working on several art projects.

Baird works with TSW for a variety of services, including publicity, editing and business communications. He explains, "I love working with T.S. Writing Services for many reasons. Besides being superfast, TSW has the rare ability to edit my words without changing the colors, something that is very important to me."

Chuck Baird's website is at www.chuckbaird.com, where reprints may also be ordered.

WORKSHOP BOOKLET NOW AVAILABLE!
TSW now has a booklet available for free download from its Web site, highlighting available presentations and workshops. Future workshop offerings include human resources and writing workshops, online workshops in ASL, and much more! To download the booklet, visit www.tswriting.com and click on SERVICES, then WORKSHOPS. A listing of workshop dates is also available at the Web site.

ABOUT TSW

T.S. Writing Services, LLC, provides writing, editing, design and translation services for American Sign Language and English users. For more information, visit www.tswriting.com.