Tips Tuesday

Here are excerpts from the most recent tips on SlawTips, the site that each week offers up useful advice, short and to the point, on research, writing, and practice.

Research & Writing

Search Strategy—Cast Your Net Wide
Ken Fox

Good keyword searching practice varies from database to database, depending on how the data is structured and how the search engine works. But there are some principles that apply to most situations. …

Confusing Pairs, Part 1
Neil Guthrie

Words you mix up at your own peril. Adverse: unfavourable (‘adverse weather conditions); opposite (‘adverse in interest’). Averse: against, opposed to (‘I’m not averse to trying this out’) …

Practice

Limit the Time You Spend on a Task
Ian Hu

When a meeting takes longer than anticipated, minds may start to wander. An inefficient meeting can cause participants to “switch off” and cease contributing meaningfully. Similarly, starting a difficult task without a time limit can seem too large a mountain to climb, and make it easy to procrastinate. …