In Ideas and Opinions, Albert Einstein tells us, "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters" (1). One of the small matters in freelance writing is mechanics.
Paying attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling goes a long way to showing your writing expertise. Another important part of mechanics in writing, often overlooked in web content writing, is properly cited research sources.
Because the web can be a very informal means of communication, freelance writers often view citations as an unnecessary, time-wasting extra. However, citing your sources improves your credibility as an authority on your topic and can also serve as proof that your content, while thoroughly researched, is still original.
The easiest way to cite Internet sources is to just leave a link under a "Resource" section at the bottom of your web page, but if you want to build trust and confidence in your writing expertise, easiest isn't always the best. Properly citing sources takes a little more effort, but once you have the basics down, it almost becomes second nature.
Although different methods of citing sources apply to different types of content, you can find those most often used in the Chicago Manual of Style, which offers acceptable solutions for citing most types of documents, online and off.
The following method of citation is also acceptable for most types of Internet content writing.
- Author Name (if known)
- Document Title
- Publisher Name
- Content Date or N.D. if unknown
- Date Accessed
- <http://domain.tld/directory/page.ext>
For instance, to cite this article, use:
Jenkinson, Linda. "Citations: Crediting Your Resources" Web Content Designer. 4 May 2009. < http://web-content-designer.com/writing-web-content/citations.htm>
If you have trouble getting the hang of correctly citing resources, you can get started with the Son of Citation Generator or explore the various methods of citing sources at Online's Citation Styles.
Theodore Roosevelt is remembered for saying, "Speak softly and carry a big stick"(2). In freelance writing, the combination of research and citation is a bat that turns soft opinion into hard-hitting content, which builds trust in your writing expertise and adds credibility to your content.
- Einstein, Albert . Ideas and Opinions. New York, NY: Wings Books, 1954. World Cat. 6 Dec. 2007 <http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48862178&referer=one_hit>
- Roosevelt, Theodore . The Columbia World of Quotations. Ed. Robert Andrews, Mary Biggs, and Michael Seidel. Columbia University Press, 2006. eNotes.com. 2006. 6 Dec, 2007 <http://www.enotes.com/famous-quotes/speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick>
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