Grammar Girl here, Steven from Katie, Texas asked me how to write a good blog comment.

And I thought it was a great topic I haven't seen covered anywhere.

I don't know any bloggers who don't crave comments, but there are many more places

than blogs that you can leave comments these days on news articles, photos, videos, comment

walls, and more.

Comment writing is something of a new art form, and as many people who get comments will

tell you, some are great and some are horrible.

In fact, I've embedded a hilarious video on the Grammar Girl website of some girls from

YouTube doing a rap song about the awful comments they get on their videos.

It's called the yo comments are whack, and it's worth the time.

Rule number one, determine your motivation.

People have different reasons for writing blog comments.

What's yours?

Are you trying to get the attention of an influential blogger, drive traffic to your own blog,

establish yourself as an expert on a topic?

Do you appreciate the person's work and want to say thank you or brighten his or her

day?

Do you disagree so strongly with what you're viewing or reading that you simply can't

let it stand without a rebuttal?

Sometimes understanding your motivation will help you decide what kind of comment to write.

Rule number two, provide context.

I know as you're writing your comment, you know what you're responding to.

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