Author: Akanksha Negi

Reasons to learn content writing

Content writing is a step wise process of planning, writing and editing. It usually includes content for blogs, articles, speeches, video and podcast script etc. Content writing helps construct a great relationship with the audience and intrigue them in coming back for more. The power of good content should never be underestimated keeping in intellect the sum of difference it can make with just the help of words.

Let’s take a look at some reasons to learn content writing:

>Improves vocabulary

Content writing is one of the good ways to improve vocabulary. It’s not usually about using high level language tending readers to look into the dictionary every minute but using the most appropriate language and words to convey one’s thoughts to the readers in the simplest of the ways.

>Tickles creativity

Content writing covers a range of writing styles from imagination to originality. The purpose is to express thoughts and ideas through literary devices. While learning to create good content, one also learns how to be creative and original at the same time. Content writing gives opportunities to explore various topics and themes with no restrictions giving rise to new ideas paving way to creativity.

>Helps acquire research skills

Learning content writing also includes researching over a wide variety of topics which helps in creating meaningful content. To provide a genuine and verified content one goes through multiple web searches in order to acquire the most accurate information regarding the respective content.

>Exposure to global knowledge

Content writing is also a good way of learning. It tends one to know about the world and its whereabouts. Exposure to vast knowledge of different fields is one of the many benefits of content writing.

>Boosts confidence

Enrolling oneself in content writing boosts confidence. One gets to learn so many new things which automatically lift up self confidence.

>Path to freelance content writing

Freelance writers are always much in demand and enjoy flexibility and independence. Moreover, freelancing can be done part time as well making it easier to juggle with everyday work. Even in this time of pandemic where almost everyone is losing jobs, content writing still finds a place in the market. Otherwise as well, content writing as career is growing at a fast rate.

Benefits of internship

Having fair a great degree is not sufficient to guarantee one to have a great work as well in today’s world. Extra capabilities and work experience have presently become a fundamental for a successful career. These are considered as essential as qualifications and degrees. Here comes the need of an internship. Internship is a short-term work experience offered by a company, association or organisation to students or recent graduates for a limited period of time, either paid or unpaid. These are in the form of work experience cum training, volunteership or interning at any company etc. It is more of a learning experience than work which benefits interns by providing entry level exposure to particular fields of industry. Interns spend time working on projects, learning field work, developing soft and hard skills and making industry related connections. Moreover, certain internships do tend to full time job opportunities.

Benefits of internship

>Work experience

The very benefit of any internship is the work experience the interns gain out of it. The sort of experience one gains from internship is something that cannot be obtained through classroom instruction. Interns have the opportunity to make practical use of the skills they acquire and deal with real world challenges.

>Character enhancement and development of skills

While working for an organisation, one learns not only technical skills but also develops soft skills and work ethics. One gets to know about strengths and weaknesses. Internships also provide exposure to real life challenges in work which prove beneficial in future while in full time jobs.

>Gaining confidence

Internships allow interns to put to test the skills and knowledge they acquire in a safe environment that help gain confidence.

> Monetary benefit

Many internships are paid in case of which interns get a chance to earn while learning at the same time.

>Full-time job

Many companies use internships as path of recruitment of skilled freshers. It is more of an easy method wherein the recruiters can train, test and analyse the skills of the interns and later hire them on permanent basis if favourable for the company.

Common grammatical errors in written English

Language has had a solid establishment in our society and been advancing with time. Grammar shapes the basic language structure and helps in maintaining structural composition and readability. Having a language means to have a medium to associate with others in a way to exchange feelings and thoughts in an understandable manner.

Over time, English has ended up becoming one of the most popular languages for communication in the world. Despite that, English is frequently seen as a complex and precarious dialect to a great extent due to its erratic spellings and a parcel of exemptions to its rules of language structure. This tricky to learn grammar makes one prone to grammatical errors more often in written English.

Common Errors in English

>Spelling errors

The most obvious and common mistake in written English is of spellings. It mostly occurs due to: (a) too many rules and exceptions for writing certain words- for e.g. Use of ‘I’ before ‘E’ in case of ‘V’ and vice-versa for ‘C’ is instructed. However, the word ‘SCIENCE’ contradicts the rule (b) homophones- for e.g. rain, reign and rein the pronunciation is the same but written differently.

>Missing or misplaced apostrophe

Apostrophes are used to indicate possession and also used in contracted form of words. If misplaced or missing, it changes the sense of a sentence. For e.g. their (possession) and they’re (contracted form of they are)

>Absence or incorrect use of commas

Commas are the simplest tool to separate the fragment of a sentence. If made in use inappropriately or not used at all, commas can influence clarity of a sentence causing disarray in it.

>Subject verb agreement

It is one of the few errors which occur in written as well as spoken English. To maintain grammatical accuracy it is important to satisfy the verb with respect to subject i.e. if the subject is singular, the verb needs to be plural in form and vice versa. For e.g. birds chirp (plural subject, singular verb) and sun shines (singular subject, plural verb)

>Inappropriate use of tense

We often tend to ignore tense while writing. A sentence has to be accurate with the use of tense to maintain the same sense throughout the sentence.

>Overuse of adverbs

Unnecessary adverbs need to be avoided. Instead of searching for more adverb, one should lookout for a more effective verb or adjective to add more colour to the content.

>Inappropriate use of degree of comparison

Herein, mostly errors are observed in comparative and superlative degree. Use of ‘more’ before the comparative degree of adjective and omitting the use of ‘the’ in superlative degree of adjective while comparison are common mistakes. For e.g.- I am more taller than him.

Forbidden places in the world

Considering the rate of global expansion it is impossible to imagine any place unexplored and far from the reach of humans. However, there do exist certain places around the world which are forbidden from public viewing.

>Poveglia Island, Italy

Considered one of the most haunted islands in the world Poveglia Island is rumoured to have about 50% of its soil consisting of human remains. Located in between Venice and Lido the island was used as a quarantine station for plague infected people from 1793 to 1814. Also, evidences from past have proved that the island was used by Napoleon to store weapons in early 1800s. By the year 1922, until 1968, the buildings there were converted into mental asylum for the ill. It is believed that mentally ill patients were brutally tortured and killed at the hospital. Afterwards the island was used for agricultural purpose.

>North Sentinel Island, India

Located in the Bay of Bengal, North Sentinal Island is apart of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is home to the Sentinelese an indigenous tribe often known as ‘uncontacted’ people. According to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act prohibits people from outside the island to travel here. It is believed the Sentineleses have inherited the island from generations and wish to remain in no contact with the outside world. Out of respect to their voluntary isolation the island is banned for travelling.

>Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China

The tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin emperor of China is situated in Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi province of China. constructed over 38 years, from 246 to 208 BC, and is situated underneath a 76-meter-tall tomb mound shaped like a truncated pyramid. It is preserved in the respect of the late emperor.

>Bhangarh Fort, India

Built in the 16th century, Bhangarh Fort is located in Rajasthan, India. Claimed as one of the most haunted forts in India, trespassing near Bhangarh is legally prohibited between the sunset and sunrise. However, according to government claims, visiting the place after sunset is prohibited due to dense forest cover, the presence of wild animals and no street lighting facilities.

>Ilha da Queimada Grande, Brazil

Also known as Snake Island, Ilha da Queimada Grande is an island off the coast of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean. As the name suggests, it is known for its snake population having an average of five snakes per mile. It is home to an endangered snake species, Bothrops insularis, a golden lancehead pit viper. The snakes became trapped on the island when rising sea levels covered up the land that connected it to the mainland. Considering the danger from one of the deadliest serpents in the world the Brazilian government has made it illegal for anyone to visit the island.

INSEAD vs HBS

Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) and Harvard Business School (HBS) are two extremely famous management institutions among students seeking admission in management courses in foreign universities. Both are ranked among the top B-schools across the globe providing various opportunities in the field of management.

Let’s have a brief overview of the two.

INSEAD is a private university having campuses in France, Singapore and Dubai. It offers masters programs, doctoral programs, certificate program and executive education programs such as open programs, online programs etc.

HBS is a branch of Harvard University situated in Boston, Massachusetts. Apart from a two year MBA programs it offers doctoral programs, executive education programs and online certificate courses.

Considering the following points of difference one can decide upon a suitable option:

>Duration of MBA

INSEAD– It offers a 10 months MBA program. Admissions are made in two cycles in the month of January (which comes along a month summer break) and September.

HBS– It offers a full time two-year MBA program.

>GMAT score

INSEAD– Approximately 80% i.e. a score of 670-750 out of 800 is mandatory for admission and has one of the highest admissions acceptance rate.

HBS– 90% i.e. a score of 724 out of 800 is mandatory for admission. Selection process is way too selective compared to other B-schools making the admission acceptance rate low.

>Cost of MBA

INSEAD– The annual fees of a typical MBA program is 106,505 USD.

HBS– The annual charge is around 111,542 to 155,300 USD.

>Geographic diversity

INSEAD– The campuses of INSEAD are present across Europe, Asia, Middle East, and North America which brings in students of diverse backgrounds.

HBS– Since the institute is based in the USA the majority students are Americans.

>Scholarships

INSEAD-Two types of scholarships are provided: (a) Need-based i.e. financial needs and (b) Non need based i.e. based on merit, gender, profession, background

HBS– Need based scholarships, fellowships and student loans are available.

>Internships

INSEAD– Paid summer internships are available with salary around 300-15000 USD.

HBS– Paid internships of around 800 USD are available.

>Campus exchange

INSEAD– INSEAD has a widespread network making campus exchange convenient.

HBS– HBS has its only campus situated in Boston.

>Recruiters

INSEAD– 300+ recruiters

HBS– over 600 recruiters

>Base salary

INSEAD– Average salary offered is 105,900 USD.

HBS– Average salary offered is 150,000 USD.

>Career opportunities

INSEAD– Having global network especially across Europe and Asia INSEAD provides greater opportunities and exposure.

HBS– Job opportunities are more concentrated in the USA which makes it ideal for those seeking settlement in the USA.