What is the most used word when commenting? I really don’t know the statistic but I imagine it would be “interesting”. I’ve written numerous articles and I’ve received my fair share of this one-word comment. Although I appreciate the time to write this 11-letter word, there are times when I want to read more from my readers. As such, I will un veil the 10 secrets to successful commenting. This way, you get to contribute and make the discussion more meaningful – not to say “interesting” is dull and meaningless, but …you know what I mean.
1. Read the article
For the love of online writing, please take the time to read the article. It can range anywhere from a few sentences to a thousands of words. If haven’t got the patience or brain matter, that would be difficult. However, the key to successful commenting is to read. You may agree or disagree with what you have read but to get to that point requires you reading it. Moreover, it necessitates a level of understanding before you can actually comment.
Some commenting tips:
- Take note of key points in the article
- Be sensitive to the tone of how it is written
- Be familiar with the ideas and concepts presented in what you have read
- Understand the thesis of the article and allow it to sink in
Reading the article is not just scanning it. It is enriching your knowledge about the author and about the topic. When we read the article we can leave a more meaningful comment.
2. Honest Feedback is important
Leaving a comment that is honest is very important. However, there is a huge difference between being honest and being tactless. I’ve been to numerous online communities and forums where the exchanges of comments are just too rude for my taste. The use of profanity and vulgarity does not just reflect the lack of respect and courtesy but it shows poor command of language.
The varied perspectives and the ideas allow for a broader and deeper discussion of the topic – no matter how mundane the topic may be. I once commented that I get pokes a lot and I don’t mind it. It helps we draw out the opinions of other people – the author as well as other readers.
Some commenting tips:
- Choose your words carefully
- If you must place an argument contrary to what is written, do it professionally and respectfully
- Focus on the topic and do not target the author
- Put your case plainly so others will understand
- Expect retort that may not be tasteful so keep calm and be courteous always
Being an honest commenter allows other people to understand your point of view while maintaining respect and courtesy. In the online world, we will meet people with different ideas from ours. It is a matter of exchanging ideas properly so we can evolve and develop further.
3. Your experience matters
One of the most important aspects of commenting is to dig deep into your experience. Your experiences are unique to you. Sharing your experiences include actual events in your life, what you have read in the past and other instances that can contribute to further discussion.
Some Commenting Tips:
- Choose experiences that are relevant to the article’s topic
- Refer back to the key points in the article
- Using the same words used in the article when describing your experience
Every experience is unique and this can add to the discussion through the comments. An article becomes more meaningful to the individual by sharing one’s experience. Moreover, it helps other readers gain a better perspective on what is being discussed. Just imagine how much discussion can be attained by simply sharing one’s experiences.
4. Be concise and descriptive
Comments help make the article come alive. This can be done especially when the comments are insightful and descriptive. Choosing your words properly will help convey your ideas more efficiently. Moreover, keeping one’s comment concise and simple allows other readers to appreciate your point better. The whole idea is to share your point of view quickly and precisely.
Although “interesting” falls squarely in this tip, it would be better if one can actually say what makes the article interesting. This will help the author gain better understanding of his/her readers. In the same manner, it will help other commenters and readers become more familiar with you.
Some commenting tips:
- If needed, edit your comments so that it will make sense
- Proofread your comments
- Use the appropriate words
5. Comment on comments
This is another secret to make commenting a success. Apart from commenting on the article itself, it is best to reply to other comments as well. Some readers may find it awkward to just suddenly pitch in a conversation in the comments area. But you can always do this in a courteous way.
There are times when a comment and a reply continue on to become a conversation. And sometimes, it can veer off the topic. But that’s how dynamic communication. In the end, the right comments can jump-start a conversation that can be truly enlightening.
Some commenting tips:
- Have the habit of replying to comments especially if the comment is a reply to yours
- If you want to join in an existing conversation you can do so but do it courteously
- If the thread is getting long and numerous people are participating, it would be best to mention the name of the user you want to reply to
Commenting on comments is a way we can connect with other writers. Moreover it allows a way for each person to create a conversation and mingle with others. In the online community, exchanges of ideas are done through continuous interaction.
For some, commenting is merely getting the author’s attention that he or she visited and read the article. To a certain extent that is true. But when we put our efforts into making productive interaction, we give the author a compliment. In addition, commenting is a fundamental strategy to keep our online ties strong. If we want the community to thrive, we do it with meaningful exchange of comments.
jpcmc
Latest posts by jpcmc (see all)
- Inexpensive Eye Care Tips for Everyone - 10/20/2015
- How To Help A Grieving Friend - 02/02/2015
- Inexpensive Technology To Help You Through Power Interruptions - 01/26/2015
- Where to Place Keywords to Earn More Online Income - 01/26/2015
- Anatomy of Great Tips - 11/27/2014
I find articles here are really INTERESTING. LOL! I want to comment and to comment back to some of the members but I’m having a hard time to do it. *sigh*
You’re hilarious. What’s the problem with the commenting? Have your raised the concern with the support people?
I did already. Sometimes it’s working like now…but most of the times, I need to go to the member’s profile page.
That’s weird. I hope it gets all sorted out soon so you can have a lot more fun.
this is true, I think I read his comment on my wall instead in the article.
@mavic123456:disqus that is the same with @disqus_ao0YjNqa2K:disqus comment earlier. I hope it gets fixed.
I’m not sure if the process of commenting here is to tick the member’s name then comment. Some members have comment box that are readily available after the post. no need for me to visit their profile. Yes, I did send an email already to the concerned group. Thanks. 🙂
@Tuffy I hope you received my email, we are using Disqus, so you need to create a disqus account in order to leave comment, and I see some of your comments, you can log in via Facebook or Twitter to use Disqus too.
Excellent tips @jpcmc:disqus. One thing that I’d like to add is that debate comments are great, but like with the honest feedback comment, tact is very important. There’s one thing to attack the author and another to debate the issue raised within the article. The latter is the one that people commenting should follow.
You got it spot on @disqus_Kzie54kHzm:disqussome of the most satisfying conversations I’ve had is with people who are willing to discuss the topic and avoi attacking the other. I think that makes discussions more fun. However, there are still sites and communities where there are members who are racist, tactless and unprofessional.
Helpful tips for the new contest we have. But really, more than just wanting to get the attention of the community, we want members to be able to interact in a way like they would eventually be more than just leaving a comment but actually trying to make a bond between them. You may notice some writers, not just on this site, when they have built a bond, the thread could go on and on. Talking about the topic may not be enough, so it leads to other topics which may be related to or not to the posted article.
I hope everyone would have fun with this latest contest that we have,
That’s the fun of conversing and commenting. We get to talk about so many things. It’s practically just talking with a friend. But in this case it’s done electronically. Our community will grow when ties become stronger and when conversations go beyond merely leaving a comment for the sake of leaving one. When we use commenting as a tool to interact and socialize, we can grow as a community.
And it’s a better way to spend our time here than on other social media, right?
We are building a stronger community when we comment and respond back.
very nice, I will keep in mind being “tact” I think sometimes, I get over excited and treating people here as my friends, sometimes I go overboard. If I did, if I have offended people here, I sincerely apologize
We do want to members to treat each other like friends. Sometimes we are straightforward but there are times when we sugar coat. Like any friend, we have to feel our way on how to communicate with others. Personally i enjoy our conversations. it brings laughter and joy to my life.
Btw, see you on the next spaceship going back to our home planet. LOL
“nanu nanu” .. oppises.. copyrighted by the late Robin williams. Is Orsen calling you?
thanks I appreciate you too.. you inspire me to write out of this world article. LOL.. meaning there will be another Criminal Mind article. LOL.
take care..
I’m trying to find my old robin Williams movies on the net. I hope to have a robin Williams marathon next weekend. LOL
Well, one way to get good comments, was to write the article on commenting. Very well done! Another, might be to have the site programmers, put something in the comment’s section that only accepts comments that have 20-50 characters or more, so that people can’t just say it’s “nice”. This was a very informative article and if it doesn’t get good comments; nothing will. You’re right about some other websites; some people leave one word comments, I think, just to get the points. One of the best things about writing, is that most writers are also readers, so real, legitimate writers, will often make helpful comments.
I also think that legitimate writers provide helpful comments. In this community, we value comments because it helps deepen and liven the discussions. There are sites that require a minimum number of characters to comment. Some members simply use characters like periods and commas improperly just to get the minimum number of characters.
To be honest when I don’t read the article I don’t have even a single word and there’s a stage when the problem starts. When we don’t read or not the most of article then we will only say, nice post, it’s so true, fascinating post, informative. Even though we don’t have enough time to read every article completely specifically lengthy ones, but if I didn’t read completely then I won’t comment because I don’t know what author have shared.
Me too. I usually do a quick scan, if any tips are too hard to understand or I don’t have anything in my mind, I won’t leave a comment.
There are times when i read and just can’t find the right word to say.
Hello @Educateurself1:disqus I think it is polite to first read the article and share our thought about you are right, it is hard to say something truly genuine when we haven’t read what was written. Although a quick scan can give us an idea, it is still important to understand the point of view of the author.
Hi jpcmc,
You have covered all the salient features of commenting. It will definitely help those who want to learn the art of commenting and also those who have the habit of criticizing others in the name of commenting.1
The basics of commenting are practically common sense. However, many just forget that commenting is all about creating meaningful connections with other people online. They turn commenting into a tool to get attention. Worse, they use it to spam.
I always read those articles that I stumble every time I am online, there are times I somehow scanned if the topic is a little bit ordinary and too much precise for the subject matter. These are wonderful tips to make my commenting more meaningful and encouraging for great conversation.
I am glad that my Tip has a positive effect on you. But I must admit that I do not comment on all the articles that I read online. However, those that catch my attention will definitely get my thoughts in the comments.
your tips has a positive impact
that is nice
I appreciate your attempt to give some etiquette pointers for those leaving comments. For a blogger it’s tough to start getting comments in the first place, but then rather disappointing when you start to realize that the comments you get are mostly just noise and not adding to the conversation.
But when comments work well (like here) it really does contribute to the blog post and adds value.
Thank you for adding to the discussion @Namibnat:disqus I understand your point that at first it is just noise. Meaningful comments are more important as they can contribute more. Most of the magic really happens in the comments of the readers and the author.
i am really enjoying your article
That is so nice of you. I hope to write more Tips that will be enjoyable and informative.
true word
Maybe there are times that the readers having few words of their comments although deep inside they really admire it. And of course we can feel as a writer if whether those comments connect with our writings. Thank you for that.
I understand what you mean. there are some articles that leave me speechless. Sometimes words just aren’t enough. But then again there are those that leave comments that you know can be improved.
that is true
I think it is human nature to zone in on topics that we appreciate or those that spark up our attention this is why we comment on some and just leave rubbish in others. Or perhaps some just don’t read the darn article we took the time to write.
that is right.
Commenting is very important in online writing and it makes one known to other members of the community, so as you said, it is important that the article is worth commenting or very interesting. Sometimes commenting is affected by the writer’s mood and grasp of the subject matter of the article.
The exchanges in comments are vital in getting the community to participate. This is the the way members get to know one another and exchange ideas. The article offer the backdrop for the conversation. Also, when the conversation starts it can can morph into other topics whether related or not. This is quite similar to actual conversations that we have. The only difference is we use the internet as a tool to communicate.
true talk
that is true
These tips are great. I keep coming back and rereading this article because leaving comments on articles is somewhat new to myself. This article has helped me quit a bit.
yes, you are right
Thank you for the kind words. and I apologize for not replying earlier. Commenting is an integral part of any community like ours. I am glad I gave you some ideas. See you around.
There’s nothing more irritating than a comment that screams, “I have no idea of what this article is about”. You’ve presented some great recommendations for commenting here; I hope that people read the article. Thanks
you are right..
I have been a victim of nonsense comments before and I am pretty sure I will still find these comments. But what is important is that we slowly get to realize the impact our words have on others – not just our articles or Tips but with our comments as well.
I use interesting a lot, but I do make sure it’s not the only thing I have to say about an article. And you’re right about the importance of good comments!
Some genuinely use “interesting” in the comments but others simply use it to comment. I use interesting a lot as well. but I learned to use the thesaurus and got alternatives. LOL
Hahaha…I use interesting too only because it is interesting. 🙂
I now use intriguing instead of interesting. I pays use the thesaurus every now and then. LOL
So interesting. I didn’t realize a lot of this.