What kind of quotation marks do you use in your writing?<\/strong><\/h2>\nDid you know that there are two kinds of quotation marks\u2014straight and curly? Straight quotation marks don\u2019t curve, whereas curly quotes seem to wriggle on the page (see image below). The actual appearance of the marks will vary depending on the font you use.<\/p>\n
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.investmentwriting.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/curly-or-straight-1.30-300x167.png\")
<\/a>Straight quotes are a hangover from the days of typewriters when you would have needed separate keys to show the curly quotation marks that appear on the left versus those that appear on the right. Today, software can automatically supply the appropriate quotation marks. In fact, curly quotes are also known as \u201csmart quotes\u201d because they\u2019re smart enough to lean in the appropriate direction.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s what one blog says about straight versus curly in \u201cCurly quotes and straight quotes: a quick guide<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nStraight quotes come from typewriter habits. Typewriter character sets were limited by mechanics, so they were replaced with straight quotes. That\u2019s not an issue anymore with word processors and modern typing. Straight quotes are no longer a necessity.<\/p>\n
Curly quotes are typically preferred by writers today because they\u2019re more legible and flow better with the content. Straight quotes rarely have a place in any type of modern writing or typography, the technique, and art of arranging type. Designers and people who work with typography tend to stay away from straight quotes as a rule of thumb.<\/p>\n
I favor curly quotes because they\u2019re more modern and are generally preferred by my clients. If your company prefers straight quotes, that\u2019s OK, but please use that style consistently. It\u2019s jarring for some readers if you switch between styles.<\/p>\n
There are some rare cases in which straight quotes might be preferred. \u201cThe \u2018Smart Quote\u2019 Struggle<\/a>\u201d discusses how the use of curly quotes is not supported for searches in some scholarly literature databases. (Thanks,\u00a0Robyn Bradley<\/a>, for this link!) This is also true, according to my techie husband, when technical query text is pasted from word processors directly into most database management software that uses some form of structured querying language (SQL).<\/p>\nTo turn curly quotes on or off in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, read \u201cSmart quotes in Word and PowerPoint<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nHistoric versus historical<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\nDo you know when to use \u201chistoric\u201d instead of \u201chistorical\u201d in your financial writing?<\/p>\n
For example, if you\u2019re talking about the market setting new highs, you might refer to \u201chistoric highs.\u201d That\u2019s because \u201cHistoric<\/em>\u00a0is most commonly used for something famous or important in history,\u201d as explained in \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between \u2018historic\u2019 and \u2018historical\u2019?<\/a>\u201d on the Merriam-Webster website.<\/p>\nTreasuries or Treasurys?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\nHow do you write the plural of \u201cTreasury\u201d? Read my take on the topic in \u201cTreasurys vs. Treasuries \u2014 Which is the right spelling?<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\nLearn more about hospice care and the end of life<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\nI wish I had known more about hospice care and the process of dying before a family member started it some years ago.\u00a0Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully<\/a><\/em>\u00a0is a practical, down-to-earth book written by hospice nurse Julie McFadden.\u00a0McFadden has a YouTube channel<\/a>\u00a0where you can get a taste of her approach to this topic.<\/p>\nOn this topic, a friend also recommends\u00a0The Good Death: A Guide for Supporting Your Loved One through the End of Life<\/a><\/em>\u00a0by nurse Suzanne B. O\u2019Brien. The book is scheduled for release on March 18, 2025.<\/p>\nFlemish art at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\nI\u2019m a big fan of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
The museum is currently hosting a traveling exhibition of Flemish art, \u201cSaints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks<\/a>.\u201d The show runs through May 4, 2025.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"carving](\"https:\/\/www.investmentwriting.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/painter-2-1.30-140x300.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0![\"pink](\"https:\/\/www.investmentwriting.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/flower-1-1.30-201x300.jpg\")
\u00a0 \u00a0![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.investmentwriting.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/painter-1-1.30-214x300.jpg\")
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What my clients say about me<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>\u201cFast, effective, insightful. I can think of no better resource for superior financial writing.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cSusan has an exceptional ability to tailor investment communications to the sophistication level of any audience. She has an uncanny ability to make very complex investment and\/or economic topics accessible and understandable to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan\u2019s particularly good at working through highly technical material very quickly. That\u2019s very important in this business. A lot of people are good writers, but they have an extensive learning curve for something they\u2019re unfamiliar with. Susan was able to jump very quickly into technical material.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more testimonials<\/a>!<\/p>\nImprove your investment commentary![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.investmentwriting.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/investment-commentary.jpg\")
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Attract more clients, prospects, and referral sources by improving your investment commentary with 44 pages of the best tips from the\u00a0InvestmentWriting.com<\/a>\u00a0blog.<\/p>\nTips include how to organize your thoughts, edit for the \u201cbig picture,\u201d edit line by line, and get more mileage out of your commentary.<\/p>\n
Available in PDF format for only $9.99. Email me<\/a> to buy it now!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.investmentwriting.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-18-at-2.12.55-PM-300x102.png\")
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Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients<\/em>\u00a0is available for purchase as a\u00a0PDF<\/a>\u00a0($39) or a\u00a0paperback<\/a>\u00a0($49,\u00a0affiliate link<\/a>).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.investmentwriting.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Financial-Blogging-book-by-Susan-Weiner-231x300.jpg\")
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<\/a>Straight quotes are a hangover from the days of typewriters when you would have needed separate keys to show the curly quotation marks that appear on the left versus those that appear on the right. Today, software can automatically supply the appropriate quotation marks. In fact, curly quotes are also known as \u201csmart quotes\u201d because they\u2019re smart enough to lean in the appropriate direction.<\/p>\nHere\u2019s what one blog says about straight versus curly in \u201cCurly quotes and straight quotes: a quick guide<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Straight quotes come from typewriter habits. Typewriter character sets were limited by mechanics, so they were replaced with straight quotes. That\u2019s not an issue anymore with word processors and modern typing. Straight quotes are no longer a necessity.<\/p>\n Curly quotes are typically preferred by writers today because they\u2019re more legible and flow better with the content. Straight quotes rarely have a place in any type of modern writing or typography, the technique, and art of arranging type. Designers and people who work with typography tend to stay away from straight quotes as a rule of thumb.<\/p>\n I favor curly quotes because they\u2019re more modern and are generally preferred by my clients. If your company prefers straight quotes, that\u2019s OK, but please use that style consistently. It\u2019s jarring for some readers if you switch between styles.<\/p>\n There are some rare cases in which straight quotes might be preferred. \u201cThe \u2018Smart Quote\u2019 Struggle<\/a>\u201d discusses how the use of curly quotes is not supported for searches in some scholarly literature databases. (Thanks,\u00a0Robyn Bradley<\/a>, for this link!) This is also true, according to my techie husband, when technical query text is pasted from word processors directly into most database management software that uses some form of structured querying language (SQL).<\/p>\n To turn curly quotes on or off in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, read \u201cSmart quotes in Word and PowerPoint<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Do you know when to use \u201chistoric\u201d instead of \u201chistorical\u201d in your financial writing?<\/p>\n For example, if you\u2019re talking about the market setting new highs, you might refer to \u201chistoric highs.\u201d That\u2019s because \u201cHistoric<\/em>\u00a0is most commonly used for something famous or important in history,\u201d as explained in \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between \u2018historic\u2019 and \u2018historical\u2019?<\/a>\u201d on the Merriam-Webster website.<\/p>\n How do you write the plural of \u201cTreasury\u201d? Read my take on the topic in \u201cTreasurys vs. Treasuries \u2014 Which is the right spelling?<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n I wish I had known more about hospice care and the process of dying before a family member started it some years ago.\u00a0Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully<\/a><\/em>\u00a0is a practical, down-to-earth book written by hospice nurse Julie McFadden.\u00a0McFadden has a YouTube channel<\/a>\u00a0where you can get a taste of her approach to this topic.<\/p>\n On this topic, a friend also recommends\u00a0The Good Death: A Guide for Supporting Your Loved One through the End of Life<\/a><\/em>\u00a0by nurse Suzanne B. O\u2019Brien. The book is scheduled for release on March 18, 2025.<\/p>\n I\u2019m a big fan of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n The museum is currently hosting a traveling exhibition of Flemish art, \u201cSaints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks<\/a>.\u201d The show runs through May 4, 2025.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSusan has an exceptional ability to tailor investment communications to the sophistication level of any audience. She has an uncanny ability to make very complex investment and\/or economic topics accessible and understandable to anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSusan\u2019s particularly good at working through highly technical material very quickly. That\u2019s very important in this business. A lot of people are good writers, but they have an extensive learning curve for something they\u2019re unfamiliar with. Susan was able to jump very quickly into technical material.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more testimonials<\/a>!<\/p>\n Attract more clients, prospects, and referral sources by improving your investment commentary with 44 pages of the best tips from the\u00a0InvestmentWriting.com<\/a>\u00a0blog.<\/p>\n Tips include how to organize your thoughts, edit for the \u201cbig picture,\u201d edit line by line, and get more mileage out of your commentary.<\/p>\n Available in PDF format for only $9.99. Email me<\/a> to buy it now!<\/p>\n Financial Blogging: How to Write Powerful Posts That Attract Clients<\/em>\u00a0is available for purchase as a\u00a0PDF<\/a>\u00a0($39) or a\u00a0paperback<\/a>\u00a0($49,\u00a0affiliate link<\/a>).<\/p>\nHistoric versus historical<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Treasuries or Treasurys?<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Learn more about hospice care and the end of life<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Flemish art at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\nWhat my clients say about me<\/h2>\n
<\/a>\u201cFast, effective, insightful. I can think of no better resource for superior financial writing.\u201d<\/p>\nImprove your investment commentary
<\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\nBoost your blogging now!<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
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