Posted by laurajane on Apr 28, 2022 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Follow these steps to write your best content
Efficiencies
Work from home Alarm Awake! Clothes Work Work School Work Work Work Lunch Work Work Work Work School Exercise Dinner Family Bath Book Bed Back to the office Alarm Awake! Make-up Clothes Shoes Lunch School Traffic Traffic Traffic Work Work Work Lunch Work Work Work Traffic Traffic Traffic School Exercise Dinner Family Bath Book Bed
Posted by laurajane on Jan 13, 2022 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 15 ways to end a difficult conversation
15 ways to end a difficult conversation
Even though I’ve watched countless presentations and webinars on delivering bad news and managing conflict, I’ve never been very skilled in this area. I dread these types of interactions, and seem to struggle most with how to conclude them. These conversations can also be tricky because I immediately jump to problem solving, even though the person I’m speaking with may not want me to solve their problem. They may just want me to listen. So, how do you end a difficult conversation without offering to solve a problem that you can’t necessarily solve. Here are a few...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 14, 2021 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 27 alternatives to “I hope this email finds you well”
27 alternatives to “I hope this email fi...
It seems to be everyone’s default, reflexive email greeting . . . “Hi Ruldolph. I hope this email finds you well.” “I hope this email finds you well” is one of those awkward, forced-interaction phrases that adds little value to the email exchange, but acts as a crutch in the uncomfortable transition between the opening (“Hi Rudolph”) and the reason you’re emailing (“I need you to lead the sleigh tonight”). Such unnecessary phrasing adds to the noise readers are trying to filter out. We’re all writers here. Can we come up with a few alternatives to...
27 quotes from your favorite Halloween m...
If you’ve ever planned a Halloween movie marathon, you know how hard it can be to get everyone to agree on what to watch. Some people love guts and gore, while others are looking for suspense and mystery. Still others prefer cult classics, parodies, and jump scares. If you need help narrowing down the list, check out these horror movie — and faux horror movie — quotes. (Sources: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, and Wikiquote.) 1. “Jason was my son, and today is his birthday.” Mrs. Voorhees, Friday the 13th 2. “It was bad, Mama. They laughed at me.” Carrie White,...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 24, 2021 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 11 nouns that should also be verbs
11 nouns that should also be verbs
As writers and editors, PR pros and marketers, many of us are the experts and enforcers of proper usage and grammar at our organizations. The punctuation police. The guardians of the style guide. But sometimes even the rule-makers like to break the rules. Below is a list of nouns that I wish were verbs. Now, I know that you know that using nouns as verbs is generally frowned upon in formal English. But even Shakespeare indulged in this practice. “Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle.” Richard II “Within my mouth you have enjailed my tongue.” Richard...
59 ways to set boundaries
Even though most of us communicate for a living, we may find ourselves at a loss for words when it comes to saying no. Whether it’s a work project that can’t be taken on or an invitation to what will be a stress-filled family get-together, it’s important to consider our own workloads and sanity before we obligingly commit. So how can we politely and firmly say no? And how do we get others to respect these boundaries? Consider using the phrases below as a starting point, no matter what type of boundary you need to set. When you disagree with someone I disagree...
11 tricky word combinations
The English language is full of problematic word pairs. Here are 11 sets that can cause trouble . . . even for the most experienced writers and editors. (Definitions and usage guidance from Lexico and Merriam-Webster.) Adverse and averse Adverse means unfavorable or harmful. Report any adverse effects from the drug to your physician. Averse means opposed or strong disliking. He was averse to the idea of using a new tool for our online meetings. Biannual and biennial A biannual event occurs twice per year. Our financials are published biannually in March and...
When it comes to the meaning behind the ...
Language relies on a shared definition of common terms — but what happens when our definitions are out of sync with colleagues, friends and loved ones? Have you ever been troubled by a word? Not a curse word or an offensive term, but an ordinary, everyday word? Maybe it’s a word that an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend used that drove you crazy, or kaybe it’s a word that everyone uses to sound smart. Or, a word that someone once used to deliberately anger you. Whatever the reason—you hear the word and you’re immediately on edge. The word currently preying on my mind...
Posted by laurajane on May 24, 2021 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What are your language pet peeves?
What are your language pet peeves?
“Mom, Bryan’s using potty words. He said “utilize.” We’ve reached the stage in my house where my kids use bad grammar and language gaffes to annoy me. Whether it’s saying “utilize” over and over at the dinner table or referring to their homework as “deliverables,” they know how to exasperate the word nerd in me. Here are some of their favorites. How many of these make you cringe? Worthless verbs “Please utilize your hands and pass me the pepper.” “I think we should implement a policy of dessert first.” “If you get me an Oculus, I can...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 9, 2021 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 24 ways to end a seemingly endless online meeting
24 ways to end a seemingly endless onlin...
For more than a year, most of our meetings with co-workers, clients, and executives have been through a screen. Many of us have logged more hours in Zoom than we’ve logged in Microsoft Word or Salesforce or HubSpot. One of the many communication challenges I’ve experienced in all these online meetings is that it can be more difficult to end a Zoom meeting than to end an in-person meeting. People want to chat more and check the time less when meeting online. And that’s how we end up spending even more time in meetings in 2020 and 2021 than we did in 2019. If you find...
9 cognitive biases that can derail your ...
Ever wonder what leads people to make the decisions they make? Not the trivial decisions, such as what toothpaste to buy or what to have for lunch. (Marketers can perseverate over those types of decisions.) But the life-altering, critical decisions, such as whether to get a COVID vaccine or winterize power plants ahead of a winter storm. Because more and more of us now live with the consequences of other people’s catastrophically bad decision making, I’ve been wondering what leads seemingly smart, well-meaning people to make such colossal mistakes in judgement. If...
Words and phrases from 1920s
Never under-estimate the power of words to communicate culture and define the spirit of the age. In 2020, the words “pandemic,” “lockdown,” “COVID,” “remote,” “anti-masker,” “unprecedented” and “unmute” were all chosen as “meaningful terms” or as “word[s] of the year.” To further explore how words can capture and transmit the ideas and beliefs of the time, let’s take a look at the 1920s in words. One-hundred years ago, you might have overheard these expressions in a café or while riding the bus. (Definitions from Merriam-Webster,...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 3, 2021 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Turning it down: Saying no to a project or offer gracefully
Turning it down: Saying no to a project ...
Even though many of us write for a living, we may find ourselves at a loss for words when it comes to saying no to a project or person. Turning someone down in the complicated and politically fraught world of work is no easy task. Here are five templates you can use to say no to a project or offer politely and firmly. 1. Turning down an offer to advertise/publish content/sponsor an event Good afternoon [name]. Thank you for your patience as we reviewed the materials you sent. Based on our [current advertising strategies/publishing guidelines/company policy/budget],...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 8, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What writers really want for the holidays
What writers really want for the holiday...
This year’s holiday post on “gifts for the writer in your life” doesn’t include any physical items. Though there are plenty of books, games, apps, and coffee mugs out there for writers to covet and for their loved ones to purchase, listing these felt wrong for 2020. After the year we’ve all had, doing something kind for the writer you love seems more meaningful than buying them a t-shirt that says, “I’m silently correcting your grammar.” With this in mind, my 2020 holiday post includes a list of 10 things you can do to soothe the writer in your life. Okay ....
9 non-controversial, apolitical, and sem...
In my family, having a drama-free Thanksgiving has always been a struggle. One side of the family lives to argue and will tear each other to shreds at the slightest provocation. The other side holds onto conflict and keeps it simmering, just below the surface, year after year. And then there’s my aunt Vikki who needs to be kept away from the wine, and my cousin David who needs to be kept away from my mom. But our 2020 Thanksgiving celebration — taking place on Zoom with relatives from both sides of the family — will have its own set of challenges. Below are a few...
There’s a word for that — 2020 ele...
As we await the results of the 2020 presidential election, here are a few phrases to describe what we may be seeing or doing or how we may be feeling. Availability cascade — the belief that if you hear or read about something frequently it must be true. This is similar to the bandwagon effect, the idea that if many people believe in something or do something, it must be true or acceptable. Fact checking and critical thinking are ways to fight against the availability cascade and bandwagon effect. Catastophizing — assuming the worst will happen or that the worst...
An inelegant solution
Did you ever have an English teacher tell you not to use the same word twice in a paragraph? If so, he or she was encouraging you to use “elegant variation,” a practice as misguided as the ban on starting a sentence with a conjunction. Elegant variation occurs when a writer uses synonyms simply to avoid repeating the same word. Here’s an extreme example: Bananas are a good source of potassium. Eating this elongated yellow fruit can also provide you with Vitamin C. A less extreme example: Four of the defendant’s witnesses were women, while all of the plaintiff’s...
87 ways to describe 2020
Since nothing else has worked to make 2020 pass more quickly or be any less horrifying, I thought I would try some writing therapy. Below are a few alternatives to the worn-out words and phrases used to describe the events of 2020. Do these fit the feeling of 2020? Alternatives to “unprecedented” In 2020, any time a politician or a news anchor describes one event as “unprecedented” another “unprecedented” event occurs, making the first event no longer “unprecedented.” If you’re confused by all of this . . . try using one of these when something unheard-of...
Hey 2020, don’t let the door hit y...
2020 . . . it’s time we said goodbye. With your pandemic, and your lock-downs, hurricanes, forest fires, and your political unrest and economic instability, and your Russian bots and your disappearing mailboxes, a presidential election and now a Supreme Court fight . . . the door is right there. Behind you. I’ll open it for you. Like an unwanted party guest, 2020 lingers on. Everyone else has gone home, the music has stopped, you’re turning out the lights . . . and 2020 refuses to take the hint. Well, since we have 97 more days of 2020, let’s play a party game. A...
Do you use any of these “banished” corpo...
What happens when the faculty from the English Department at a local university start talking to the university’s PR director at a New Year’s Eve party? It was New Year’s Eve, 1975. Professors and staff from Lake Superior State University (LSSU) began discussing words that people love to hate . . . and the “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness” was born. Every year since 1976, wordsmiths from the English Department at LSSU have published a list of banished words based on nominations they receive...
Pandemics and epidemics in literature
Mysterious illnesses, epidemics, and pandemics have always played a role in storytelling and literature, from classical works to modern dystopian novels. In early depictions, epidemics were considered divine punishments or portrayed as supernatural events. Often the occurrence of an epidemic provided moral commentary on the characters in the story or on the society they lived in. By the early 20th century, scientists had discovered that epidemics were caused by microorganisms, and public health experts began suggesting more empirical ways to prevent or limit epidemics....
Unusual words to describe the people in ...
English is full of words that capture the depth and breadth of the people in our lives. Take a look at these words to see if they describe anyone you know. Autodidact — a person who is self taught As an autodidact, I relied heavily on my neighborhood public library. Braggadocio — someone who engages in empty or false boasting; one who brags Our coach was nothing more than a braggadocio who bored everyone with stories of his glory days. Clerisy — a group of educated people; intellectuals; a person who reads for pleasure I always ask the clerisy from the...
Can you make these nouns plural?
Can you spell the plural form of these singular nouns? Asterisk Attorney general Court-martial Cul-de-sac Die (noun) Embryo Jack in the box Jack-o-lantern Knight-errant Low life Manservant Mongoose Monsieur Needle in a haystack Oasis Parenthesis Passerby Pelvis Plateau Runner up Scissors Series Sister-in-law Stick in the mud Syllabus Talisman Vertebra Not sure about some of these? You’re not alone. Finding the correct singular and plural forms can be crazy making. Here’s some guidance. In most cases, you make a compound noun or noun phrase plural in the same way you...
Alternatives to “at the end of the...
If you pay attention, it’s appalling how many times the phrase “at the end of the day” is used. It seems to be everyone’s favorite way to force a half-finished sentence to completion. In most circumstances, the phrase can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. You’re right. At the end of the day, Valentine’s Day is a fraud. Thank you for not ever giving me anything on February 14. At the end of the day, why do you insist on writing such insipid, dim-witted screenplays? No one reads the annual report . . . at the end of the day, we all know...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 24, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Words to fall in love with — Part 2
Words to fall in love with — Part 2
A continuation of our love affair with words . . . here are 13 more words, one for each letter of the alphabet, N through Z. Nameling — people who share the same name I’m having drinks this evening with my namelings in the accounting department. Obdurate — hardened against tender feelings; uncompromising Your obdurate opposition to any change in our sick leave polices is disappointing. Pervicacious — stubborn; uncooperative My brother — pervicacious and willful even as a child — would never back down from a fight. Quiddle — to play with...
Words to fall in love with — Part 1
In our profession, it’s fairly easy to fall in love with the words we work with. Words are our currency . . . carefully selected, thought about, and fussed over until we finally pick the right word (or words) for the job. Below are 13 words — one for each letter of the alphabet, A through M — that are guaranteed to make you swoon. Even if you can’t use these in your professional work, you’ll wish you could. (Part 2 of this post will include words for each letter of the alphabet, N through Z.) Atavism — the reappearance of a characteristic belonging to an...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 1, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Clear up your writing in 5 steps
Clear up your writing in 5 steps
You have 10 seconds. 10 seconds for your readers to digest what you’ve written. Less if your message is garbled by jargon, overly-complex phrasing, or useless information. Want to make sure your copy gets more than a 10-second scan? Follow these tips to bring clarity to your content. 1. Don’t bury what’s important Lead with the most important, interesting, or attention-grabbing elements of your message, and include those in the first paragraph. Most corporate writing fails at this, either by including irrelevant information in the first sentence or bogging down...
Avoid spam filters?????!!!!!! Learn how,...
Take a look at your spam folder and it’s easy to see why messages end up there. The telltale signs of spam — strange subject lines, urgent requests, symbols, emojis, and exclamation points — are obvious. Emails destined for the spam folder also contain spam words, such as “removes wrinkles,” “meet singles,” “buy direct,” and “not spam.” And while most spam words are obvious, some are less so. Below are 50 once-innocent words and phrases that now alert spam filters and doom your messages before they’re sent. Avoid these if you can. Act...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 29, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Audience, byline, copyright . . . code words for writers
Audience, byline, copyright . . . code w...
We’ve all seen movies with fighter pilots, spies, and police dispatchers using words like “alfa, tango, foxtrot” to spell words phonetically. What I never knew was that the code words they were using to represent the letters of the alphabet come from something called the NATO phonetic alphabet. The NATO phonetic alphabet — officially known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (ICAO) — is used so that critical messages are more likely to be pronounced correctly and understood by those speaking over the radio or telephone. The 26 words in the ICAO...
Icebreakers for writers
Want a way to connect with your fellow writers? Check out the following icebreaker questions. Answer them for yourself, and then ask them at your next online team huddle or virtual happy hour. Though some of them may keep until your next in-person happy hour. Do you prefer to write fiction or non-fiction? As a writer if you could only choose one, would you rather be a commercial success or a critical success? If you could have dinner with any writer living or dead, who would it be? What was your favorite book when you were in elementary school? What was your favorite...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 26, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Simple advice for complicated times
Simple advice for complicated times
Over the past several weeks, we’ve all seen a spike in content about how to better manage our work-from-home lives. Bloggers, podcasters, and journalists seem particularly preoccupied with video conferencing. From “How to look your best on a webcam” (from the New York Times) to “13 etiquette tips for video conference calls” (from TechRepublic), are we really supposed to be worried about our on-screen appearance in the middle of a pandemic? Do working professionals actually need to be told to “call from a quiet place”? Let’s keep it simple. My son is in...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 4, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Do any of these words describe your co-workers?
Do any of these words describe your co-w...
“It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious,” wrote Oscar Wilde, well before there were open office floor plans or compliance departments. This view seems rather limiting. People can be complex, and so are the words to describe them. Below are 12 words that capture the depth and breadth of the people in our work lives. Convive — an eating or drinking companion. My convive for this evening will be Jake from accounting. Deceptionist — a receptionist whose job is to delay and/or block visitors. Jill, the third-floor...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 21, 2020 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Test yourself with this corporate jargon quiz
Test yourself with this corporate jargon...
Make your fellow writers and editors proud. Identify the corporate speak, jargon, and meaningless business terms in the sentences below. Check your answers by scrolling to the bottom. Quiz Sorry I’m late. I’ve been actioning my deliverables. Writing is clearly not one of your core competencies. The project is already six months behind. Is now a good time to start managing expectations? How can I incentivize you to proofread your own work? Let’s discuss the new employee handbook! No one is leaving this meeting until we ideate about the new ad campaign. As many of...
Words and phrases from the 2010s
Never under-estimate the power of words. Words not only describe subtle shades of meaning, but they also transmit culture and define the spirit of the age. To see how words can capture and transmit the ideas and beliefs of the time, let’s take a look at the last decade in words. Do you remember when these words and phrases were first used? Alternative facts — information used to support false or misleading claims; lies. This term was coined by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway in January 2017. Binge-watch — to watch many or all episodes of a TV or movie series...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 11, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A little nonsense . . . quotes from the cult classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”
A little nonsense . . . quotes from the...
As someone who loves words, poetry, and literature, I sometimes wish I had a more focused command of my literary knowledge. I would love to be able to remember and properly articulate a literary quote on the appropriate occasion. For example, a few Charles Dickens’ quotes would have served me well during my budget meeting last month. “Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit.” One of the best examples of literary-quoting prowess comes from the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In the film (but not the...
How to market in a highly-regulated indu...
In certain industries — health care, financial services, legal — licensing boards, privacy laws, and professional ethics dictate how professionals can market their services. This often includes a ban on specific words or phrases in advertising, how these professionals can communicate with clients, and even how they can respond to online reviews. In this post, I’m going to discuss marketing for physicians because this is the area that I’m most familiar with. But, much of this information applies to other types of highly-regulated professional services. Until 1982,...
Liven up your next conversation with the...
As a writer, I love to learn about new words . . . how they’re created and how they eventually make it into the dictionary. Here is a list of my favorite made-up words. You probably won’t find these in any official dictionary any time soon, but try using one in conversation or in your next meeting. Authentification — to identify and authenticate something at the same time. We need to authentificate that data before we can add it on the website. Bellignorant — to be ignorant and belligerent at the same time. I hope you’re not simply being bellignorant in your...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 22, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Nitpicking co-workers? Beat them at their own game
Nitpicking co-workers? Beat them at thei...
Nothing sets your teeth on edge like having to deal with a co-worker or project manager who thinks they can complete communication tasks better than you. It’s one thing to receive constructive feedback from another writer, designer, or PR pro — or from someone like a marketing director. It’s something else entirely to receive unwelcome feedback from a co-worker whose one claim to expertise is that he or she reads a lot. Then there are those who demand detailed, sourced explanations for your decisions and who will argue with you if you don’t follow their...
10 transformational ways to conquer writ...
Inspiration can come when you least expect it. After more than 20 years in corporate communications, I’ve finally started to think of myself as an expert on the process of writing. In addition to my professional experience, I’ve read books, blog posts, been to conferences, workshops, joined writing groups. I’ve written 400 posts about writing for this blog and for PR Daily. And yet, the best advice I’ve ever received about the writing process didn’t come from an expert on writing, but from an expert on people. This “ah-ha” moment came when I recently spoke to...
Read any banned books lately?
How many of you have an all-time favorite book? That one book you would want with you if you washed up on a deserted island. A book you have in every possible format . . . paperback, hardback, audio book, e-book. Well, find it on your bookshelf or pull it up on your e-reader and re-read it in celebration of Banned Books Week. September 22 marks the beginning of Banned Books Week, an event celebrating the freedom to read. The event is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), which has been tracking and raising awareness about attempts to remove materials from...
10 reference works you didn’t know...
As a content marketer and corporate communicator, I often spend more time researching an article than I do writing it. And one of the greatest joys of researching is discovering unusual and obscure reference works. If you look hard enough, you’ll find a wealth of information about even the most obscure topic. When a Google search just won’t do, here are 10 printed reference works to help you with any writing or research project Learn the history of phrases, stories, and expressions with Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Entries are drawn from mythology,...
Can you pronounce these brands?
Imagine what it must be like to be a brand manager for Givenchy. Sure, your job is to manage a French couture fashion label, but your brand name is repeatedly mangled. How do you manage a brand when many people can’t even say it? Perhaps the first place to start is by building awareness. Below are some of the most commonly mispronounced brand names and their correct pronunciations. How many of these can you pronounce correctly? Pronunications from Pronounce it right, How do you say that word, and YouTube’s How to pronounce. Alfa Romeo (an Italian car...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 8, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Words even you may be mispronouncing
Words even you may be mispronouncing
Under the #mispronounced, Twitter users are sharing words they’ve hilariously mispronounced at one time or another. The tweets are spectacular. The English language — with its silent letters, odd accent placement, and words borrowed from other languages — can be a pronunciation minefield. Below are some of the most common mispronounced words Twitter users are sharing. Click on the word to hear the sometimes-surprising and sometimes-controversial pronunciations. (Definitions and pronunciations are from Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com.) Acai — a small, purple...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 31, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 6 fictional journalists and how to pitch to them
6 fictional journalists and how to pitch...
Many fiction writers choose journalism for the profession of their main character. After all, journalists make good narrators, and they are often where the action is. Below are a few of my favorite fictional journalists, who inspire me with their talent, wit and sense of adventure—along with guidance on how to approach them with a pitch. 1. Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher From the 1985 movie “Fletch.” Everyone’s favorite undercover journalist, Fletch spars with everyone from his editor to a millionaire bigamist to a corrupt police chief to get the story. All while...
How to politely decline unsolicited advi...
No matter where it comes from, unsolicited advice often goes awry. It’s one thing to receive feedback when you’ve asked for it. It’s quite another to receive unsolicited advice from an officious co-worker or your mother-in-law. Even worse is when the “advisor” demands detailed explanations of your decisions and argues with you if you don’t follow their suggestions. This behavior can stall your projects, waste time, and derail your self-confidence. Here are a few ways to politely and professionally tell your “advisors” to mind their own business (even when...
There’s a word for that?!
As PR and communication professionals — as well as writers and editors — many of us spend our days correcting other people’s writing. This can be a taxing task, so sometimes it’s fun to take a break and play with words. In this post, let’s explore a few words that will make you say “There’s a word for that?” (Definitions from Wordnik and Oxford Dictionaries.) Aposiopesis — to stop abruptly and leave a statement unfinished, giving the impression that the writer or speaker is unwilling or unable to continue; pretending to conceal something but mentioning...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 12, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Test your knowledge of these famous phrases
Test your knowledge of these famous phra...
Many PR pros have a love-hate relationship with language. We love to discover new words and new meanings; yet, there are many words we would wish away if we could. Many of these unwanted words and catchphrases have been around for decades and are here to stay. Catchphrases come from a variety of sources: TV, movies, sports, politics or advertising. Some catchphrases might be so familiar, that you don’t think twice about where they came from. For example, I never knew the menacing phrase “It’s 10 o’clock. Do you know where your children are?” came from PSAs that...
Do you know your brand acronyms?
As consumers, we’re exposed to anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000 brand mentions per day. Yet when it comes to the brands we are most familiar with, we may not know the simplest things about them. Consider M&Ms. They’re the small chocolate candy many of us have eaten since childhood. They’ve always been around, there was once controversy about the red M&Ms, and for years the main flavor choices were plain or peanut. M&Ms are ubiquitous. And until recently, I never thought about what the Ms might stand for. In this post, we’ll take a look at (and define)...
Posted by laurajane on May 2, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 7 productivity hacks for PR professionals
7 productivity hacks for PR professional...
Having trouble finding time to complete your work amid all the time wasters and distractions in your office? Meetings, email, chat, robocalls, spam, social media, “pop ins,” software updates, loud cube mates, more meetings . . . they can all keep you from doing your best work. Below are seven ways to work around the workplace distractions. 1. Set up a “work day” Have a project deadline looming? Set up a “work day” with your team by locking yourselves in a conference room for the entire day. Set your calendars to “busy” and order in lunch. Establish goals...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 11, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 17 “best of the best” headlines
17 “best of the best” headli...
One reason many of us work in corporate communications is that it offers a broad range of writing assignments. From writing the CEO’s blog to press releases to white papers to advertising copy — we are continually challenged. But . . . there are always the assignments that you dread. The assignments that leave you wondering at what point in your career you became a hack. For me, that assignment is headline writing. Rather than feeling discouraged about my inability to generate a clever headline, I look to others for inspiration. I recently found several lists of...
7 ways corporate comm professionals can ...
“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” — Brene Brown On the surface, this quote may not seem to apply to corporate communicators. Yet Dr. Brown, speaker, writer, and professor, is addressing a work issue we all struggle with. The need to consider our own workloads — and those of our employees — before we obligingly commit to more work, more projects, more wheel spinning. Factoring in staffing constraints, the time it takes to learn new tools and technology, and the sometimes-outlandish...
15 topics for small talk
There are no small parts, just small topics of conversation. We’ve all been in situations that required us to make awkward small talk. Perhaps it was at the office holiday party, at a dinner with clients, or at your child’s dance recital. Or maybe you have nosy in-laws or a co-worker who frequently “pops in” to your cube. Need some neutral topics of conversation for these encounters? How about language? Below are 15 little-known facts about the English language that can help you fill an awkward void. 1. The English language has 1,100...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 7, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 25 ways to spend your vacation time
25 ways to spend your vacation time
It’s only March. It’s still cold and dreary. You need to file your taxes. Your annual report content is due. You still have to suffer through performance evaluations. Yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about your next vacation. Not sure of your plans? Take a look at this list of vacation slang to determine what you want — and don’t want — to do on your next vacation. (Terms from Urban Dictionary and Urban Thesaurus.) Booze cruise — a short cruise taken to binge drink, both on the boat and in the ports-of- call.Bosscation — the...
Phobias that stymie writers
What fears are keeping you from doing your best work? William Shakespeare was reportedly afraid of dogs. Ray Bradbury had a fear of flying. Hans Christian Anderson was terrified of being buried alive. Stephen King’s list of fears include spiders, closed-in spaces and writer’s block. Yet these phobias didn’t stop these authors from writing. After all, “You have to be a little nuts to be a writer,” King once said. Let’s take a look at the types of fears that could impede your progress as a writer. You may not get very far if you don’t confront these...
Quiz: Find the errors in these sentences
Make your editor proud. Identify the grammar and style errors in the sentences below. Check your answers by scrolling to the bottom. Quiz We play all the hits from the 70’s and 80’s. I’ll need to get cash from the ATM machine before we go out. We need to reign in the efforts by HR to require all staff to read Corporate Magick. They met face-to-face for the first time in 15 years. Let’s learn about Medicare! As you may or may not be aware, performance reviews start next week. The information on the website is meant to compliment class lectures. Irregardless of what...
4 ways to start a writing habit
“Forget about inspiration and get into the habit of writing every day. Habit has written far more books than inspiration has. If you want the Muse to visit you, she needs to know where you are: so stay at your desk.” — Sir Philip Pullman, author of “His Dark Materials” For PR Daily readers—who spend their working lives crafting messages for companies, clients, leaders, co-workers or employees—this advice is tough to take on. The last thing you want to do at the end of the day is work on your memoirs. Yet, you can motivate yourself by creating writing...
How to nail subject-verb agreement
About half of all grammatical errors are mistakes in the use of verbs. As professional writers and editors, we sometimes focus so much on choosing the right verbs that we forget the basics of these powerful and sometimes troublesome parts of speech. Here’s a brief look at two problem areas involving subject-verb agreement. Collective nouns Collective nouns define more than one person, place or thing (e.g., team, class, audience, panel, staff). These nouns take either singular or plural verbs, depending on whether the word refers to the group as a unit or to its...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 23, 2019 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Do you believe in “old writer’s” tales?
Do you believe in “old writer̵...
If you spend your life writing, you know that much of your time is spent staring at the page or screen trying to think of what to write next. Maybe you know what to write next, you just can’t land on the right words. Maybe you found the right words, but self-doubt has crept in and you want to start over. This may be why writers have so many quirks, odd habits and superstitions. Dr. Seuss wore a hat when he felt stuck. Isabel Allende begins writing all her books on January 8. Charles Dickens always slept facing north, believing it made him more creative. Since it’s...
10 post-holiday gift ideas
Didn’t get exactly what you wanted for the holidays? Want to pick up a little something for yourself? Start with these great gifts for writers and readers: 1. The Qwerkywriter S keyboard This is truly one of the best gifts I have ever received. This keyboard has the feel of a vintage typewriter (with loudly clicking keys, scrolling knobs, and a return bar) and the function of a modern keyboard (with Bluetooth, function keys and a command Windows/Apply key). With keys engineered to feel and sound like a mechanical typewriter, you’ll be looking for reasons to write with...
What those performance review phrases ac...
For many of us, January is performance evaluation time. Whether you’re writing one for your employees or will soon be the recipient of one from your boss, we can all use help understanding the “HR speak” so prevalent in these documents. What follows is a sampling of phrases from performance reviews, along with their possible translations. How many of these have you seen . . . or used? Phrase: Does not understand the importance of corporate attendance policies. Translation: You’re late every day. Phrase: Demonstrates an entitlement mentality. Translation: You think...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 6, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Write your way through a tough conversation
Write your way through a tough conversat...
It’s an occupational hazard . . . disagreements with other writers and editors about matters of style or preferences in punctuation. (Serial comma? Did someone say serial comma?) And while we are perfectly at ease arguing the merits of the singular they or the correct way to punctuate bulleted lists, we are not always eager to manage other types of conflicts. No one wants to initiate a difficult conversation or to deliver bad news. Why not using your writing skills to help? Think of your next difficult conversation or meeting as a writing assignment and turn it into a...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 27, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Words with silent letters that trip up writers
Words with silent letters that trip up w...
As writers and editors (and PR Daily readers), most communicators are all above-average spellers. You’re the one others call for spelling advice. You’re the one who correct what the spell-checker has mangled. You’re also the one who remembers the spelling rules you learned in second grade. Yet, sometimes even you can get stumped and stunned by spelling. That’s how you spell that word? For the incredulous among us, below are 23 words that trick even confident spellers with silent letters and other quirks. 1. Aplomb — self-confidence 2. Acquiesce — to give in 3....
37 alternatives to the word “seaso...
Have you ever referred to your boss, executives, or co-workers as “seasoned?” “Ann is a well-seasoned marketing executive.” “Jaden is a seasoned lecturer with 20 years of experience in high tech.” Please stop. I know, I know. Part of our role as corporate communicators is to write profiles and bios for our clients and executives. And sometimes it’s difficult to come up with new ways to describe our subject’s work experience. But “seasoned” describes food. Pork ribs can be seasoned. Grilled vegetables can be seasoned. People cannot be seasoned. Next time...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 5, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How to end face-to-face conversations
How to end face-to-face conversations
What’s worse than someone who talks your ear off on the phone? A co-worker or family member who drones on and on in person can be a busy communicator’s worst nightmare. It could be the neighbor who corners you in the front yard or the guy in line with you at the bar at a networking event. And then there’s the family get-togethers and the work holiday party—prime settings for long and awkward interactions. How can you politely and professionally excuse yourself in a face-to-face conversation? There’s always the classic: “Is that the restroom? Please excuse me...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 29, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How to shut down a never-ending phone call
How to shut down a never-ending phone ca...
Everyone has worked with someone who refuses to pick up the phone, insisting that everything can be solved through email, IM or texting. You might do it yourself. The name and number of a difficult client appears on your caller ID and you let it go to voicemail. You tell yourself you can call back tomorrow, but the next day, you respond to the voicemail with an email instead. Many communicators even prefer electronic conversations when it comes to family. How many times has your mom texted you with a request to “please call me when you have a chance” and you text her...
Minding your manners on social media
Bad manners are everywhere. And these days it seems they are most often on display on social media. And I don’t just mean fake news, election tampering, newsjacking, and all the other ways companies, countries, and politicians try to manipulate us online. I mean the bad behavior exhibited by friends and connections. Sure, there’s a time for photos of you enjoying a drink with friends, or a photo of the meal you just cooked, or for that gym check-in. There may even be a time to post political messages, 75 photos of your vacation, Bible verses, and information about the...
21 fortunes for PR professionals
Does it seem like fortune cookie fortunes have become more preachy than prophetic? That rather than telling you what to expect in the future they tell you what to do? You may even wonder if you’re reading a fortune or talking to your mother-in-law. Following this current fortune cookie trend, here are a few fortunes for PR professionals and corporate communicators. Use them well. Pass the check to the person with the worst spelling. You will be hungry again when it’s time to start writing. You can’t win friends with bad grammar. Write first; edit later. Maybe after...
Don’t let these plural forms trip you up...
Bewildered. That’s how I feel when it comes to the rules of English spelling. Writers and editors see it daily. I recently had to check the spelling of “subterfuge” because it couldn’t possibly be spelled “subterfuge” (it is). One area of spelling that is particularly challenging: finding correct plural forms. These can trip writers up, because they’re difficult to spell and difficult to pronounce. Below are 29 tricky plurals: antennae asterisks attorneys general axes (plural of axis) bases (plural of basis) courts-martial culs-de-sac diagnoses dos and...
Cookbooks for book lovers
As a follow up to a previous PR Daily post on cookbooks for writers, let’s take a look at cookbooks for book lovers. In addition to challenging and novel recipes, literary cookbooks offer a glimpse into the life of the author, their characters, and the time, place, and culture they came from. “Jane Austen Cookbook” — recipes are taken from the Austen family’s “Household Book.” Would love to try: Martha’s Almond Cheesecakes No thanks, I’ll pass: Wine-Roasted Gammon and Pigeon Pie “Dinner with Mr. Darcy: Recipes Inspired by the Novels of Jane...
10 cookbooks for writers
It might be early for holiday shopping — but it’s never to early for good food. Though not every writer loves the kitchen, for those who do a cookbook can be a delightful companion. What happens when you combine a love for writing with a love for food? You end up with cookbooks by writers and cookbooks for writers. Check out the list below. “The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook: Wickedly Good Meals and Desserts to Die For” includes recipes from mystery writers Scott Turrow, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson and others. “The Artists’ and Writers’...
A guide to common sports metaphors
Writers and editors frequently encounter mangled and confusing metaphors in messages from executives and co-workers. And it’s our job to correct those metaphors, so we can communicate clearly with our audience. But when it comes to sports metaphors, some pros can quickly strike out. Sports metaphors (or phrases or idioms) are used universally in the workplace. It’s a rare meeting that goes by without a manager asking, “Who will quarterback this project?” or someone mentioning “bench strength.” Yet, not everyone understands these metaphors. For those of us who...
52 “muscle memory” typos
As a writer and editor who spends hours at the keyboard every day, you probably don’t think about how to type. That ability is built into your “muscle memory”— or more accurately, your subconscious memory. Once you learned to type, there was no need to learn again. Your brain creates “subroutines” that allow you to type (or ride a bike, ice skate, play an instrument) without consciously thinking about it. However, this can lead to mistakes, especially when typing commonly used words. As you type, you might be thinking “thank you” but you type “thanks...
The dark history behind four common expr...
History is about more than just dates and places . . . it’s storytelling at its finest. While visiting Boston and the city’s historic sites this summer, I was captivated by the stories and storytellers I met there. Tied closely to the history of Plimouth, the Freedom Trail, and the Boston Tea Party is the language used to tell those stories. And as it turns out, the language has a history of its own. Many of our everyday idioms and expressions have dark origins that date back to colonial times. Think about the history of these terms the next time you use them. ...
Three essential (and surprising) podcast...
Looking for inspiration, but need inspiration about where to look? Try these podcasts. They may not be designed specifically for corporate communicators, but they do offer new ways to improve relationships and communication skills, understand psychology, solve problems and get past roadblocks with colleagues. “Where Should We Begin?” In this portal into raw emotion, psychology and problem solving, renowned couples therapist Esther Perel counsels real couples as they tell their stories. Discussions are unscripted and riveting. As described in The New Yorker: “The...
5 warning signs of a lazy writer
Writing isn’t easy. Whether it’s marketing, academic or technical copy, or you’re simply trying to think of what to scribble on a co-worker’s birthday card, writing can be arduous work — more so on some days than others. Communicators don’t want their results or standards to slip simply because they’re having an off day. Even when you feel profoundly unmotivated, avoid these five shoddy practices. 1. You don’t consider your audience. In corporate communications, “writing for your audience” often takes a back seat to the demands of executives or...
41 alternatives to the word “amazi...
If you pay attention, it’s appalling how many times you see the word “amazing.” It doesn’t seem to matter what’s being described — “amazing” is the go-to adjective. “You’ll have an amazing time.” “She’s an amazing leader.” “This amazing tool makes accounting fun!” If everything is amazing . . . then nothing is amazing. We’re all writers here, so let’s see if we can’t come up with a few alternatives to the word “amazing.” Here are a few to get started, though not all of these will apply in every...
Hyphen, en dash, or em dash?
As experienced writers and editors, many PR Daily readers harbor a dislike for the hyphen. It’s a punctuation mark that’s supposed to help writers avoid ambiguity, but it can confuse readers. Add dashes of varying lengths, and it’s chaos. Chaos aside, hyphens and dashes have different uses and cannot be used interchangeably. Here’s how to tell the difference and use each correctly. Hyphens Hyphens connect words, prefixes and suffixes, and they are generally used to avoid ambiguity. We found ourselves in a dirty movie theater. We found ourselves in a dirty-movie...
29 inspirational subject lines
Spam folders can be a treasure trove. The treasure? Marketing inspiration. Of course . . . some subject lines are horrible. But, others have potential, and can be adapted and improved. And considering that readers decide whether to read or trash your email in less than a second, well-written subject lines are essential. Here are a few examples of inspirational email subject lines. See what you can do with these . . . Your organic presence Your inorganic presence Does the past still...
What would the Jane Austen Society do?
Writers can find inspiration anywhere—fiction, podcasts, billboards, movie trailers. Most recently, I joined the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) and have reveled in the refinement of its messaging. As one would expect, notifications from this group have been polite, well written and reflective of the personality of the group. In a world of fake news, spam, and ham-handed marketing techniques, receiving their messages is like feeling the sun on your face on a cold day. Here are a few examples that can help you add style to your customer communications: The...
29 words with unexpected spellings
English spelling rules are just weird. We have words that sound the same but are spelled differently (i.e. you and ewe), words with letters that have nothing to do with how the word is pronounced (i.e. thought, although), words that contain silent letters (knight, pneumonia) and words that don’t have a singular form (trousers, alms). Here’s a look at 29 words that aren’t spelled the way you would expect. Can you spell them without looking them up? 1. Asphyxiate 2. Brusque 3. Carburetor 4. Champagne 5. Convalesce 6. Derriere 7. Desiccate 8. Eerie 9. Handkerchief 10....
Posted by laurajane on May 14, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Backhanded phrases courteous communicators avoid
Backhanded phrases courteous communicato...
Have you ever received feedback or comments from colleagues that begin with the phrase “with all due respect”? The phrase is typically used by someone who wants to criticize you or your work, but that person feels the need to soften the message. Of course, “with all due respect” means nothing of the sort. It indicates willful disagreement with someone in a position of authority; subtle disrespect is intended. Here’s an example in context, pulled from a colleague’s email: “With all due respect, I differ with your perspective that my content was a ‘sales...
10 exercise to help you escape the writi...
Having trouble coming up with the right words? Unable to string more than a few sentences together? Does it seem like your brain is not cooperating in spite of that looming deadline? Perhaps your brain needs a workout. Consider trying out a new writing exercise . . . constrained writing. It’s just what is sounds like — imposing conditions on your writing, such as disallowing certain types of words or writing to a specific pattern. Imagine writing a short story without using the letter “e” or the word “is.” Writing with a constraint forces you to solve...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 24, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 40 alternatives to the word “said”
40 alternatives to the word “said&...
It’s a word used so frequently that it’s become invisible. Read any article in the mainstream media and count how many times the word “said” or “says” is used. In journalism school, we learned that the only word we could use to attribute speech was “said.” This was presented as an unbreakable rule . . . like refusing to sign an oath of loyalty to a 16th century king. Ignore the rule and it’s off to the tower with you. The reason for this restriction is the need to maintain impartiality. When it comes to quoting what someone has said, journalists don’t...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 22, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Why the word “significant” is anything but
Why the word “significant” i...
How many times per day do you see the word “significant” in corporate communications? “Significant findings…” “Significant growth…” “Significant work…” “Significant challenges…” “Significant change…” “Significant consequences…” Do you even notice it anymore? The word is used so frequently—in everything from LinkedIn profiles to press releases and annual reports—that it’s lost its meaning. As any graphics design professor would say: If you bold everything on a page, nothing is bolded. If everything is described as...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 17, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 16 clever pangrams for word lovers
16 clever pangrams for word lovers
How often does every letter in the alphabet appear in a sentence? That’s exactly what makes a “pangram” special. The most well-known such phrase is: “The quick brown fox jumps over a lazy dog.” Pangrams have been used for years to teach handwriting and typing—and to test typewriters, telegraphs, printers, typefaces and software. Graphic and font designers use pangrams to illustrate their work. For many pangram enthusiasts, the best pangrams are those with the fewest letters. “Mr. Jock, TV quiz Ph.D., bags few lynx.” is considered a “perfect pangram”...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 9, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A trademark quiz for PR professionals
A trademark quiz for PR professionals
Pop quiz: What do the following terms have in common? escalator kerosene corn flakes yo-yo These terms were each coined as a brand name, but were later appropriated by consumers as the generic name for the product. According to the International Trademark Association, “these ‘ghost-Marks’ serve as historic and costly reminders of what can happen to marks if the public comes to regard a brand name as the generic name of a product.” If you went through journalism school or have spent any time with the AP Stylebook, you’re familiar with the style rules that call...
In defense of adverbs
Adverbs aren’t very popular these days. We all know how Stephen King regards and Mark Twain regarded them. English teachers, writing coaches, and would-be authors advise everyone to avoid them. J.K. Rowling—best-selling author and creator of the “Harry Potter” series—has been criticized relentlessly for her use of them. Perhaps it’s time to take a closer look at adverbs, the most maligned of the parts of speech. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They describe how, when, where, and how much. Example: “I was soundly beaten the last time I...
The secret lives of fonts
We take typefaces for granted, rarely changing the default fonts that come with our software, web browsers or devices. If we decide to change a font, we mindlessly scroll through the list of typefaces, oblivious to the stories of their creation, the people who designed them, and the controversies surrounding their use. ( A font is a specific form of a given typeface. Verdana is a typeface; 18-point Verdana bold italic is a font.) Well, every typeface has a story—and here are seven of them. 1. Calibri — A modern sans-serif font, Calibri was designed by Dutch type...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 16, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 9 puzzling phrases and their meanings
9 puzzling phrases and their meanings
Fifty years from now, will people know what “wardrobe malfunction,” “mullet,” and “right-sizing” mean? As word connoisseurs, writers and editors are often fascinated with how language changes over time. Of particular interest are idioms and phrases that were once in common use but now puzzle us today. Here are some phrases that require some word sleuthing: (Expressions and definitions From Bees’ Knees and Barmy Armies: Origins of the Words and Phrases We Use Every Day by Harry Oliver ) 1. Bee’s knees — someone or something particularly good,...
How communicators can celebrate Pi Day
Pi Day — an annual celebration of the mathematical constant Pi — is observed on March 14. Pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter. For any size circle, divide the circumference by the diameter and you always get same number: 3.14 (with many subsequent digits). Pi day not only offers us a great excuse to eat pie for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also a way to combat one of the most annoying generalizations about PR professionals: PR pros (and writers and editors) are bad at math. I wouldn’t say word nerds are bad at math; maybe it’s that...
4 bad writing habits — and how to break ...
Neuroscientists and psychologists tell us the best way to break a bad habit is to replace it with a new, better habit. For example, if you drink too much diet soda, a good way to cut down is to establish a new habit of drinking 8 ounces of water before you reach for a diet soda. The same can apply to writing habits. Here are four bad writing habits, along with ways to replace them with better tendencies: 1. Bad habit: You ignore your audience. In the world of corporate communications, “writing for your audience” often takes a back seat to the whims and demands of...
24 phrases gaslighters use against you
If you’ve ever spent time around a gaslighter, you know what they’re capable of. Gaslighters engage in the manipulation technique of distorting known facts, memories, events and evidence to invalidate a person’s experience. The idea is to make those who disagree with the gaslighter question their ability, memory or sanity. (See it in action in the 1944 movie “Gaslight,” starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer.) Gaslighters use lies, false promises and personal attacks to make those around them doubt themselves. For example, at a meeting on Tuesday, your boss...
Fall in love with these words
On February 14, let these words draw you in and caress your mind. You’ll like the way they look. You’ll like the way they sound. Most of all, you’ll like them because they’re unusual, archaic and fun. (If we could only find a way to work them into our press releases.) What words are you in love with, PR Daily readers? Here are 14 fun ones: 1. Beslobber — to smear with spittle or anything running from the mouth. In this drunken and beslobbered state, Jacob returned to the hotel. 2. Denouement — the final outcome of a story, generally occurring after the climax...
7 tactics for motivating your personal w...
If you spend your working life crafting messages for your company, clients, leaders, co-workers, or employees, you have no doubt suffered from writing fatigue. Writing fatigue in our day jobs means that we may have little motivation to write for ourselves. The last thing you want to do at the end of an endless day is work on your memoirs. However, there are ways to motivate yourself. Below are a few recommendations, based on research and advice from other writers. 1. Challenge a fellow writer. Do you have a friend or colleague who can’t find time to write, either?...
7 all-purpose (and glittering quotes) fr...
There are many reasons to fall in love with the Netflix series “The Crown.” There’s the character development, the deference to historic detail, the gorgeous settings, the lavish costumes, the British refinement, the strained politeness. Yet, it’s the hard-hitting dialogue that makes the show a writer’s dream—and an inspiration to communicators of all stripes. Need to have a difficult conversation with your boss, reprimand an employee, or kick someone to the curb? Take a look at these quotes and add a little style to your messaging. 1. “I’ve been queen...
Word lovers: Get acquainted with this di...
All word enthusiasts have their own favorite online or in-print dictionaries. I’ve always been loyal devotee of the Oxford English Dictionary, but now there’s a new dictionary in my life. It’s not you OED; it’s me. The Chambers Dictionary is described as the “most useful and diverting single-volume word-hoard available.” It is also the preferred dictionary of literary heavyweights Philip Pullman, Melvyn Bragg and Ali Smith. The dictionary contains more entries than any other single-volume English dictionary, with definitions that are short, to-the-point, and...
Words you should excise from your writin...
You can count on two things in January: plenty of articles, news stories, and posts listing popular New Year’s resolutions and plenty of articles, news stories, and posts listing all the reasons people fail at keeping their New Year’s resolutions. This can all lead one to surmise that New Year’s resolutions are a waste of time, but that would be folly. It’s always worthwhile to sharpen your writing and editing skills, as many PR Daily readers will agree. If one of your goals for 2018 is to improve your writing, consider excising unnecessary words and phrases from...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 9, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 4 reasons for PR pros to stay home if they’re sick
4 reasons for PR pros to stay home if th...
Do you have a co-worker whose cough sounds like she belongs in a hospital? Given all that we know about how colds, flu, and other nasty viruses spread (particularly in January, the height of flu season), and given that many companies now allow employees to work from home, not to mention laws that many employees get paid time off for illness, why do so many professionals go to work sick? For those who need convincing, here are four reasons to stay home: 1. You can make others sick. Covering your cough, washing your hands, using tissues, and sneezing into your sleeve are...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 21, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 glittering quotes from “The Crown”
8 glittering quotes from “The Crow...
There are many reasons to fall in love with the Netflix series “The Crown.” There’s the character development, the deference to historic detail, the gorgeous settings, the lavish costumes, the British refinement, the strained politeness. But it’s the sharp-witted, hard-hitting dialogue that makes the show a writer’s dream. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the series. 1. “I’ve been queen barely 10 years, and in that time I’ve had three prime ministers, all of them ambitious men, clever men, brilliant men. Not one has lasted the course. They’ve...
Quiz: Can you define these well-known pr...
Proverbs — they’re phrases and sayings we’ve heard for most of our lives. They use analogy to express a long-held truth or to give advice based on common sense or experience. But sometimes, if you try to define the proverb in your own words, you can’t quite figure it out. The analogy may be too obscure or the comparisons may be too abstract. According to psychology and marketing professor Dr. Art Markman — author of the book Smart Thinking and co-host of the NPR show Two Guys on Your Head — thinking about the meanings of proverbs and re-defining them is a...
10 famous misattributed quotes
Some of the quotes in our most famous memes are wrong. Wrongly attributed. Wrongly stated. Wrongly shortened. Wrongly turned into sound bites. As journalists, PR specialists, or corporate communicators, we know the importance of capturing quotes from our sources correctly. The same goes for quotes made famous on the Web or in social media . . . the quotes you’ve seen again and again. Before you incorporate these into your work, confirm who said the words and what was actually said. Below are a few of these famous false quotes, along with their corrections. (Sources:...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 30, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Holiday puns every communicator should avoid
Holiday puns every communicator should a...
Be ready for it Now that Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are behind us, the holiday marketing marathon begins. For the next 20 or so days, there will be no escaping the holiday slogans, puns, jingles, and word play. Some of it will be clever. Some of it . . . not so much. Below are a few that fall into the “not so clever” group. You might even call them ho, ho, horrible. Puns Yule love this Be the ghost of Christmas present Fleece Navidad Let’s get elfed up Get caroled away: give the gift of music Brace your elves You’ll love our new Santa-tizer Do you...
Can you spell these brain teasers?
Last week on PR Daily, a subheading to a post used the word “brouhaha.” It was the first time I had seen the word written out. The word is common in spoken English, but less so in writing. These words can be colloquialisms or jargon and should be used with caution since not all readers will share the linguistic background necessary to grasp their meaning. However, they can spice up dull content and go a long way toward establishing variety in your writing. Here are some words for adventurous writers — along with their unusual spellings. (Definitions courtesy of...
Negative posts and reviews: How to respo...
As PR and communication professionals, we’re all adept in the art of responding to negative online reviews of our companies and clients. It’s one of our many super powers. But how do you respond to online reviews when you can’t really respond? Let me explain. In certain industries — health care, financial services, legal — privacy laws dictate that a company can’t respond to online reviews because doing so would violate the reviewer’s privacy. For example, a physician cannot respond to a patient’s online review because doing so would violate the patient’s...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 9, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Gift ideas for the co-workers in your life
Gift ideas for the co-workers in your li...
by Laura Hale Brockway The season of gift giving is here. This year, remember to think of all your co-workers, not just your fellow writers and editors. From useless gag gifts and goodies to more thoughtful presents, here are 13 ideas. It’s never too early to find the perfect gift. Scrabble Flash Shuffle five electronic tiles to create as many three-, four, – or five-letter words as possible in 60 seconds. The tiles keep time and score, and the game can be set for individual or group play. Tacocat T-shirt For fans of palindromes . . . “Nope” T-shirt To wear...
27 words without natural opposites
The English language is full of words with uncommon properties. We have contronyms, neologisms, palindromes and portmanteau words. Another set of terms with unusual properties are those known as unpaired words. Unpaired words have no opposite equivalent. They have a prefix or suffix that suggests you could form an antonym by removing the prefix or suffix, but forming their opposites will take more work than that. You can be “disheveled, but not “sheveled.” Unpaired words occur because certain words fall out of common usage (“ruthless” and “ruthful”) or...
How many of these banned books have you ...
For wordsmiths, the idea of banning books might seem offensive. While conducting research for his high-school English class, my son discovered that some of his favorite childhood books were on the Top 10 banned and challenged books list. His incredulous response was: “’Captain Underpants’—really?” Yes, “Captain Underpants” is on the book of banned books. The American Library Association has been tracking and raising awareness about “documented requests to remove materials from schools or libraries” since 1990. The organization said that most book...
11 definitions for lengthy words
This week, I set out to answer a simple question: What are the longest words in the English language? That led to a not-so-simple question: What do the longest words in the English language mean? Because many of these words are technical and have little practical use, their definitions do not appear in standard dictionaries. After a little digging, though, I now know what “pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism” means—and so can you. Below is a list of the longest words in English, along with their definitions. If you can pronounce any of these, treat yourself to a new pair...
Great writers on writing
Most of my favorite authors have not written anything new in hundreds of years. The Brontes, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Edith Wharton, George Eliot—who all wrote in the 19th to early 20th century—have a combined body of work. Because nothing new will be added to that body of work, I must be content with reading their works over and over again. On Oct. 19, something wondrous is happening. My favorite living author, Philip Pullman, is releasing “The Book of Dust,” a new installment in the His Dark Materials series. A new book from an author I adore—this...
Should you use an “a” or ...
Determining whether to use “a” versus “an” should not be confusing, but it is. This week, I had a prolonged discussion with a co-worker about why “an MRI” is correct and “a MRI” is not. It turns out that many of us were taught the wrong rules for use of these indefinite articles. I remember being told to use “an” when the word preceding it starts with a vowel and to use “a” when the word preceding it starts with a consonant. The rules actually say to use “an” before any word beginning with a vowel sound and to use “a” before any word...
World’s most challenging writing t...
One reason I work in corporate communications is that it offers a broad range of writing assignments. From writing the CEO’s blog to email subject lines to medical case studies to advertising copy — I am continually challenged. But . . . there are always those assignments that you dread. Those tedious, soul-crushing projects that leave you staring at the screen, wondering where you went wrong in life. Or the impossibly difficult assignments that leave you staring at the screen, wondering at what point in your career you became a hack. Below are a few assignments that...
16 email marketing terms PR professional...
Though many PR professionals are fluent in marketing speak, some terms might be unfamiliar. Confusion can especially occur when PR pros’ marketing colleagues use terms related to email and digital marketing or employ abbreviations: “We need to re-think the CTA on that drip campaign because the CTR was abysmal.” Decipher your marketing department’s lingo with this quick guide to common email marketing terms: Inbound marketing — A strategy using content marketing, blogs, events, search engine optimization and social media to create brand awareness and attract new...
13 annoying verbs
Maybe you overhear someone use them on the train or while you’re waiting in line to buy coffee. Or you see them in a pop-up ad that you can’t close fast enough. Or perhaps your kids use them to purposefully annoy you. No matter how you try to avoid them, they’re out there . . . annoying verbs. Here are a few of most crazy-making verbs that corporate communications has to offer. 1. Conversate — I have no idea where “conversate”came from, but I have seen it in a few corporate emails. Is there something wrong with “talk” or...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 6, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Quiz: How many of these colorful terms do you know?
Quiz: How many of these colorful terms d...
Writers can find inspiration for their prose everywhere. Lately I’ve been paying close attention to adjectives—particularly words used to describe color. These words are all over the place: clothing catalogs, travel ads and drink menus, to name a few. Though not used heavily in corporate communications, they can come in handy when you want to paint a clear picture in the mind of your reader. The trick to success is to familiarize yourself with a few of these colorful terms. How many of these colors can you match with the commonly used hues below? (Answers can be used...
Who are your favorite fictional authors
Fiction is full of interesting characters. For writers, often the most interesting characters are other wordsmiths. After all, who but a writer would best understand another writer? Below are a few of my favorite fictional characters who write—as a vocation or an avocation. They can inspire you with their talent, insights and sense of adventure. 1. Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” Baggins—the hero from “The Hobbit” and a character in “The Lord of the Rings”—is a hobbit from The Shire. Hobbits are known for their love of peace,...
Bring life to your writing with anagrams
Metaphors, rhyme, and alliteration can help you paint pictures with words and add sparkle to your copy. In looking for ways to keep my writing clever and engaging, I’ve been playing around with rhetorical devices and figures of speech. I’ve been having the most fun with anagrams. An anagram is a word or phrase that is formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase, using each letter only once (dictionary: indicatory). There are several online anagram resources for novices, including Internet Anagram Server, Word Explorer and Online Anagram Solver....
21 unusual phobias
It’s been said that in English, there is a word for everything. Terms exist to describe groups of animals and other words, and there are even words formed by the combination of two separate words. Having recently unearthed a new phobia—“aerophobia,” or fear of air travel—I’ve taken an interest in words that describe and pinpoint fears. How many of these phobias do you recognize? (Terms from Oxford Dictionaries, Phobialist.com and Fearof.net.) 1. Asthenophobia: fear of weakness 2. Astrapophobia: fear of lightning 3. Ataxaphobia: fear of disorder or untidiness 4....
Don’t bury the lede: Put crucial i...
“Burying the lede” is the failure to mention the most important, interesting or attention-grabbing elements of a story in the first few paragraphs. In corporate communications, “burying the lede” means you’ve failed to highlight the most important or actionable items at the beginning of your message. Let’s say you are writing an email to all employees about a change to your organization’s health care plan. You wouldn’t begin the email with facts and statistics about the rising costs of health care or about the current turmoil in the health care industry....
Words we almost misspell
Writers and editors with long and varied experience, it’s safe to say that we are all exceptionally strong spellers. We can recite English spelling rules and their exceptions. We’re the ones who challenge words in Scrabble. Even the written words that appear in our dreams are spelled correctly. There are very few words that give us trouble—except for those that we almost misspell. Last week I used the word “piecemeal” in a text, and for a brief second I asked myself whether it was “peacemeal” or “piecemeal.” Below are a few of these problematic words,...
Test your ice cream vocabulary
We have entered the dog days of summer. Here in Texas, we fully expect it to be toasty this time of year, but this summer has been torrid. I walked outside after work yesterday, and even my eyes felt hot. So begins our obsession with ways to keep cool: spring-fed swimming pools, cold saunas, smartphone fan attachments and ice cream—pounds upon pounds of ice cream. The average American eats more than 23 pounds of ice cream each year. June is the highest production month, though production stays strong through August to meet the summer demand. Along with demand comes...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 19, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 9 misunderstood words and how to use them
9 misunderstood words and how to use the...
How often do you spot words that are used improperly? Maybe it’s “can” instead of “may” or “less” when “fewer” would be correct. Usage mistakes are common and can damage the credibility of your message and your organization. That’s why it’s important to know your definitions. Below are nine words with misunderstood and misused meanings. How many have you been using correctly? (Definitions and usage guidance came from Oxford Dictionaries, Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster.) 1. Complement Complement means to add to or complete. It can also mean the...
3 improv exercises to improve communicat...
Inspiration comes to those who seek it. My most recent “ah-ha” moment came during an educational seminar my organization hosted for our physician clients. The topic was how to use improvisation techniques—spontaneity, collaboration and flexibility—to improve communication with patients and staff members (in my case, with co-workers and loved ones). In the same way that word games can improve your writing, improvisation techniques can improve your conversational and listening skills. Practice the techniques below with a partner and then try them at home or...
21 alternatives to “opportunity...
Do you ever feel that you’re so acculturated in marketing and PR-speak that you use it in your non-work life? I recently attended a wedding in which the couple wrote their own vows. The groom began his recitation with this sentence: “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to marry you today.” To put this in perspective, the groom is an entrepreneur who lives and breathes marketing and client relations. So although that statement not surprising, it does speak to the pervasiveness of phrases such as, “I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you,” and,...
11 ways to say it politely
As an unabashed word nerd visiting the United Kingdom, I was instantaneously struck by the differences between British English and American English (“luggage enquiries” versus “luggage inquiries” at the airport), but also by the general politeness of the country’s public signs. Whether by poetry, pun, or understated word play, these communicators know how to get their message across firmly and politely. Below are a few examples: “Please queue here.” “I’m a bin. Drop your liter in.” “Be a mate. Don’t block the gate.” “We have a selection of...
Enough with the fluff
We know it when we see it: A writer’s attempt to sound smarter or make an article longer by adding fluff phrases. I estimate that these phrases make up at least 30 percent of the content I edit. The problem with all this fluff? It drives our readers away because many of them strive to read as little as possible of the messages we publish. Unnecessary phrases add to the noise readers are trying to filter out. Below are a few fluff phrases that — in most cases — can be eliminated from your content: As a matter of fact As you may already know At the present time/At...
11 quotes to share in your email signatu...
Though they’re necessary for professional communications, long email signatures can be annoying. They’re even more annoying when attached to personal emails. I’ve seen personal email signatures with made-up titles, homages to alma maters, tributes to sports teams and, inevitably, quotes. The problem with quotes is that they can be hit or miss — meaningful to some, contrived to others. Here are a few interesting, off-the-wall and thought-provoking quotes to consider for your email signature. 1. “The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” — Neil...
Improve your writing with story prompts
Played any writing games lately? One of my favorites is Storymatic, a game that uses a series of cards to generate story ideas. With each turn, players draw two character cards, such as “a butcher” and “the object of a secret crush,” along with two object cards, such as “a flat tire” and “a secret hiding place.” The goal is to combine all four elements into one story. The person with the most creative story wins. Playing these types of games helps me think creatively and stretches my storytelling skills. So I thought it might be fun to play a few rounds of...
Fun with corporate jargon
Corporate communicators spend countless hours dealing with jargon. We delete it. We replace it. We enforce style guide rules related to it. We argue about it. Managing jargon is a staple in many careers. Sometimes it’s fun to embrace jargon. Below are 20 outlandish examples of corporate jargon that could be used when speaking with co-workers, or with your boss, or at just the right moment during a meeting. (Terms come from the Urban Dictionary and The Ridiculous Business Jargon Dictionary.) 1. Anecgloat—a story that makes the speaker look good. Before every department...
13 French terms for writers
Not many of us may realize that around 45 percent of English vocabulary is of French origin. We use words such as art, establish, genre, liberty and perfect every day without realizing they derive from French. Below are some French expressions related to writing and literature. How many of these can you work into your content? (Definitions from Wordnik and Oxford Dictionaries.) 1. Avant-garde— radically innovative or cutting-edge movements in art, music, or literature; a person or group of people who invent or promote new techniques, especially in the arts. JRR...
Fortify your writing with strong nouns
By now, the writers and editors who read PR Daily are familiar with the advice to use strong verbs. They are the powerhouse of your sentence, and choosing clear, active verbs instead of throwaway ones will improve your message. What about using strong nouns? The same rules apply. In addition to using nouns that are clear to the reader, use specific, descriptive, concrete words, instead of general or abstract words. For example, we will most often use the word “house” to describe a house, but when appropriate, we could also use shack, shanty, lean-to, chalet, cabin,...
10 nouns I wish were verbs
As writers and editors, we are the experts and enforcers of style and grammar at our organizations and for our clients. We are often the first ones people call when they have a language question. And more than once, we’ve been asked to settle disagreements about corporate style. But sometimes even the enforcers like to break the rules. And that brings me to this week’s post. Using nouns as verbs is usually frowned upon in formal writing. In fact, it’s one of corporate communicators’ biggest writing pet peeves. (As in, “Send me a detailed outline and I’ll...
A corporate communicators guide to busin...
In corporate communications, TLAs (three-letter acronyms) are everywhere. Not only do we use our own department acronyms (NFP), but also acronyms from accounting, human resources, legal, and IT. Of course, we use acronyms to save time. It’s much faster to say (or write) CPC than “cost per click.” Unfortunately, not everyone knows what CPC means, and if an acronym is not initially defined, its meaning can get lost. Below is a list of common business acronyms and their definitions. Please note that this list is not comprehensive, but it’s a good place to start. ABC...
Thought-provoking quotes from “Str...
Always a little behind in my TV watching, I recently finished the Netflix series “Stranger Things.” Perhaps the best way to describe it is as a cross between the “The X-Files” and “Freaks and Geeks,” with a smattering of “Red Dawn,” “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial,” “It” and “The Thing.” The dialogue, foreshadowing and pacing make the show a writer’s dream. The ‘80s references, the soundtrack and the atmosphere make it pure fun. Here are a few of my favorite quotations from characters in the series: 1. “Mornings are for coffee and...
How to rein in your runaway projects
April marks the beginning of “presentation season” for our marketing department. It’s a two-month period when we focus on a mammoth project that once sucked up time and resources all year long. At my company, we produce an array of presentations for staffers to use when meeting with their various clients. There is a new business presentation (for prospects), an account services presentation (for standard clients) and several line-of-business presentations for specialized clients. We work with different departments and different sets of stakeholders for each...
How to begin a difficult conversation
Despite having read “Crucial Conversations” (McGraw-Hill) more than once and attending countless presentations on delivering bad news and managing conflict, I’ve never been very skilled in this area. I dread these types of personal interactions, and I’m ashamed to admit that I do what I can to get out of them — at home and at work. But recently I was in a situation where I could no longer avoid a difficult conversation. So I did what many other writers, PR pros and corporate communicators would do: I treated the conversation as a writing assignment. What started...
5 reasons to eliminate jargon
Jargon is a beast that many writers battle regularly. I made the following edits to the first paragraph of an article for my company’s website. The article was written by one of our in-house cyber security experts. Original sentence: “Cyber criminals are using a spectrum of attack vectors—ransomware, phishing attacks and other malware infections—to obtain illicit access to electronic protected health information (ePHI).” Revised sentence: “Cyber criminals are using a spectrum of techniques —ransomware, phishing attacks and other malware infections—to obtain...
13 quotes to share with your marketing-c...
Sometimes, a great quotation is all you need to get inspired. Whatever form your department’s shared board takes—an idea board on Pinterest, a marker board in the conference room, a bulletin board in the break room, or a channel on Slack—here are a few great quotes about writing to share with your team: “A sentence should never be cruel and unusual.” —William C. Burton, attorney “We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out.” —Winston Churchill “Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.” —Ray...
20 phrases writers will never utter
Whether it’s because we write for a living or because we write in a corporate environment, corporate communicators have idiosyncrasies. We balance arbitrary demands of clients and executives with the need to craft clear and concise messages. We argue that lazy corporate verbs such should be banned from our company publications. We correct grammar in the books that we read out loud to our kids. We catch typos everywhere—even when we’re not looking for them. In deference to every eccentric writer out there, here are 20 phrases no writer would ever say: “The hyphen...
How do you define collaboration?
It sounds like a silly question—one you might be asked during an employee training session. It could be a question in a job interview or something your teenager Google searches at the last minute before debate class. How do you define collaboration? As corporate communicators, we all know what collaboration is. We also know—after years of painstaking experience—that collaboration is often more effective in theory than in practice. At my company, there are certain people who refuse to work together, and there are others whose attempts at collaboration lead to meeting...
11 posts for PR pros
“I am surprised to see how much I have written; with stories, even a page can take me hours, but the truth seems to flow out as fast as I can get it down.”—from Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle. Having recently published my 300th blog post, I can now say with assurance, “I wrote a blog about that once,” whenever my colleagues bring up random discussion topics. Below are a few posts of mine that might be useful to corporate communicators and PR pros: Does a friend or loved one have trouble with hyphens? Heading off hyphenation headaches Have trouble...
8 more logical fallacies to avoid
It’s great to have the courage of your convictions, but you need more than that to put forth a winning argument. In last week’s post, I offered 11 logical fallacies and why it’s important to recognize them in what we see, read and hear. Such fallacies weaken arguments; employing them can make you and your organization less credible. Here are a few more logical fallacies to be aware of: 1. Anecdotal evidence Using personal experience or an isolated example instead of a valid argument or compelling evidence to state your position; often used to dismiss...
11 logical fallacies to avoid
In a time of fake news, “alternative facts,” Newspeak, and attacks on credible journalism, I’ve focused on teaching my kids how to recognize logical fallacies in what they see, hear, and read. Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that weaken arguments. Once you start looking for them, they’re shockingly obvious. How many of the following logical fallacies can you spot in one day? 1. Ad populum — arguing that because “everyone,” “Americans” or “the majority” thinks or does something, it must be true and right. Example: Whether Earth is flat or...
What “Would You Rather” do?
On long car trips, my kids will often play “Would You Rather?” If you haven’t played, the game poses a question beginning with, “Would you rather…” and then offers a choice between two good options or a choice between two equally unattractive options. Answering “neither” or “both” is against the rules. With my kids, their questions mostly involve superpowers (Would you rather be invisible or be invincible?); eating things (Would you rather eat a bug or moldy bread?); and school activities (Would you rather be in the science lab all day, or in art class...
There’s a journal for that?
My youngest sister is in graduate school, earning her PhD in neurobiology. She is surviving the “publish or perish culture” and her team’s work has been published in a number of research journals. This week, I was reading one of her papers when I became intrigued with the titles of the academic and research journals in her citation list. It seems there’s a journal for every topic, no matter how obscure or specialized. So I set out to find exactly how obscure and how specialized, and these are the journal titles that I found. Antipode (offering a radical analysis...
13 inspiring quotes from Westworld
The winter months are a great time to catch up on TV series and movies that you never had time to watch. During my recent break, I discovered “Westworld .” “Westworld” is a western/science fiction series based on Michael Crichton’s original 1973 screenplay. The show is a writer’s dream. It features well-written, quick-witted, pithy dialogue. Literary allusions are everywhere as characters routinely quote Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll and Mary Shelley. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the series: 1. “These violent delights have violent ends.” —...
21 hilariously mangled metaphors
Let’s look at a figure of speech that—when used incorrectly—can leave your readers dazed and confused. A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object by comparing it to another unrelated object. Our workplace had become “Westworld,” but with sloppy programming. When used correctly, metaphors help us paint pictures with words, adding depth to our writing. When used incorrectly, the result is quite the opposite. Here are examples of mangled metaphors: That’s a kettle of fish of a different color. You’ve buttered your bread, now lie in it. Never...
5 signs you’re a bad listener
Ask anyone if he or she is good listener, and that person will invariably say yes. However, research shows that most people overestimate their skills in this area. How do you know if you’re a good listener? I assess listening skills when I interview candidates for employment by asking this question. Ideal answers include, “I turn off my inner voice and focus on the person I’m listening to,” or, “I focus on that person’s words only.” Someone who does this probably has the traits of a good listener. Many of us don’t do turn off our inner voices or focus on...
6 tips for new writers
Writing is not an easy task. I’ve been writing and editing professionally for more than 15 years, and I still struggle. At least once a week, someone will catch me in a writer’s stare, focused intently on a blank screen, unable to call up the right words. I’m always looking for ways to improve my skills, so I often jump at the chance to help others with their writing. In helping my kids with their English homework or my sister with her fellowship admission essay, I hone my knowledge by offering advice that I haven’t tapped into for years. In the interest of helping...
How busy should writers and editors be?
As the December holidays approach, it’s now even easier to fall into a trap of being too busy. It’s the trap in which “busy” is the default response whenever you ask someone how they’re doing, even if it’s a result of self-imposed deadlines and activities. Author Tim Kreider most adeptly described this trap in a New York Times opinion piece from 2012: “Almost everyone I know is busy. They feel anxious and guilty when they aren’t either working or doing something to promote their work. They’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety,...
15 language and literary facts to liven ...
You made it through Thanksgiving without having an awkward conversation about politics or witnessing your in-laws have a meltdown over pumpkin pie. But now it’s December . . . all those holiday office parties, neighborhood get-togethers, soccer team potlucks to navigate. What — if anything — is it “safe” to talk about? How about language? Below are 15 little-known facts about the English language that can liven up a dull conversation or steer a volatile exchange into calm waters. The English language has 1,100 different ways to spell its 44 distinct sounds,...
Punctuation — making it up as we go
The world of style and usage can feel like the Wild West. Nouns becoming verbs and literally not meaning literally add to writers’ confusion—along with cooked-up punctuation marks such as the interrobang. The interrobang, The Guardian reports, is a non-standard punctuation mark—?! or !?—used at the end of a sentence that asks a question in an excited manner; expresses excitement or disbelief in the form of a question; or asks a rhetorical question. Here are a few examples: You’ve written a hot bestseller and quit your day job?! The IT department said “no”...
8 ways PR pros can remember names
Would you rather write your next article on a typewriter — or go to a networking function and try to remember the names of everyone you meet? Pass me the bond paper. I’m horrible with names. I shake hands with someone, the person says his or her name and within 10 seconds I’ve forgotten the moniker. It doesn’t matter if I’m meeting a new neighbor or my counterpart at one of our competitors—the name does not stick. As PR and communications professionals, we know the importance of building rapport and maintaining relationships with clients. It’s not always easy...
9 gift ideas for readers and writers
Now is the perfect time to find a gift for the writer or bibliophile on your holiday shopping list. Surprise the person in your life who silently corrects your grammar and argues heatedly (and correctly) that “log in” (as a verb) is two words and not one: Give them a present that promotes their linguistic prowess. Here are eight ideas: 1. “Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics” I subscribed to this journal as a birthday present to myself and have not been disappointed. Each quarterly issue features word games, puzzles, proofs, cartoons and more. You...
There’s a word for that?
Considering that there are an estimated 250,000 distinct English words, those who love to write about words have a plethora of material. Favorite articles I’ve written include words that describe words, confusing word pairs and words that make writers swoon. Let’s continue our exploration of that linguistic trove and look at terms that make us say, “There’s a word for that?” (Definitions below are from Oxford Dictionaries Online, World Wide Words, Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster.) Abibilophobia: The fear of having nothing to read. If I can’t get to the...
50 alternatives to the word “disas...
In this exponentially long election cycle, we’ve heard it all — especially with regard to rhetoric. Bluster, braggadocio, misstatements, lies, deflections, words that aren’t words, and mixed and mangled metaphors have littered the messages with which we’ve been bombarded. One word stands out as having been flung around the most: “disaster.” Over the past 16 months, this word has been tossed around more haphazardly than dirty clothes in a dorm room. It’s been so overused that it’s lost its meaning. The English language offers a multitude of alternatives to...
11 of literature’s best closing li...
First sentences can make or break even the most brilliantly crafted article. Lead sentences are often the deciding factor in whether readers keep reading. This is why we writers struggle so desperately to find the perfect opening lines. Closing lines are a different story. They’re not nearly as troublesome for corporate communicators—but in fiction, an author’s final lines can provide closure, leave readers hanging or take the story in an entirely new direction. For inspiration, here are a few outstanding closing lines from literature: 1. “But, in spite of...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 12, 2016 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 IT terms for PR pros to know
10 IT terms for PR pros to know
Understanding the language of our co-workers in the IT department is half the battle for PR and marketing pros. I’ve been in enough meetings with marketing, PR and IT professionals to see the pattern. Those on the marketing or PR side make a request. Those on the IT side respond using terms no one else understands. When asked for clarification, the IT folks continue to use unfamiliar terms. It’s frustrating for everyone. To help ease the aggravation, below are frequently used IT terms, along with their definitions (courtesy of Gartner IT glossary). 1. Agile — a...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 10, 2016 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 3 questions corporate communicators should ask
3 questions corporate communicators shou...
Corporate communicators, does this exchange sound familiar to you? Co-worker: “We need a flier.” You: “A flier?” Co-worker: “Yes. We need to get the word out about all the latest online courses we are offering. We want to create a flier to go with the membership renewal letters.” You: “How many fliers are currently mailed with the membership renewal letters?” Co-worker: “There are three other fliers.” You: “So, this would be a fourth flier.” Co-worker: “Yes.” You: “And you want the flier to list the titles of the online courses that we...
21 fortunes for writers
I’ve always thought it would be fun to write the fortunes found in fortune cookies. I’m not nearly clever enough to come up with, “The fortune you seek is in another cookie,” or, “It would be best to maintain a low profile for now,” but see what you think of these: Leo Tolstoy handwrote War and Peace by candlelight. Use the singular “they.” Go on. Try it. Hypergraphia: A compulsion to write, sometimes uncontrollably. Every time you misuse an exclamation mark, a puppy dies. Clarity begins at home. Read what makes you happy. It’s all fun and games until...
7 quick rules for commas
There is probably no more controversial punctuation mark than the comma. Give three editors the same paragraph, tell them to add commas, and you will end up with three paragraphs in which the commas are all used differently. The Chicago Manual of Style sums up the issue quite nicely: “Effective use of the comma involves good judgment, with ease of reading the end in view.” Keeping this in mind, here are seven general guidelines for using comma. 1. Use a comma after opening dependent clauses or long adverbial phrases. Here’s an example: “If our click-through rate...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 8, 2016 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 35 commonplace words that PR pros misspell
35 commonplace words that PR pros misspe...
This week, I set out to answer a simple question: What are the most difficult words to spell in the English language? I quickly discovered that I should re-frame the question: What are the most difficult, commonly used words in the English language? There are plenty of obscure, impossible-to-spell words. These are words used at national spelling bees, such as stichomythia or succedaneum. However, when was the last time you used “succedaneum” in a press release? Below is a collection of commonplace words that people misspell the most, based on a consensus from online...
8 activities to jump-start your creativi...
“Being a writer is a very peculiar sort of a job: It’s always you versus a blank sheet of paper [or a blank screen], and quite often the blank piece of paper wins.”—Neil Gaiman We’ve all been there. Unable to call up the right words, we stare blankly at our screens and grow increasingly frustrated. What would happen if we let the blank screen win? Instead, we can work on other tasks related to our assignment, but not the writing itself. Would we have more success when we returned to the writing later on? Let’s find out. Here are eight related tasks to try: 1....
Famous writers and the sports they playe...
Inspired by the Olympics and the daily displays of athleticism and achievement, I began wondering what sports (if any) some of my favorite authors played. I made quite a few surprising discoveries. Jane Austen As a woman of the regency era, Jane Austen “was not expected to unduly exert herself while exercising.” Swinging, playing hoops, see sawing, archery, and bowls and nine pins were the “acceptable” sports and were the ones she most likely would have played. (Source: Regency Ladies at Play) Agatha Christie While living in South Africa, Christie was introduced...
How many of these rhetorical devices do ...
In an election year, it’s tough to tune out all the pervasive and invasive political messaging. It’s on social media, newsfeeds, TV, radio, pop-up ads that you can’t close fast enough. Although I’m not particularly interested in politics, I am intrigued by the ways candidates use rhetorical devices in their messages. Many of us are familiar with the more common rhetorical devices, such as hyperbole, allusion and analogy; others are more obscure. Next time you hear a political message, see if you detect any of these rhetorical devices. 1. Allusion— an indirect or...
Beware of fallen rocks: a wording conund...
There’s no easy way to admit this: Sometimes I obsess about word use in the most ridiculous ways. A recent example of this involves a road sign that I pass every day on my commute. The sign says “Fallen rocks,” and it’s on a section of highway surrounded by short cliffs. Over the years, rocks and boulders have fallen from the cliffs, and those rocks and boulders now sit on the side of the road. Occasionally, rocks will still fall from the cliffs, so the sign is there to warn motorists. The issue I have—as well as the reason I’m writing this post—is that I...
29 interesting word pairs that differ by...
During a recent trip with my kids, we started playing word games to pass the time in the airport and on the plane. A new game we came up with was to start naming pairs of words that differ by only one letter. We came up with quite a few simple word pairs, such as cat/bat; rate/date; purr/pure. But the game made me wonder about longer word pairs and how the one-letter difference changed the meanings in interesting ways. After several searches through online dictionaries, Scrabble dictionaries, blogs, and an article from Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics,*...
7 more perplexing word combinations
Continuing our look at confusing word pairs, here are a few more to pay attention to. Don’t let these trip you up. 1. Garnish and garner Garnish—to decorate or embellish; to decorate food. I never know if you’re supposed to eat the garnish. Garner—to gather, collect or accumulate; to gather into storage. We garnered our books and created a library of science fiction and 19th-century literature. 2. Incredible and incredulous Incredible—difficult or impossible to believe; astonishing. The number of roadblocks we’ve experienced with this project is...
8 confounding word combinations
Look-alike and sound-alike words continue to bewilder many — even those who write for a living. I recently had trouble explaining the difference between “epigraph,” “epigram,” “epithet” and “epitaph.” (More on those later.) To cut down on the confusion, I demystify eight perplexing combinations. 1. Accede and exceed Accede means to agree to a request; to give consent. I will not accede to your request to put a video of dancing kittens on the website. Exceed means to be greater or more than something; to extend beyond or outside of. The results from our...
Quiz: commonly misused or misspelled wor...
I’ve written more posts than I can count about confusing word pairs, words that are hard to spell and words that aren’t really words. Instead of another article about usage, let’s see how you fare with a quiz. Read the list below and make note of which words or phrases are incorrect—either from misspelling or from misstatement. Check your answers at the end. Definitions and usage guidance came from Oxford Dictionaries, Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster. Alterior motive Augurs well for the project Brussel sprout Caddy-corner Center around Conversate Coursing...
Write it out — 41 ways to express frustr...
I’ve had a rough time at work over the past couple of weeks: roadblocks, stonewalling, purposeful lack of communication, siloed behavior. It makes me long for the days when my job just involved writing and editing. Let me correct some serial commas—please. I thought I would try a little writing therapy. Below are idioms and words that describe the frustration I’ve felt lately. I’ve been “at my wit’s end” and “in a stew,” but I’ve also felt bewildered, incensed and riled. How many of these can you relate to? At your wit’s end At the end of your...
8 resources for finding that perfect wor...
I once worked with someone who used the word “secure” continually. He would write: • “We need to secure advertisers.” • “Have you secured a printer for the annual report yet?” • “I’m not feeling secure about our chances of securing this contract.” I often found myself correcting his writing and replacing “secure” with alternatives such as “obtain,” “get,” “acquire” and “find,” but he was set on the word “secure” and would often change it back. The importance of varying our words to keep readers interested cannot be...
49 unbeatable words for the game “...
Anyone who spends time with kids knows their patience is truly a virtue. Whether it’s standing in line at the grocery store or waiting for food at a restaurant, kids complain about being bored within milliseconds. Mine are no exception. Rather than reflexively pulling out my phone to keep them entertained, though, we often play an old-fashioned game of “hangman.” In case you don’t remember, the game goes like this: One player chooses a word and the other players try to guess it by asking which letters it contains. Every wrong guess brings the guessing players a...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 1, 2016 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 6 ways communicators can say “no”
6 ways communicators can say “no&#...
Between staffing constraints, workloads and outlandish demands from clients and executives, communications pros are universally overworked. We’re increasingly being asked to do more with less, but sometimes we have to say “no” to a project or offer that cannot be accomplished. Here are six ways you can decline politely, but firmly: 1. Just say “no.” This is easier said than done. I once worked in a department where the director told her staff that they couldn’t say “no” to anything. Many of her employees organized parties and ordered refreshments along...
Why use “utilize” when ̶...
Most corporate writing is full of weak, meaningless verbs. Consider “implement,” “leverage,” “disseminate,” “promulgate” and the most impotent verb of them all, “utilize.” Like many PR Daily readers, I’ve spent much of my career translating corporate-speak into clear, comprehensible English. I’ve changed “utilize” to “use” more times than I can count. No matter how many times I explain that “use” is preferred—that it’s simpler and less pretentious—someone insists on using “utilize” because it “sounds better.” The “bigger...
10 writing quotations from “I Capt...
Last summer I had a “where have you been all my life” experience with Dodie Smith’s 1948 novel, “I Capture the Castle.” The book details the story of 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain and her outlandish family, who live in a broken-down castle in the English countryside. In addition to telling her story, Mortmain is also working to perfect her writing skills. The reader is captivated by her narrative, quips, and insights as she chronicles her struggles to properly pen her thoughts. Below are a few quotations from the book to which most writers can relate: 1. “I...
How to write clearer copy
There are several techniques used capture the attention of your readers, who will likely give your message 10 seconds before they leave your website or delete your email. In previous posts I’ve written about the importance of “starting with the why” and “not burying the lede”—two important techniques that writers should employ. “Burying the lede” refers to the failure to mention the most important or actionable items at the beginning of your message. “Starting with the why” means that you state the reason up front, so everyone understands the purpose of...
Just say “no” to double nega...
Writers and editors know to avoid double negatives in formal writing. You would probably scramble to correct a sentence like this on your company website: “The facility will not allow no more visitors after 10 p.m.” However, double negatives still exist. The sentence below came from a press release sent by a federal agency: “It is not uncommon for a firm, based on its own appropriate evaluation of potential suppliers and raw material, to change the source of a raw material after the device has been cleared by the FDA . . .” This sentence could be improved...
26 Latin phrases and expressions
In a scene from my favorite TV show, “Freaks and Geeks,” teenager Lindsay Weir has been caught skipping class. In trying to justify her delinquency, she says, “Daddy, I skipped Latin.” He replies, “Oh. Well, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to learn about that. It’s only the building block of our language.” Whether we realize it or not, Latin terms are everywhere in business and corporate communications. Below are some common ones, along with their translations and definitions (definitions are from Merriam-Webster and Oxford Dictionaries): 1. A priori...
Hilariously misplaced modifiers and othe...
How many of you snicker when you see a sign that says something like this: “Caution heavy pedestrian traffic” In a previous PR Daily article, I wrote about modifiers and why their location in a sentence is important: When used correctly, modifiers add interest and depth to your writing. When modifiers are used incorrectly, the reader may not understand the details of the sentence. A misplaced modifier occurs when a word or phrase is placed too far from the word it describes. Because of this separation, it’s not clear what is being described in the sentence. They can...
19 of literature’s best first line...
I recently reorganized my books. As I took the titles off the shelves, dusted and reordered them, I was struck by how much I had loved reading them. It was like spending time with every friend I ever had. Whenever I find myself struggling with a writing project, I turn to fiction for inspiration. By revisiting all the books I love to read, I found inspiration in their opening lines—enough to get me through any writing project. Here are several of my favorites: 1. The music-room in the Governor’s House at Port Mahon, a tall, handsome, pillared octagon, was filled with...
17 unconventional words to describe peop...
In the words of author Philip Pullman: “People are too complicated to have simple labels.” We are all guilty of superficially labeling people. We like to take shortcuts, make assumptions, classify and categorize. English is full of words that capture the depth and breadth of the people in our lives. Below are 17 such words. How many do you recognize? 1. Ailurophile: A person who loves cats. My mom prefers “ailurophile” to “crazy cat lady.” 2. Bel-esprit: A person of great wit or intellect. My favorite bel-esprit is John Oliver. 3. Cognoscente: A person with...
11 simple rules for capitalization
As writers and editors with years of experience in the corporate communications fun house all have stories about the crimes against the English language that we encounter. My latest crime story involves capitalization. I have documents to edit filled with words that shouldn’t be capitalized—such as “federal,” “state,” “statutes,” “cyber,” “laws”—but are uppercase. I have documents to edit filled with words that should be capitalized—such as “West Texas” and “Supreme Court”—but are not. When did random capitalization become acceptable?...
9 troublesome word pairs
Confusing word pairs are everywhere. I’ve been writing about them for years, and I had thought I had the topic well covered. Apparently I don’t. Here are nine more pairs to pay attention to: 1. Can vs. may Use “can” when referring to the ability to do something. Example: “I don’t think your brother can make you unconscious just by looking at you.” Use “may” when asking for permission to do something or when referring to the possibility of something. Example: “You may not throw knives at each other.” Example: “Your excessive use of exclamation...
11 examples of exclamation-point abuse
There’s a “Seinfeld” episode in which Elaine breaks up with her boyfriend over his failure to use an exclamation point. If you don’t remember it, Elaine’s boyfriend had written down some phone messages, one of which said that her friend had a baby. Elaine found it “curious” that he didn’t think someone having a baby warranted an exclamation point. “Maybe I don’t use my exclamation points as haphazardly as you do,” Elaine’s boyfriend tells her: I’ve had several conversations recently about the overuse, abuse, and misuse of exclamation points. These...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 9, 2016 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How do you deal with nitpicking co-workers?
How do you deal with nitpicking co-worke...
If you’ve had co-workers and execs who think they can complete communications tasks better than you do, you’re not alone. Though from a designer’s point of view, a comic from The Oatmeal titled “How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell” chronicles the pain that know-it-alls inflict on PR pros and communicators. Projects can easily get derailed when executives, managers and random co-workers feel obligated to make changes to your work—all so they feel like they’ve done their job. How many times have you heard something like this? · “I made an A in my college...
Famous writers’ idiosyncrasies
Corporate communicators can be an eccentric bunch. Whether it’s because we write for a living or because we write for a living in a corporate environment, we all have idiosyncrasies—and may develop more as we continue to pen phrases. We balance the sometimes-unreasonable demands of clients and executives with the need to craft messages that are clear and concise. We argue with others about which lazy corporate verbs should be banned from our writing. We correct the grammar in the books that we read out loud to our kids. Throughout my career in corporate communications,...
17 words about words
There are an estimated 750,000 words in the English language —but the average college-educated American has a vocabulary of up to 80,000 words. That leaves hundreds of thousands of undiscovered words. Let’s explore words about language and writing. How many of these do you know? Definitions are from Dictionary.com, Urban Dictionary, Wikitionary and Oxford Dictionaries: 1. Cheville: an unnecessary word used to complete a verse. 2. Cledonism: avoidance of words thought to be unlucky. 3. Epeolatry: the worship of words. 4. Hadeharia: constant use of the word...
6 great things that happen when you brea...
Deviating from the rules can be a liberating experience. As writers and editors, we frequently enforce style, grammar, spelling and punctuation guidelines within our organizations or for our clients. However, we also know that it’s occasionally necessary to disregard those same edicts. Here’s what can happen when we break writing rules: 1. Your sentences flow better. Take the rule of never starting a sentence with a conjunction (and, but, nor, for, yet, so). Doing so has always been frowned upon, but “and” and “but” are two of the most useful devices for...
12 quotations that perfectly describe th...
To get an idea of what it’s like to write for a living, turn to those who can turn a phrase. Now that he’s in his teen years, my son and I have been having more serious conversations about his choice of career. (“More serious” means he no longer wants to be an astronaut paleontologist.) We’ve spent a lot of time talking about writing careers. From corporate communications to book editing, there are plenty of career options for people who love to write—but I also want him to understand what it’s like to write for a living. Here are a few quotations from...
5 tips for writing recruitment ads
Looking for someone to join your corporate communications team? Maybe you need a graphic designer or a copywriter. Of course, the person you’re looking for must not only be talented and creative, but must also fit in with your team. Recruiting can be tough. But there is a way to make the recruiting process easier — a way that uses your expert writing and strategic communication skills — crafting a well written, descriptive, and creative recruitment piece. Here are some tips for writing recruitment copy. Personalize it This may seem obvious, but let people know that...
6 ways to practice better writing
“Practice as if you are the worst; perform as if you are the best.”—Jaspher Kantuna Although I’ve been writing and editing professionally for more than 15 years, refining my abilities is something I still struggle with. Despite my dedication to the craft of writing, I’ll have moments when I stare at a blank screen, unable to call up the right words. Sometimes, I’ll go back to something I’ve published and wonder what the heck I was thinking when I wrote it. Writing is a process of practicing, honing and perfecting. Here are some ways to sharpen your skills: 1....
10 terrific terms to delight word lovers
Like other word nerds, I love to collect quotes about the power of words. Those of us who make a living from words appreciate their power to convey even the most subtle shades of meaning. For example, I love that although they are all synonyms for “arrogant,” the words “pretentious,” “ostentatious,” “haughty,” and “preening” each have different meanings under the surface. Here is a list of some of my favorite words, along with insights on their shades of meaning. Nonplussed— bewildered or unsure of how to respond. I always think of nonplussed as that...
50 alternatives to the word “excit...
We’ve all seen it, and we’ve likely done it. Beginning a press release with, “Today, Noddles Company is excited to announce the launch of its new Noddle 6.0 product,” or using a quote from the CEO that states, “We are excited about this new partnership with ABC Associates,” is becoming tired. It doesn’t matter what’s being announced—“excited” is the go-to verb among communications professionals. For example, “Today we are excited to announce a new award for outstanding achievement in the field of press release writing excellence.” Make it...
How to use the ellipsis
In a world of texting and snapchatting, everyone is trying to say more with less. We abbreviate, we truncate, we punctuate—all to communicate using the fewest characters. In my own texting, I use ellipses excessively: “While I’m thinking about it … can you please check that link.” “Doctor’s appointment …10 a.m. … Wednesday.” I’ve even caught myself misusing the ellipsis at work. Wait a minute, did I just write: “I can’t make today’s meeting …too many other meetings …can we reschedule?” in an email to my boss? My overuse...
The 8 parts of speech: A refresher
Can you name the eight parts of speech? I remember that there are nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions, but what’s the eighth? Interjections. Oh, yes! It’s been way too long since I’ve watched “Schoolhouse Rock” As professional writers and editors, we sometimes focus so much on word choice, sentence structure and clear writing that we may forget the basics. Here’s a review of the eight parts of speech: 1. Nouns Common nouns refer to a person, place or thing. Proper nouns refer to a specific person, place or thing. Proper...
9 stellar quotes from “A Christmas...
One of the holiday traditions in my house is to read “A Christmas Carol” to my kids. We read it because no matter how many movie versions you see of this classic, nothing compares to Charles Dickens’ style and storytelling. Now that my kids are older, this will likely be the last year we read it together. In honor of the master and this yuletide staple, here are nine powerful quotations from “A Christmas Carol” (minus Tiny Tim’s wisdom): “Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.” “But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the...
23 words and phrases with odd plural for...
The rules of English spelling can be baffling. Writers and editors see it daily. I recently had to check the spelling of “prerogative” because it couldn’t possibly be spelled “prerogative” (it is). One area of spelling that is particularly challenging: finding correct plural forms. They can trip writers up, because they’re difficult to spell and difficult to pronounce. Below are 23 tricky plurals: antennae asterisks attorneys general axes (plural of axis) bases (plural of basis) courts-martial culs-de-sac diagnoses dos and...
8 gifts for the writers in your life
There’s still plenty of time to find that perfect holiday gift for your special wordsmith. However, some people are harder to shop for than others. What can you get the person who already has subscriptions to all the major style guides and worn-out copies of “On Writing” by Stephen King and “Eats, Shoots & Leaves” by Lynne Truss? Here are eight ideas: 1. “1000 Totally Unfair Words for Scrabble & Words With Friends: Outrageously Legitimate Words to Crush the Enemy in Your Favorite Word Games” For a writer, there is nothing worse than being...
15 posts for any occasion
You know you’ve arrived as a professional writer when your friends can talk about random topics and you can say “I wrote an article about that once.” I’ve found myself saying that a lot this week. So below are a few of those posts . . . posts for any occasion or discussion topic. Need to beat someone at Scrabble? 57 words you may not have known you could use in Scrabble Wondering what the singular form of “scissors” is? 39 plural forms that might confuse writers Not sure you spelled “idiosyncrasy” correctly? 50 words you need to stop...
Phrases to cut from your writing
Writing can often be improved by excising unnecessary words and phrases. Many writers use “crutch phrases” when they’re not sure how to start a sentence or how to connect two sentences. They’re often seen in corporate emails and copy: As many of you are already aware, performance reviews will start next week. The phrase “as many of you are already aware” is meaningless and doesn’t add anything to the sentence. The phrase can be removed, allowing you to jump straight into the sentence: “Performance reviews will start next week.” Here’s another...
3 websites corporate communicators shoul...
Only four hours after I submitted my last post to PR Daily on writing and language sites you should know about, a friend told me about a few other sites that should have been included on that list. As a follow up, here are three more useful sites for corporate communicators. These aren’t writing sites per se, but they potentially can make your work life easier. Askwonder.com Described as “your personal research assistant,” Wonder allows you to ask a question and within six hours, you will receive an email with detailed answers and resources from a Wonder researcher....
7 writing and language sites you should ...
As a medical writer, I often end up spending more time researching an article than I do writing it. In that research, I often discover new online sites and tools. In this week’s post, I share some lesser-known online resources that can help make your writing, editing and researching tasks easier. Plainlanguage.gov This site was developed by the Plain Language Action and Information Network, which is a group of federal employees who support the use of clear communication in government writing. The site includes humorous examples and resources on thinking about your...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 28, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 5 reasons for PR pros to be thankful
5 reasons for PR pros to be thankful
A close friend recently was diagnosed with hypertension. This is surprising because he’s 39, fit, works out every day, eats healthy, doesn’t drink or smoke, and has no family history of hypertension. His physician concluded that the likely cause of his high blood pressure was stress at work. With PR being one of the most stressful jobs in America, a lot has been written about how to reduce stress on the job. One strategy that I find the most helpful is to practice gratitude. When I’m stressed at work, I take a break to think about what I am most grateful for in my...
How misplaced modifiers muck up your mes...
As a self-professed word nerd and grammar wonk, I am always looking for fun ways to teach my kids about grammar. Our latest grammar lesson occurred when my son and I were listening to the novelty song “Purple People Eater.” Me: So the song says, “I’m a one-eyed, one-horned flyin’ purple people eater.” Does that mean the monster is purple or that he eats purple people? Him: It means he’s purple and he eats purple people. The lesson here was about modifiers and why their location in a sentence is important. When used correctly, modifiers add interest and...
17 more made-up words
It can be fun to take a break from writing, editing, and corporate communicating to play with words. I love to read and write about words that others have invented. Put aside that press release and let’s have some fun with these made-up words: 1. Afterclap: the last person to clap at a performance or event. I know Alison is proud of her daughter, but does she have to be the afterclap every time? 2. Askhole: a person who asks too many pointless, intrusive or obnoxious questions. I’m never going out with that askhole again. 3. Beerboarding: extracting...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 6, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 4 lessons corporate communicators can learn from soccer
4 lessons corporate communicators can le...
I’ve never been overly fond of sports metaphors, but I recently discovered how much you can learn about communications by watching my son practice soccer. My son’s soccer coach is an ideal communicator. He’s firm and direct when he’s teaching the team new skills, but also supportive as they practice what they’ve learned. He encourages the boys to try new things and provides candid feedback about their efforts. Coach Marcus also does all this with an audience of highly competitive, yet easily distracted nine-year-old boys. Below is advice he gives from the...
5 ways to push past writer’s block
There’s an old New Yorker cartoon on a bulletin board above my desk. It shows a kid who’s just built a sand castle. An adult standing next to him says of the castle, “It’s brilliant.” But the thought bubble from the kid says, “Then why do I feel like such a hack?” This week, I feel like a hack. I’ve struggled to complete the simplest writing tasks. Who was it that said, “I hate writing, but I love having written”? Rather than stare blankly at my laptop and grow increasingly frustrated, I reviewed my previous posts on overcoming writer’s block and...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 23, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Is there a stronger alternative to “impact” as a verb?
Is there a stronger alternative to “impa...
“Impact” as a verb . . . go ahead, roll your eyes accordingly. Last week, we had a request to change the verb “affects” to “impacts” in a headline. The requestor thought “impact” was the better choice because it was a stronger verb. Original headline: Recent court decision affects physicians. Requested headline: Recent court decision impacts physicians. Once we explained that using “impact” as a verb is not proper usage, we were asked if there was stronger verb than “affects.” The alternatives were: Recent court decision concerns physicians. Recent...
Improve your writing with precise and me...
I recently met a fellow writer at a party. But she’s not technical writer, a PR pro or corporate communicator. She’s a food critic. I was immediately curious about her approach to writing. As a medical writer, I would be at a complete loss if I had to describe how something tastes. I simply don’t have the command of adjectives and adverbs required for that type of writing. She told me that in her work, she’s very attentive to how the food tastes and how it’s cooked, and she’s very deliberate in how she describes the food. She also said that it helps to have a...
17 complicated medical terms and their s...
I’ve written before about the value of using simple words in place of complex ones. The use of complex terms interferes with comprehension and frustrates your readers. But when it comes to medical writing, using simpler terms is not always possible. Medical terminology is notoriously complicated, given the Latin and Greek origins of many medical terms. Then there are the eponyms (words derived from someone’s name), such as listeriosis or Guillain–Barré syndrome. Below is a list of complicated medical terms and their simpler explanations. (Definitions from Medline...
Is exclusively using “he” a ...
This week, I was asked to fact check and update one of my company’s older publications. The content had been written by a freelance writer who was now retired. The information in the piece was still valid, so it didn’t appear that there was much for me to do. Then I read this sentence in the introduction: “The author recognizes there are as many female doctors and patients as there are males. The use of ‘he’ includes both masculine and feminine genders. It is not meant to offend the reader but rather to avoid a cumbersome writing style.” Hmmmm. I have...
11 corporate terms and what they mean to...
I once worked for a company where the HR department insisted that we use the term “full-time equivalents” instead of “employees” or “staff.” They’d say, “Our full-time equivalents are our most valuable asset.” To HR staff, the term “full-time equivalents” has a specific meaning, so that’s why they use it. To corporate communicators, “full-time equivalents” is just another dehumanizing HR term that we advise HR staff not to use. (Same with “human assets” or “human capital.”) Below is list of other such corporate terms and what they...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 18, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A brief guide to using “a” and “an”
A brief guide to using “a” a...
Determining whether to use “a” versus “an” should not be confusing, but it is. This week, I had a prolonged discussion with a co-worker about why “an MRI” is correct and “a MRI” is not. It turns out that many of us were taught the wrong rules for use of the indefinite articles. I remember being told to use “an” when the word preceding it starts with a vowel and to use “a” when the word preceding it starts with a consonant. The rules actually say to use “an” before any word beginning with a vowel sound and to use “a” before any word...
19 annoying words and their alternatives
Each year, language websites and popular publications poll readers to find out what they consider to be the most annoying words in the English language. Words such as “slacks,” “moist” and “dude” frequently make the lists. A few of my most-hated words are listed below, along with their less irritating alternatives. Artisanal — use “handmade” or “hand-crafted.“ Annoying: Cassandra will only eat artisanal cheese, so please bring her something else. Better: Cassandra will only eat hand-made cheese, so please bring her something...
5 ways to break the writing rules
Every few months at my house, we have “do what you want night.” I let my kids break the house rules and have an evening of fun and frivolity. “Yes, you can have popcorn for dinner, you can eat it in front of the TV, you don’t have to take a bath, and you can stay up as late as you want.” Sometimes, it’s good to take a break from following and enforcing the rules. The same could be said for the rules of writing. Writers and editors frequently enforce style, grammar, spelling and punctuation rules at our companies or for our clients. Occasionally, to achieve the...
5 signs of “legalese”
Fred Rodell, the former dean of Yale Law School, said, “There are two things wrong with most legal writing. One is its style. The other is its content.” No matter what industry they work in, corporate communicators have had dealings with “legalese.” It’s everywhere: in the employee handbook, in corporate policies, on website disclaimers, in contracts with clients. No matter how many times a non-attorney reads legalese, the true meaning remains elusive. Tired of writing clear, fluid text? Want to gum it up with legalese? Drop in a few of these...
57 words you may not have known you coul...
Like many PR Daily readers, I enjoy a friendly game of Scrabble now and then. Well, maybe “friendly” isn’t the best way to describe it. I’m actually a merciless Scrabble player. It goes back to when I was 10 and playing Scrabble with my older sister. She wouldn’t let me put “zit” on the triple word score because she insisted “zit” wasn’t a word. Furious, I quit the game, flipped over the board, and swore I would never again play Scrabble with my sister. For those who’ve had similar experiences playing Scrabble, here is a list of high scoring,...
13 clever and inspiring quotes about wri...
Writers often pride themselves on their limitless creativity, but even they occasionally need an inspirational push. Luckily, other writers and creative people can help. If you need a little inspiration this week, here are 13 witty and insightful quotes about writing. “A sentence should never be cruel and unusual.” — William C. Burton, attorney “If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” — Albert Einstein, physicist “I have made this letter longer that usual because I lack the time to make it shorter.” —...
14 of Shakespeare’s most captivati...
Opening lines can torment writers. The lead sentence can make or break what we’ve written. They are often the deciding factor in whether readers keep reading. To find inspiration for my own writing projects, I often study the first lines of great literary works.Recently, I’ve been interested in the first lines of Shakespeare’s plays. Some of his most famous works open simply (“Who’s there?” in Hamlet.), while others immediately draw readers in with a mystery. Here are a few of my favorites: “When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in...
How do you persuade a correspondent to t...
When I’m puzzled by someone’s behavior, I think about the aphorism, “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” Or perhaps a version that is a little less harsh: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by inexperience.” That is the only explanation I have for a series of emails that I received last week. The person sending them seemed to be inexperienced and not know he was being appallingly rude. In keeping with my previous posts on bad email manners, here’s what happened. Like so many other PR Daily...
Should these terms be one word or two?
Corporate communicators can become easily distracted by style and usage issues. For example, when someone asks a usage question, I can’t let it go until I find out the answer. This week’s distraction was the term “cyber security.” A co-worker was insisting that the term was now one word, “cybersecurity.” And indeed, I confirmed this with several dictionaries and in the AP Stylebook. “Cyber” is now considered an accepted prefix. So “cybersecurity” — like “cyberspace” or “cyberbullying” — is one word. I don’t agree with the designation of...
10 corporate writing crimes
Corporate communicators with years in the trenches are all too familiar with seeing writing transgressions every day. Some we commit; some we correct. Here’s a sampling of the worst crimes: 1. Writing for your boss rather than your audience. In corporate communications, “writing for your audience” often takes a back seat to politics and the whims of executives. Be honest: Is that ad copy for prospects or for your CEO? Is that press release for reporters or for your board of directors? In a corporate environment, it can be tough to remember that the...
8 more tips for better proofreading
A few weeks ago, I wrote about ways to improve your proofreading skills. Tips included checking your work on the screen and on paper, reading your text aloud, and chewing gum or tapping your foot to stay focused. PR Daily readers also offered their proofreading advice, and had some excellent tips to share. Here are eight of the best: 1. Read your copy backwards. 2. Use an app with a speech option and have it the copy to you. “Sometimes this will uncover things that you might miss even when reading it out loud to yourself.” 3. Have a “read aloud” session. Get two...
Is the singular “they” okay?
How many times have you corrected a sentence like this: Everyone should return to their seats. To correct it, you can either do this: “Everyone should return to his or her seat,” or this: “Passengers should return to their seats.” You could also write, “Audience members should return to their seats,” or “Everyone return to your seat.” What if we didn’t have to fix it, though? What if we could just leave the “their” in the sentence? That option may soon be a reality. Over the last several weeks, several prominent language blogs have...
10 distractions corporate communicators ...
For many corporate communicators, the job largely entails writing and editing. At least, that’s what we signed up for. Sometimes, however, it seems like the last thing we get to do during our long, busy days is write. This week, it seemed like every time I opened a document to start writing, I was distracted by a non-writing task. Here’s what I found to be the most common distractions in my job: 1. Unwanted writing advice. I once had an extensive email exchange with a co-worker who wanted us to use “includes, but is not limited to” instead of “includes” in an...
9 tips for better proofreading
Proofreading can be tough. It can seem like no matter how much you read and re-read your content, errors still get through. On the Web, these errors can be corrected easily enough, but in print, that’s another story. Next time you are tasked with proofreading a project, consider the following tips: 1. Avoid getting bored. Though proofing requires extreme focus and concentration, it can be boring. Try something that relieves your mind of the pressure, but enables you to stay focused. This could be chewing gum, tapping your foot, or listening to classical music. 2. Get...
7 word-a-day resources to expand your vo...
I’ve often written of my love of words. I’ve explored words that are fun to pronounce, words that make writers swoon, made-up words andwords to describe people. There are also words to describe words and Janus words. For this week’s post, I went searching for new sources of words and found several “word-a-day” resources, apps, and websites. Here are some you might find worthwhile: A Word A Day For 20 years, the wordsmith.org online service has been emailing a word a day to subscribers all over the world. The New York Times has called the service “the...
Hyphens, dashes, and mass hysteria
My favorite exchange from the 1984 movie “Ghostbusters” comes when the team is trying to convince the mayor of New York to let them out of jail so they can re-capture the ghosts running amok in the city. Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster or biblical proportions… Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes.. Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave! Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria! I sometimes like to apply those lines of dialogue to punctuation:...
101 transitions to help connect your wri...
Transitions can make or break your writing. Good transition words connect sentences and paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. They help the reader (and writer) move from idea to idea. Transitions can also be tricky. Sometimes you need to use words other than “but,” “however” and “in addition,” yet it can be difficult to find that perfect connecting word. Consider the following phrases when you need some new transition ideas. above all accordingly admittedly after all afterward all things considered alternatively altogether an example...
21 eye-grabbing headlines (for better or...
I don’t like to admit this, but I’m terrible at writing headlines. It’s the pressure. A headline not only has to summarize the article, it also has to grab the reader’s attention and lure him or her into the story. While recently reviewing articles on how to write better headlines, I stumbled upon several lists of funny, outlandish and ridiculous headlines. I found them particularly inspirational. Here are a few of my favorites: County to pay $250,000 to advertise lack of funds Volunteers search for old Civil War planes Meeting on open meetings is closed Ten...
4 steps to help you conquer any editing ...
Professional editors are often made painfully aware that not all writers are created equal. Some of the content we are asked to edit may require a complete rewrite. Other pieces of writing may need only a single change. Because it can be tough to edit the work of writers with varying degrees of skill, I’ve created a process that helps me edit on different levels. Editing to improve the structure of an article or press release is different from editing for style and usage. Here’s a four-step method to help you “divide and conquer” any editing task. 1. Read...
3 more examples of bad email manners
Several weeks ago, I wrote a blog post on bad email manners. It described four egregiously rude email tactics and asked PR Daily readers to share their own examples. Here are some of those responses: The fake forward “Lately I’ve been receiving emails disguised as forwarded messages (from PR publications no less). It’s a weak attempt to make it look like someone is forwarding you information when in reality it’s still an e-blast.” The forward with no explanation “The email blunder/bad manners that drives me crazy is forwarded emails with no...
What your writing style says about your ...
What does your writing style reveal about your personality? How about your client’s personality? Find out with IBM’s Watson Personality Insights Service. Input any text — a set of tweets, an email, a blog post, an article — and Watson will analyze the characteristics of the person who wrote it. Try it. Watson, the cognitive computer system that can help diagnose disease, generate recipes, and win at Jeopardy — is being put to use to “help businesses better understand their clients and improve customer satisfaction by anticipating customer needs and...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 24, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 31 ways to complicate your writing
31 ways to complicate your writing
Want to confuse your readers or have them stumble over unfamiliar and complex terms? If you don’t want them to understand a word of your message, try using the phrases in the right column. After all, why choose simple words when complex words can make you sound smarter? (Forgive the sarcasm, but years spent editing articles written by attorneys, whose writing is purposefully vague, and physicians, whose writing is full of jargon, has made me cross.) Instead of: Use: after or later subsequently arms upper...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 18, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 4 examples of bad email manners
4 examples of bad email manners
Whether it’s the neighbor who mows the lawn at 7 a.m. on a Saturday or the woman who cuts in front of you in the elementary school drop-off line, bad manners are everywhere. The online world is no exception. Last year, I wrote a post about social media etiquette, matching social media errors to Jane Austen characters. As a follow up, here are a few email faux pas. Communicators with plenty of corporate experience have likely experienced these and cringed accordingly. 1. Solicitation emails with huge attachments. In my day job, I often receive calls from publishers asking...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 11, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 41 alternatives to the word “cool”
41 alternatives to the word “cool&...
Now that I’ve started paying attention to it, it’s appalling how many times I use the word “cool.” I don’t use it in any formal, written communication, but I do most assuredly use it too often in conversation and and in text messages. We’re all writers here, so let’s see if we can’t come up with a few alternatives to the word “cool.” (“Cool” as an adjective meaning good or excellent: “That Tesla is cool.”) Here are a few to get started, though not all of these will apply in every...
29 words that look misspelled
Writers and editors often find it difficult to take off their editing hats when they leave work. It seems that grammar, spelling and punctuation errors are everywhere, and we can’t help but notice them. It’s a gift and a curse. I was recently reading an article with the word pancreas in it. And I just knew pancreas was spelled wrong, but it wasn’t. Pancreas is spelled pancreas. Here are 28 other words that look misspelled but...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 24, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How do you handle a colleague who misses deadlines?
How do you handle a colleague who misses...
A little help here, please. I need advice regarding a problem that persists for communication professionals everywhere. How do you deal with a co-worker who simply cannot meet a deadline? Most of us know how to solve deadline problems with those we supervise or with contractors that we work with. Many of us even know what to do when executives don’t meet their deadlines. The advice I am seeking is what to do when a colleague constantly misses deadlines. In my particular case, this person works in another department, but has writing responsibilities that affect my...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 18, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 7 entrancing style guide rules
7 entrancing style guide rules
It’s like Christmas in February. Recently, a colleague and I were talking about style guides and about the differences among all the style guides we’ve used in our careers. A few days later, he brought in a copy of an in-house style guide he’d used at a previous job. It’s entrancing to read what’s included in the style guide and why—entrancing to think about the stories behind the entries. (There’s a section in this style guide titled “Pet Peeves.”) Of course, it’s also reaffirming to realize that others have the same style issues that we do—serial...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 11, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 (more) commonly misunderstood words
8 (more) commonly misunderstood words
In a previous post, I shared eight words with unclear meanings. On the list were: “averse,” “poisonous” and “comprise,” among other. At the end of the post, I asked PR Daily readers to share their commonly misunderstood words. Here are some of those responses, plus a few more confusing terms: 1. “Jealousy: Worry someone is taking what you have. Envy: Wanting what someone else has.” 2. “The trick for less or fewer: You have less coffee, but fewer cups of coffee.” 3. “People often misuse ‘presently’ when they mean...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 4, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 17 Winston Churchill quotes that impart communications wisdom
17 Winston Churchill quotes that impart ...
Last month marked the 50th anniversary of the death of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, an iconic figure, known for his World War II leadership, quick wit, and speeches that rallied the nation during the dark days of war. The anniversary was commemorated with events, exhibitions, and tributes throughout the United Kingdom, including a request by Prime Minister David Cameron for people to share their favorite Churchill quotes on Twitter using #churchillquotes. Here are some of his best quotes, including a few that apply the work of communications and PR...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 28, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 commonly misunderstood words
8 commonly misunderstood words
Recently, I received a letter from a new private school opening in my neighborhood. The letter asked parents to attend an open house session to learn more about the school. It’s the kind of direct mail that we all receive, and the only reason I paid attention to it was because of an error in the salutation. It read, “Dear prospective parent/guardian.” Hmmmm. Prospective means “likely or expected to happen or likely to become or be.” I’m already a parent and have been for many years. And so were most of the people who received the letter, otherwise they would...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 21, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A quick social media glossary
A quick social media glossary
“After you read my blog, just ping me on chat.” Though many PR professionals speak fluent social media, some of our clients, executives, or audience members may not. Their experience with social media may not go beyond Facebook, so it may seem like everyone else is speaking a foreign language. Here is a quick guide to some common terms, which you can use a universal translator for social media. Blog — combine the words “Web” and “log,” and you get “blog.” A blog is a site published on the Internet consisting of discrete entries (called...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 14, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Six ways PR pros and communicators can say “no”
Six ways PR pros and communicators can s...
At a recent happy hour for PR, marketing, and communications professionals, the talk turned to work matters. We all began sharing our triumphs, struggles, ideas and solutions. Factoring in staffing constraints, workloads, and sometimes-outlandish demands from clients and executives, communications professionals are universally overworked. Increasingly they’re being asked to do more with less. We began discussing ideas on how to gracefully say “no” to a project that simply can’t be taken on. Here are some ideas shared by the group, which PR Daily readers might...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 7, 2015 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 5 ways to trim the fat from your writing
5 ways to trim the fat from your writing
Americans set their new year’s resolutions in a fairly predicable pattern. The same 10 resolutions are popular, year after year. Top of the list? Losing weight. While many writers, editors and PR professionals will be hitting the gym and lunching on salads in 2015, there is more than one type of weight to lose. This year, why not resolve to tighten your writing and eliminate extra words and redundant phrases? Here are a few ways to get started: 1. Use concise language and eliminate redundancies. Thomas Jefferson said, “The most valuable of all talents is that of never...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 17, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 9 sentences that need a hyphen
9 sentences that need a hyphen
I’ve written many times about my dislike of the hyphen, the most tedious of all punctuation marks. Hyphens connect words, prefixes and suffixes and are generally used to avoid ambiguity. But hyphens often confuse matters. Unfortunately, a definitive collection of hyphenation rules does not exist. Rather, different style manuals and dictionaries prescribe different guidelines for its use. However, there are certain instances where the need for a hyphen is obvious. Below are nine sentences that need hyphens for clarity. Susan decided to resign her employment...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 10, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 great gifts for word lovers
8 great gifts for word lovers
It’s not too late to find that perfect holiday gift for the word nerd in your life, but what can you get the person who routinely quotes from “Eats Shoots and Leaves” and who argues with others whether they should use the serial comma? Here are eight ideas. 1. Literary action figures Even better than the “Star Wars” action figures we played with as kids, you can have Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Edgar Allen Poe sit down to tea. These action figures even come with accessories. 2. An iPad with the browser set to ...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 4, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on “Then” vs. “than”: knowing the difference
“Then” vs. “than”...
Like many other PR Daily readers, certain writing errors annoy me. For example, I can’t stand the misuse of “comprise” and “compose, or using a hyphen when a dash is called for. I hate seeing the word “irregardless.” Over the last several months, I’ve noticed a very basic, obvious error with greater frequency. What is wrong with this sentence? The emergency medicine director said taller people with broad shoulders do need larger protective garments then the universally sized ones available. How about this one? It usually takes less...
15 words to describe people
“It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” This view professed by Oscar Wilde seems rather limiting, especially to the word connoisseurs who read PR Daily. People can be rather complex and so are the words to describe them. Below are 15 words to describe people. 1. Ascetic — a person who leads an austere, simple life, especially one who denies himself or herself material satisfaction or physical pleasure. Example: “I had always thought of Eve as an ascetic until I saw her at the monster truck show.” 2. Bon...
32 alternatives to “a lot”
“A lot” is a piece of land, or so said many of my high school English teachers whenever anyone used “a lot” to describe an amount. Unfortunately, in much of the work we’re asked to edit, “a lot” is used…a lot. Here are a few examples of how the term is commonly used: “There will be a lot of drinking after work tonight.” “Our style guide does not appear to be used by a lot of people.” “I try not to ask for a lot of help from the IT Department.” “There’s not a lot we can do about the CEO’s use of run-on...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 12, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 11 of your writing eccentricities
11 of your writing eccentricities
It turns out – PR Daily readers – that your writing eccentricities are considerably more interesting than mine. A few posts ago, I wrote about my one of my writing eccentricities . . . my abhorrence of periods in phone numbers. I also asked PR Daily readers to confess and share their idiosyncrasies, eccentricities, and funny writing habits. Here’s what you said. “I… am… obsessed… with… ellipses! (And you are right, not only is it annoying when folks use periods in phone numbers, it often fouls up smart phones on call-backs. Memo to your...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 5, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 17 words that aren’t spelled like they sound
17 words that aren’t spelled like ...
Sometimes the rules of English spelling make no sense. The reason for the confusion is the diverse origins of English words. German, Latin, French, and Greek are all common sources, and each language follows a different set of rules for spelling. Even the best spellers—including those who avidly read PR Daily—can be tripped up by the irregularities of English spelling. Perhaps it’s because there are so many English words that aren’t spelled the way they sound. Below are a few of the most befuddling ones. (Click on the word for an audible...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 29, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What are your writing eccentricities?
What are your writing eccentricities?
Writers can be an eccentric bunch. Edith Wharton wrote by cutting and pasting scraps of paper together. Sir Walter Scott wrote most of Marmion while riding a horse. Edgar Allen Poe often wrote with his cat in his lap or perched on his right shoulder. When Victor Hugo was feeling distracted, he would write naked to be totally alone with his pen and paper. Throughout my career in corporate communications, I have cultivated many writing eccentricities. Now that I’m thinking about it, I have more eccentricities than I care to count. But the one I’ll admit to involves phone...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 22, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The importance of starting with the “why”
The importance of starting with the R...
Good communicators know the importance of “starting with the why.” Whether you’re telling customers about a price increase, employees about changes in company policy, or encouraging people to get a flu shot, leading with the “why” helps everyone understand the purpose of your message right up front. Here’s an example: Because we are uncertain of the health risks associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, these devices have been banned at all facilities. The usefulness of this technique was recently made clear to me by my 11-year-old son, in...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 15, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 11 of your favorite made-up words
11 of your favorite made-up words
A few weeks ago, I shared some of my favorite made-up words, among them: “stample,” “jobfuscate,” and “hygienevangelist.” I also asked PR Daily readers to offer their favorite coinages — which they did, along with their own definitions in some cases. Here’s what you came up with, though it seems not all of them are favorites. Use them wisely (if you dare): 1. Conversate— a combination of conversation and communicate (just in case someone’s forgotten the verb converse). Example: “Maybe we should try to conversate with Bob instead of sending an...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 7, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 5 things you can learn from a poorly designed web site
5 things you can learn from a poorly des...
My son has just started middle school, and along with becoming oriented to an unfamiliar school environment, he now has “homework like never before,” and it is not just the amount of homework. His teachers no longer send home printed homework sheets. Students are expected to visit the teachers’ individual websites to download assignments, study guides, and watch lectures. And while going online is not normally a problem for technophile middle schoolers, it becomes a problem when the websites are poorly designed. Visitors come to a website to satisfy goals, to perform...
15 made-up words
Sometimes I like to take a break from being a wordsmith of cryptic corporate speak and read about words and language. Recently, I’ve been reading about made-up words, why they were created, and how they eventually make it into the dictionary. Though I’ll never be able to use any of these words at work, here are some of my favorite fictional words: 1. Adminisphere – The level of management where far-reaching, unworkable, and counterproductive decisions are made. The decision to move from Macs to PCs was made in the adminisphere. 2. Bellignorant – The state of...
Are you burying the lede?
When I was in journalism school we called it “burying the lede.” That is, the failure to mention the most important, interesting,or attention-grabbing elements of a story in the first paragraph. In corporate communications, “burying the lede” refers to the failure to mention the most important or actionable items at the beginning of your message. To use a recent example, let’s say you are writing an email to all employees explaining your company’s flu vaccination policy. The policy states that all employees must receive a flu shot or file a declination form or...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 17, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Quiz: Can you identify these first lines from classic literature?
Quiz: Can you identify these first lines...
Most experienced, professional writers, have agonized over opening sentences. After all, opening lines set the tone, establish style, and are often the deciding factor in your reader’s decision to keep reading. No pressure. When I find myself struggling with a writing project, I read fiction to find inspiration. And recently, I’ve found inspiration in reading famous opening lines from the great works of literature. In the spirit of finding that creative spark and broadening our knowledge, I offer the following list of the famous first lines. Can you match these with...
27 tricky homophones
Last weekend, I was browsing in the Cajun food section at the grocery store. Near the shelf with all the mixes was a handwritten sign that said, “You’ll roux the day you don’t use our instant roux mix.” I love clever wordplay, especially when it’s found in unexpected places. This sign was a play on two homophones. Roux is a mixture of flour and fat that is used to make sauces. Rue means to feel regret or remorse. Homophones are words that are pronounced the same, but have different meanings and are spelled differently. The English language is littered with...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 3, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Do you recognize these 6 types of trolls
Do you recognize these 6 types of trolls
Many organizations have a troll problem. Whether they lurk on external websites or intranets, trolls create conflict in online communities by starting arguments and posting inflammatory or off-topic messages, largely aimed at upsetting people. Trolls deliberately stir up drama and try to provoke readers into an emotional response or disrupt normal on-topic discussion. They are modern digital bullies. At my company, where our trolls mostly skulk on the intranet, we’ve discovered that we have a number of various kinds of trolls commenting on our site. They may all have...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 19, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 tips for more compelling writing
10 tips for more compelling writing
My youngest sister is in graduate school, earning her Ph.D. in biology. Suddenly immersed in the “publish or perish” culture, she’s been struggling with the tiresome task of co-authoring research papers. She once sent me a text at 2:30 a.m. that said, “I don’t know how you can write as your career. I want to set my laptop on fire right now.” Whether it’s academic, corporate, or technical text, or you’re simply trying to think of what to scribble on a colleague’s birthday card, writing can be bewildering, tedious work. To make it less so, I pulled...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 13, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Acronyms: Avoiding the alphabet soup
Acronyms: Avoiding the alphabet soup
I work for a hospital system where TLAs (three-letter acronyms) are ubiquitous. Not only do we use health care acronyms, but also acronyms related to our system, and acronyms related to each facility. I was recently at a training seminar with co-workers from different departments. Our first exercise was to set the ground rules and expectations for the class. One ground rule that was quickly established: No acronyms were to be used in the class unless they were first defined. By the end of the seminar, we were discussing plans to create a group called the EAA: Employees...
What’s your headline style?
PR Daily readers have strong opinions when it comes to style. On this site, we’ve debated topics such as the use of the serial comma, the overuse of the exclamation point, and the capitalization of titles. And who can forget the lively conversations over spacing after punctuation and the use of nouns as verbs. One issue I would like ask PR Daily readers to debate is headline style. At my company, we recently changed our headline style to down style. With down style, only the first word, the first word after a colon or em dash, and proper nouns are capitalized in the...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 29, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Vitalize your writing with anagrams
Vitalize your writing with anagrams
Like many other PR Daily readers, I’m always looking for ways to keep my writing fresh. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been playing around with rhetorical devices, such as alliteration, metaphors, and euphemisms. I’ve been having the most fun with anagrams. Anagrams are words or phrases that are formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase, using the original letters only once (dictionary: indicatory). There are several online anagram servers for novices (Internet Anagram Server, Word Explorer, and Online Anagram Solver), but as I’ve discovered,...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 22, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Breaking the law: which style guide rules do you refuse to follow?
Breaking the law: which style guide rule...
Editors and writers often take on the role of enforcer when it comes to our company’s (or client’s) style rules. Whether we use the AP Stylebook, the Chicago Manual of Style, or a house style guide, we can explain, cite, and apply the rules with ease. But sometimes even the enforcers want to break the rules. Think carefully. Are there any style guide rules that you refuse to follow? Any style standards you will not adopt? Is it a rule that just recently changed or one that never made sense to begin with? In my own work, I routinely break three rules. They...
21 more fortunes for writers
I’ve always thought it would be fun to write the fortunes found in fortune cookies. And since I have no idea how to land that job, I settled for writing a post about fortunes for writers. Now, inspired by another clever fortune (“About time I got out of that cookie.”) here are 21 more fortunes for writers, editors, and PR professionals. 1. Remember . . . your style guide is just a guide. 2. It all comes out in the wash. 3. Beware of cookies bearing fortunes. 4. Using the word “utilize” instead of “use” does not make you sound smarter. 5. Be sure to test...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 9, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Is there a definitive answer to this capitalization conundrum?
Is there a definitive answer to this cap...
While trying to answer co-worker’s question last week, I unearthed a contentious capitalization conundrum. (Try saying that 10 times fast.) And much like the wrangling over the serial comma, or for that matter, capitalization, this debate does not appear to have an easy answer. The question: do you capitalize a lowercase brand name if the brand name is used at the beginning of a sentence? Here are a couple examples: eBay has a fabulous collection of vintage tube tops. iTunes must now compete with Amazon’s Prime Music. The Chicago Manual of Style has this to say:...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 1, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 25 words that are difficult to spell
25 words that are difficult to spell
I’ve been writing professionally for more than 15 years (starting when I was 10 years old, of course), but I still struggle with certain basic aspects of putting words into Word. I still edit while I write. I don’t take breaks when I need to. I sometimes get too hung up on following the style guide. This week, I’ve been struggling with spelling. There are certain words that I always look up in the dictionary. No matter how many times I write them, I can’t remember how to spell them. Maybe I should try writing these 10 times each: 1. acquiesce 2. aficionado 3....
Posted by laurajane on Jun 24, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Add flavor to your writing with colorful turns of phrase
Add flavor to your writing with colorful...
As writers, we have an arsenal of rhetorical devices and figures of speech at our disposal to enliven our copy. The devices most often used are similes and metaphors. When used correctly, these phrases help us paint pictures with words, adding depth to our messages. (Under John’s leadership, our workplace had become like “Animal Farm.”) When used incorrectly, the results can be confusing and silly. (It sticks out like a sore throat.) It’s also important to avoid clichés—metaphors that are so commonplace that they’ve lost their power completely. (Clichés can...
11 weird spelling facts
Not to put too fine a point on it, English spelling rules are just weird. We have words that sound the same but are spelled differently (such as “their,” “they’re,” and “there”); words with letters that have nothing to do with how the word is pronounced (“brought,” “although”); words that contain silent letters (“gnat,” “pneumonia”); and words that simply don’t follow any spelling rules. Here’s a look at 11 weird, random facts about English spelling. Not sure this will make our jobs as writers and editors any easier, but it’s a nice...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 12, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 36 redundant phrases to eliminate from your writing
36 redundant phrases to eliminate from y...
As writers, editors, and PR professionals, we are keenly aware of having to fight for readers’ attention. My daily sanity check is to ask, “Is someone actually going to read this?” One way I’ve found to help readers is to use concise language and eliminate redundancies. As Strunk and White advise, “Make every word tell.” Below is a list of phrases in which every word does not tell. These phrases are redundant, repetitive, wordy, and verbose. Paring phrases such as these is an easy way to tighten your writing. (Redundant words are italicized.) • added...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 4, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What kind of a word nerd are you?
What kind of a word nerd are you?
There’s only one thing more annoying than having a “selfie-obsessed” friend on Facebook: having a friend who is constantly taking those “What kind of ______ are you?” quizzes and sharing the results. I’ve seen: “What kind of best friend are you?”; “What kind of cupcake are you?”; “What kind of coffee drink are you?”; “Which ‘Little House on the Prairie’ character are you?” What’s next? “What kind of fungus are you?” However annoying it is, this phenomenon has inspired me to develop my own quiz. It’s called, “What kind of word nerd...
Posted by laurajane on May 28, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Write more better . . . a look at comparative and superlative adjectives
Write more better . . . a look at compar...
Bart Simpson: This is the worst day of my life. Homer Simpson: The worst day of your life so far. My first grader has worked hard this school year learning to write basic sentences.One area he struggles with is adjectives. He often writes “I have the bestest pet ever” or “Soccer is more harder than baseball.” As professional writers and editors, PR Daily readers aren’t making these kinds of mistakes. But the rules for comparative and superlative adjectives can be tricky. Not all adjectives have comparative forms (such as the word unique) and many adjectives have...
Posted by laurajane on May 20, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 9 sources to help you find that perfect word
9 sources to help you find that perfect ...
I once worked with someone who used the word “secure” continually. He’d write: • “We need to secure donations.” • “Have you secured a printer for the newsletter yet?” • “I’m not feeling secure about our chances of securing this contract.” I often found myself correcting his writing and replacing “secure” with alternatives such as “obtain,” “get,” “acquire,” “find.” But he was set on the word “secure” and would often change it back. The importance of varying our words to keep our readers interested cannot be overstated, but...
Posted by laurajane on May 13, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 more ways to make the writing process less hellish
10 more ways to make the writing process...
In a previous post, I shared 15 tips to make the writing process less grueling. On the list were: Write first, edit later; read your work aloud; and don’t bristle when another writer or editor corrects your work. At the end of the post, I asked PR Daily readers to share their writing tips. Here are some of those responses, along with a few more. The less hellish we can make our work, the better. 1. “Be ruthless in editing your own stuff. One writer who worked for me described my editing style as ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ and I took that as a compliment.” 2....
6 famous run-on sentences
Being a writer and editor can be exhausting. Not “I’ve just run the Boston marathon in two hours” exhausting, but “It’s 5 p.m. and I’ve lost the ability to form words” exhausting. Nothing wears me down quicker than run-on sentences. Lately, it seems every document I’m asked to edit is overrun with run-ons. Run-on sentences contain too many ideas and not enough punctuation. Not all long sentences are run-on sentences. It is perfectly acceptable to join several related ideas in one compound sentence, as long as the correct elements (commas, conjunctions,...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 30, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Finding content when it’s scarce
Finding content when it’s scarce
It happens more frequently than we’d like to admit: an unexpected content void. The article scheduled for the front page of your company’s website has fallen through, and you need another to fill the space right now. In my day job as an internal communicator for a regional health care system, I am responsible for developing content for two websites with very different audiences. In my “other” job, I write weekly for my own blog, Impertinent Remarks. So I know how tough it is to scramble when content is in short supply. If you find yourself asking, “What can I...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 24, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 15 tips to make the writing process less hellish
15 tips to make the writing process less...
Not everyone who writes for a living always enjoys writing. Writing can be a tedious and frustrating task . . . staring at a blank screen, knowing what you want to write but being unable to call up the proper words. Canadian author Ann-Marie MacDonald says “Writing is a hellish task, best snuck up on, whacked on the head, robbed, and left for dead.” What follows is some of the best advice I’ve received to make the writing process less hellish. When you’re stuck, don’t keep staring at the screen. Take a break and come back to it. Write first; edit later Don’t...
Hyphenation — worth a second look
It’s a gift and a curse. PR Daily readers, you know what I’m talking about. Even when you’re not looking for them, you see them. I’m talking about spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors on signs, in movie credits, on magazine covers. They’re everywhere, and we can’t help but notice them. Last week, I drove past a billboard that said, “Your coworking headquarters.” I had to look twice to make sure I understood what the sign meant. That billboard brought to mind my least favorite punctuation mark, the hyphen, and how hyphens are generally used to avoid...
25 clever email subject lines
After my recent post listing 19 terrible email subject lines, readers asked for a list of examples of good email subject lines. Considering that readers decide whether to read or trash your email in about three seconds, well-written subject lines are essential. If you can throw in a little mystery or humor, that works, too. Here are some great examples: Don’t let your spam box come between us Need an app for that? Show me the writing . . . 8 reasons not to read this email A blatant pitch (that you should open NOW) Made you look Athletes use steroids . . . entrepreneurs...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 1, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 14 inspiring quotes from “Downton Abbey”
14 inspiring quotes from “Downton ...
“Downton Abbey” is the wildly popular Masterpiece Classic period drama that follows the the Crawley family and their servants in post-Edwardian England. It is one of the most widely watched television dramas in the world. I run hot and cold with this series. I start watching it but stop in the middle of the season, because it becomes too much like a soap opera. Then I’ll start watching again out of sheer curiosity. Despite the outlandish plots and out-of-character character motivations, what also keeps me coming back is the dialogue. Often, the best lines of the show...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 26, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Me, myself, and I: deciphering pronouns
Me, myself, and I: deciphering pronouns
Which of the following sentences is correct? 1. Please copy Robert and I on that email. 2. Please copy Robert and me on that email. 3. Please copy Robert and myself on that email. If you’re not sure of the answer, you’re not the only one. The misuse of pronouns—I, me, myself, he, himself, her, herself, them, themselves—can make your writing seem “juvenile and nonstandard.” Or so says one of my old grammar books. Let’s examine a few rules for using pronouns so we can cut through the confusion and write for grown-ups. Pronouns are words used in place of nouns....
Is that one word or two?
Lately I’ve been having trouble with compound words, such as timeframe, payoff, and placeholder. Are these one word or two? After 10-plus years as a professional writer and editor, shouldn’t I know the rules for compound words by now? Why am I still asking myself these questions? As it turns out, the rules for compound words aren’t straightforward. (Or is that straight forward?) “Compound words generally develop over time through use. As people continue to use two or more previously unrelated words together, the combination gains acceptance. Unfortunately, this...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 11, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 7 tips to help you remember names
7 tips to help you remember names
There’s no easy way to admit this, but I am horrible with names. I shake hands with someone I’ve just met, the person says his or her name, and within 10 seconds I’ve forgotten the name. And since I’ve just started a new job, I am beyond frustrated with my memory problem. Grrrrr. As PR professionals, we all know the importance of building rapport and maintaining relationship with clients. That can be difficult when you can’t remember the name of the guy sitting next to you at lunch. Never fear. There are plenty of techniques and tricks from business pros and...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 5, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 39 more ways to close your emails
39 more ways to close your emails
My post from last week, “39 ways to close your emails,” discussed how to put a little personality into email signoffs. Why use “sincerely” or “thanks” when you can use “stay tuned” or “You don’t need to see my credentials”? PR Daily readers added a few of their own favorite closing lines: 1. Allons-y 2. Be well 3. Caring is what we do 4. Carpe diem 5. Enthusiastically 6. Excellent, Smithers 7. Forward 8. Get to the choppa 9. Hasta la vista, baby! 10. Have a magical day 11. I am 12. In gratitude 13. Love is in the details 14. May the force be with...
39 ways to close your emails
Tired of closing your emails with “Thanks” or “Sincerely”? Want to keep your email sign-offs informal, yet polite? Or maybe you want to inject a little personality into your emails. I once received an email from an outside contractor that ended with, “I stand ever ready to assist you.” Nice sentiment, but odd given our working relationship. The email sign-off—more formally called a valediction—can be tricky. It should be consistent the overall tone of your email and reflect your relationship with the recipient. Choose your closing words carefully. Here are...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 19, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What would Jane Austen do? A guide to social media etiquette
What would Jane Austen do? A guide to so...
Jane Austen novels are full of characters who make astounding social errors. From Mr. Collins over-ingratiating himself with Lady Catherine de Bourgh in “Pride and Prejudice,” to Emma’s very cruel and very public snubbing of Ms. Bates in “Emma,” Austen’s novels illustrate perfectly how not to behave. And though they were written 200 years ago, the social lessons translate to 2014. Take social media. Much has been written about bad manners and blunders on social media, but here are a few I’ve experienced recently, discussed in the context of Austen’s most...
16 Shakespearean insults
When it comes to clever comebacks, insults, and affronts, few can match the wit and genius of William Shakespeare. Though his plays are filled with stabbings, poisonings, and sword fights, some of the most wounding moments include the verbal attacks of Shakespeare’s characters. Though it is unlikely that any of us could work these into our writing for PR purposes, reading them is certainly a diversion, and perhaps they could inspire a clever, non-vicious turn of phrase in a blog post or a press release. I’ve been daydreaming about using these on certain co-workers....
Keeping your readers focused
“Try reading a book while doing a crossword puzzle. That’s the intellectual environment of the Internet.” In his book, “The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing to Our Brains,” Nicholas Carr describes what we have long suspected — that our use of the Internet is creating neurological changes in the brain, affecting our ability to remember facts, or pay attention long enough to fully understand what we read. Now, what was that again? Though many disagree with Carr, the research he cites in his book has important implications for content creation. Among the...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 30, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Treading on thin ice, schools chief delivers an ideal apology
Treading on thin ice, schools chief deli...
During a recent spell of bad weather, I was home watching a communication crisis unfurl, a crisis that hit close to home. An ice storm had moved into the Austin area in the early morning hours of Jan. 28. Like many parents in the area, I woke up expecting an announcement that school would have a delayed opening or be closed completely. By 6:30 a.m., there was no announcement, so we proceeded with our morning routine. I dropped my kids off at school and then started the long commute to the office. Fifteen minutes later, just as I was hitting traffic, I received a text...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 28, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Alternatives to dehumanizing business jargon
Alternatives to dehumanizing business ja...
It’s January, and for many of us it’s time to complete our annual self-assessments and undergo another round of performance reviews. No matter how good a writer you are or how adept you are at crafting messages, it’s never easy to complete a self-assessment. Choose the wrong words, and you might not get a raise. If only executives thought so carefully about words—particularly the words they use to describe the people who work for them. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a message that made us feel less like a human being and more like a replaceable part in...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 22, 2014 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on And the award for best word goes to . . .
And the award for best word goes to . . ...
January marks the culmination of “word awards season”—when dictionary publishers announce their selections for their words of the year. For 2013, Oxford University Press named selfie; Merriam-Webster named science; and Dictionary.com named privacy. There is another organization that names a word of the year—an organization you may have never heard of. This 125-year-old organization unites word nerds of all types and was naming a word of the year before it was cool—the American Dialect Society. For 2013, the society chose because as its word of the year. Not the...
Don’t skimp on content
As an avid reader of PR Daily and a believer in the value of content marketing, I am always on the lookout for sites that do a great job with their content. These sites give visitors the information they are looking for as quickly and easily as possible. Then there are the sites that don’t do it so well. I recently visited a physician’s website, and on the page titled “Insurance” was the following text: “We accept most insurance health plans. There are too many to list. Contact us at [phone number] for assistance.” No, no, no. A thousand times no! There are...
There’s a word for that?
The English language never ceases to amaze me. Considering that there are an estimated 250,000 distinct English words—and that the average, college-educated American has a vocabulary of 60,000 words—there are tens of thousands of “undiscovered” words. Let’s explore this untapped lexicon by looking at a few words that will make you say, “There’s a word for that?” (Definitions from Wordnik.com and Oxford Dictionaries Online.) Coronis—the curved line or flourish at the end of a book or chapter. Deipnosophist—a person skilled at conversation during...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 18, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 19 math terms for PR professionals
19 math terms for PR professionals
People, with good reason, hate stereotypes about their professions. A recent post on PR Daily described some of the most annoying generalizations about PR professionals. One that was left off the list: PR pros (and writers and editors) are bad at math. I wouldn’t say we’re bad at math; maybe it’s that we don’t like math. After all, we went to school to learn how to write and edit, not solve differential equations. The one math course I took for my undergraduate degree in journalism was called “Math: Its Spirit and Use.” So I get it: Math is not for everyone. It...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 10, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Heading off hyphenation headaches
Heading off hyphenation headaches
Hyphenation rules can be exceedingly complicated, complex, and crazy making. (For example, does “crazy making” need a hyphen?) I recently spent 30 minutes explaining to a colleague why “follow up” is hyphenated in some instances, but not others. In general, we use hyphens to avoid ambiguity. Otherwise, how would we be able to tell the difference between a “man-eating shark” and a “man eating shark”? A definitive collection of hyphenation rules does not exist; rather, different style manuals prescribe different usage guidelines. In the style guide that I use...
21 examples of portmanteaus
As a word nerd, I am fascinated with how language changes over time. In particular, I like to learn about portmanteau words, or words that are formed by combining two words and their definitions into a new word. Common examples include smog (from smoke and fog) and motel (from motor and hotel). “Portmanteau words are the sound bites of modern English, calculated to catch on the first time people hear them,” says linguist Geoffrey Nunberg, author of The Way We Talk Now. Below are a few portmanteau words you may be familiar with, along with some more obscure...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 26, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on One space or two between sentences?
One space or two between sentences?
Other than the use of the serial comma, perhaps no other style guideline causes more contention among writers and editors as that of how many spaces to use after a period. Several weeks ago, I wrote about 10 writing pet peeves. Among them was content written with two spaces after a period. I always use the find-and-replace feature to change two spaces to one in documents that I edit. My insistence on one space after a period (or question mark or the dreaded exclamation point) touched off a barrage of comments from PR Daily readers. Many insisted that one space after a...
8 great books for writers
It’s never too early to think about that perfect holiday gift for the writer in your life. How about books that will make the arduous tasks of writing and editing a little more fun? Here are eight titles to enjoy: 1. “Wretched Writing: A Compendium of Crimes Against the English Language” A “celebration of the worst writing imaginable.” Reading this book is like driving past a car wreck—you want to look away, but you can’t. 2. “I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar” Any editor would judge you unfit for duty if you made mistakes like...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 13, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Examining ‘smart’ habits for better writing
Examining ‘smart’ habits for better writ...
I recently attended a presentation called Maximizing Mental Agility by Dr. Art Markman, a cognitive scientist and author of the book “Smart Thinking.” Markman describes “smart thinking” as the content of what you know and how you use it. This differs from intelligence, which is typically measured by testing abstract reasoning skills, “independent of your specific knowledge.” Markman explains that by developing “smart habits,” you can improve your work performance, decision making, and creativity. An example of a “smart habit” is to avoid multitasking....
Posted by laurajane on Nov 6, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Fortunes for professional writers
Fortunes for professional writers
I’ve always thought it would be fun to write the fortunes in fortune cookies. Over the years, I’ve seen some funny ones: “You will be hungry in exactly one hour,” and, “Pass the bill to the person on your left.” I’ve seen preachy ones: “Never miss a chance to keep your mouth shut.” And I’ve seen fortunes that aren’t fortunes at all: “You are able to juggle many tasks.” So for this week’s post, I’ve written fortunes for writers, editors, and PR professionals—a pleasant surprise is in store for you. Hyphens will soon be made clear to...
Your writing pet peeves
Last week, I shared some of my writing pet peeves, among them: periods in a phone number, misuse of apostrophes, and lazy corporate verbs. I also asked PR Daily readers to share some of theirs. Turns out, you all have a lot of issues. Here is just a sampling (Editor’s note: Posts are unedited): • “One of my biggest writing pet peeves is hyphens used after prefixes when the punctuation is not needed, such as nonproper. Some other examples: nonmarketable, noninvasive, nondairy, noncommercial, nonmilitary.” • “My #1 pet peeve is hearing ‘John and I’s...
10 writing pet peeves
They’re like nails on a chalkboard, the sound traveling up and down your spine. They burn, they hurt, they annoy. I’m talking about writing pet peeves—those grammar mistakes, usage gaffes, spelling errors, and style slips that you immediately change, no matter whose work you’re editing. We all have writing pet peeves, though what annoys us varies. Here are a few of mine: • The use of over with a quantity—over $65 million or over 10 percent. I change over to more than—more than $65 million or more than 10 percent. • I hate periods in a phone number—512....
Posted by laurajane on Oct 15, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 41 redundancies you should ditch
41 redundancies you should ditch
As corporate communicators and PR professionals, we’ve all experienced writer’s block. But how about editor’s block? I‘ve always believed that editing someone else’s work is easier than writing your own. Lately, though, I’ve been asked to “work my magic” on so many bad writing projects—blog posts, emails, articles—that I am not so sure anymore. Sometimes I just stare at the screen wondering, “What can I possibly do with this?” Because I am not paid to stare at the screen, I have to start somewhere. A good place to start is to cut the clutter and...
Avoid mangling your metaphors
I’ve previously written about figures of speech and rhetorical devices. When used correctly, these phrases help us paint word pictures, adding depth to our messages. When used incorrectly, the results can be confusing and unintentionally humorous. “I conclude that the city’s proposal to skim the frosting, pocket the cake, and avoid paying the fair, reasonable, and affordable value of the meal is a hound that will not hunt.” (a quote from a Boston Globe article, May 8, 2010) Here’s a closer look at two figures of speech that end up mangled quite frequently...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 2, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 tricks of the Web writing and marketing trade
10 tricks of the Web writing and marketi...
Traditionally, marketing sells by sending information to people. Marketers produce brochures, send direct mail or email, or place advertising. This is known as “push.” The marketer starts the conversation. On the Web, most contacts are “pull.” People come to your site to find information; the visitor starts the conversation. And you must converse—you must satisfy their information need before you can market to them. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you craft your marketing content. Marketers often think in terms of how to draw people in. On the Web, the...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 24, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on You’ve never heard of the interrobang?!
You’ve never heard of the interrob...
It’s the Wild West out there—in the world of style and usage, that is: nouns becoming verbs; literally now meaning not literally; and now, made-up punctuation marks. I am referring to the interrobang, which I had never heard of until a friend recently told me about it. A “new social media icon” according to The Guardian, the interrobang is a non-standard punctuation mark—?! or !?—used at the end of a sentence that asks a question in an excited manner, expresses excitement or disbelief in the form of a question, or asks a rhetorical question. For...
14 words about words
As a word groupie, I love to collect new words. Lately I’ve been interested in learning about rhetorical devices and the words used to describe them. Here are 14 examples that will make you say, “There’s a word for that?” 1. Ambigram—a word that can be turned upside down and still be read as the same word. Example: MOW or NOON 2. Antimetabole—a word or a phrase that is repeated in the opposite order in the next clause or phrase. Example: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” 3. Collocation—a familiar grouping of words, especially words...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 10, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 21 questions you might encounter at work
21 questions you might encounter at work
As a regular contributor to PR Daily, my posts mostly cover writing, editing, grammar, style, and usage. However, I sometimes get a random tangent that pops into my head, one that doesn’t necessarily encompass strictly writers and editors. Inspired by a recent XKCD comic—a “webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language”—here are 21 questions I asked myself one day at work: 1. Why do people send emails with 10 MB attachments? 2. What does “econometrics” mean? 3. Who keeps adjusting the thermostat? 4. Does “fail safe” have a hyphen? 5. Why is the answer...
We’ve been verbed
I received an email in which the sender used “PowerPoint” as a verb. “Send me a detailed outline and I’ll PowerPoint it for you.” Oh, the humanity. Verbing, verbification, or denominalization is the process of turning nouns into verbs. It’s a perfectly natural process. As linguist Steven Pinker says, “Easy conversion of nouns to verbs has been part of English grammar for centuries; it is one of the processes that make English English.” Today, we all Google, text, friend, blog, and bookmark. Verbing is how language evolves, but sometimes the results are...
7 troublesome verb pairs
“About half the grammatical errors made in writing are mistakes in the use of verbs.” — Grammar for Journalists In last week’s post, I wrote about the basics of verbs. These words power our sentences, but they can cause trouble even for the most experienced writers and editors. Test yourself on the use of verbs in the following sentence: Sarah (swam or swum) out, (dove or dived) to the bottom and (drug or dragged) the drowned child from the lake. Not sure of the answers? You’re not alone. Troublesome verb pairs trip can trip up anyone. Below is the sentence...
A crash course in verbs
Anyone remember the six primary verb tenses? How about the difference between infinitives and gerunds? Can you name the two forms of verbs? Verbs power our sentences. They show action or state of being or indicate the time of that action or state. As professional writers and editors, we sometimes focus so much on choosing the right verbs that we forget the very basics of these powerful and sometimes troublesome parts of speech. Here’s a brief refresher: Regular and irregular verbs Verbs are classified according to form as regular or irregular. A regular verb...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 13, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Terms to make meetings less mind numbing
Terms to make meetings less mind numbing
PR Daily readers spend an inordinate amount of time in meetings—and we all have similar complaints about those meetings. As I wrote in a recent post, people in groups struggle to solve the same kinds of problems they are fully capable of solving on their own. In short, meetings make us stupid. Though we might not be able to avoid meetings, there is a way to make those we attend less mind-numbing. In 2011, I wrote about a game called Word Quest. It’s a creative, brain-building exercise to be played at meetings. All you’ll need is an accomplice. For Word Quest, you and...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 6, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 ways meetings are dumbing us down
10 ways meetings are dumbing us down
Meetings make us stupid. You’ve long suspected that, but research from Virginia Tech offers affirmation. According to the 2012 study, people in groups struggle to solve the same kinds of problems they are fully capable of solving on their own. The researchers investigated how information about social status and perceptions of social status affected the ability to solve problems. Comparing yourself negatively against others—as might occur in a brainstorming meeting in which everyone shares his or her ideas—alters the way your brain processes information, and it...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 30, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 27 modifiers that have been drained of meaning
27 modifiers that have been drained of m...
My 6-year-old loves to use the word epic. “Did you see me jump off the diving board? That was epic.” Or “That game of Uno was epic.” The misuse of epic has long been a pet peeve. As a noun, an epic is an extended narrative poem celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. It can also be a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time. As an adjective, epic means heroic or grand in scale or characteristic of an epic. It can also mean impressive or remarkable. This usage gives me the most...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 25, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Meet the people behind everyday words
Meet the people behind everyday words
We’ve all heard of the Earl of Sandwich and Louise Braille. The words coined for their inventions are examples of eponyms—words derived from a person’s name. We can all think of some famous eponyms, but many words we use every day are eponyms and we don’t even know it. Here are some of those more obscure eponyms. (Definitions are from Wordnik.com.) Boycott—to abstain from buying or using; refusing to patronize or attend. Named after Charles Boycott (1832–1897), an English land agent in Ireland. Nonviolent coercive tactics were successfully used against him in...
How to say “I don’t knowR...
How many of you have had a boss who expects you to know and remember everything? He calls demanding an immediate answer, yet he himself can’t remember that he asked you the same question two days ago. Saying “I don’t know” to such a boss is unwise. Doing so can make you seem unprofessional or uninterested in the question. You don’t want to end up looking like Jeff Spicoli from the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” (For those who haven’t seen it, here is the famous “I don’t know” clip from the movie.) Even more unwise is to give a wrong answer just...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 10, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Which style guide rules do you break and why?
Which style guide rules do you break and...
PR Daily readers love their style guides. As writers and editors, we rely on style guides to set and enforce standards for our company (or client) content or publications: Is health care one word or two? Do we use serial commas? Do we abbreviate the names of states? Though the styles guides we use (the Associated Press Stylebook, the Chicago Manual of Style, or even an in-house style guide) might have conflicting guidelines, without these guides, our content would be a hot mess. As much as we love our style guides, there are times when we are forced to put them aside due...
13 writing tips for the web
In a previous post, I wrote about my favorite book on Web writing, “Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works” by Janice Redish. Filled with practical advice and case studies, the book is one of the best I’ve read about Web writing. This week I found another outstanding resource on writing for the Web. It’s a new report from website usability expert Jakob Nielsen, “Website Reading: It (Sometimes) Does Happen.” Using eye-tracking studies of hundreds of users interacting with websites, the report describes exactly how users read Web content. Just...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 27, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Did you mean to resign or re-sign? Words that need hyphens
Did you mean to resign or re-sign? Words...
by Laura Hale Brockway Much has been written on PR Daily and Ragan.com about the hyphen, which I call the most tiresome punctuation mark of all time. As the “AMA Manual of Style” says, “The hyphen is a connector; it may join what is similar and also what is disjunctive . . . it divides as well as marries.” There are rules for when to use a hyphen and when not to use a hyphen, and different style manuals have different usage guidelines. Then there are the exceptions to the guidelines. And finally, when it comes to hyphens, all style guides include the catch-all...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 18, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 fun and inspiring quotes about writing
10 fun and inspiring quotes about writin...
For those who could use a little extra inspiration this week, here are 10 fun and inspiring quotations about writing: 1. “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”—Douglas Adams 2. “And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”—Sylvia Plath 3. “After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”—Philip Pullman 4. “Tomorrow may be hell, but today was...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 13, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Hey communicators, let’s play “would you rather . . .”
Hey communicators, let’s play R...
Last week my kids were playing “would you rather” in the back seat of the car. For those who’ve never played, it’s a party game that poses a question beginning with, “Would you rather…” It can be a choice between two good options or a true dilemma—one involving two equally unattractive options. Answering “neither” or “both” is against the rules. With my kids, their questions mostly involved superpowers (Would you rather be able to fly or breathe under water?); eating things (Would you rather eat a rotten egg or stinky cheese?); and school activities...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 4, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 5 ways to humanize your writing
5 ways to humanize your writing
As a medical writer, it is sometimes difficult to apply the style guidelines and rules of medical writing to a general audience of writers. But recently, I was combing through the “American Medical Association Manual of Style” and I found a guideline that can apply to corporate communicators, marketers, and PR folks: “Avoid language that is confusing, depersonalizing, informal, or vague. Words and phrases that can be understood in conversation may not always translate to formal written English. Avoid language that trivializes or de-humanizes patients or...
Posted by laurajane on May 29, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 great lines from “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
8 great lines from “Raiders of the...
Memorial Day can mean an array of things to different people. For some, the roughly 150-year-old celebration honors both those who have or currently are fighting for our nation’s freedoms. To others, this past weekend simply meant an extra day or so off from work to grill out with family and friends. For filmmakers and movie studios in Hollywood, however, the holiday marks the unofficial start of summer, as well as the official start of the summer blockbuster season. And this summer, theatergoers have just as much to look forward to. With this year’s Memorial Day...
Posted by laurajane on May 20, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 14 elements of a personality profile
14 elements of a personality profile
I am very fortunate to have access to writing resources such as PR Daily and Ragan workshops and conferences. But this year, I’ve also learned about writing and editing from an unlikely source—my son’s fourth-grade teacher. Helping him with his assignments and reading his handouts has taught me about the eight parts of speech, traits of good writing, and how to defeat writer’s block. This week, his assignment is to write a three-paragraph biography about a family member. The handout lists the elements he should include. Though this list is very basic, I find it...
Posted by laurajane on May 7, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on “Lazy” words you should use in your writing
“Lazy” words you should use ...
There are some “writing rules” that stick around like an unwanted party guest. No matter how many times you hint that the party is over, he stays for one more beer. And no matter how many times we insist that these “writing rules” aren’t really rules, they’re still being taught. Examples of these rules include never ending a sentence with a preposition and never spliting an infinitive. Well let’s add another to the list . . . Last week, my fourth-grader very adamantly told me that I could not start a sentence with and. He was reading over my shoulder and told...
Adjectives from A to Z
“Which word provides a better description of a puppy: ‘brown’ or ‘cute’?” — writing guru Ann Wylie In last week’s post I wrote about “dangerously ambiguous” adjectives and how the use of indirect and unclear descriptors can cause readers to ignore or misinterpret your message. The lesson here is to practice precision when you select your descriptors. What follows is a list of some precise, meaningful adjectives. Consider using these for your next writing assignment. • abrasive • abrupt • abundant • adamant • auburn • bawdy • bewildered •...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 25, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on “Dangerously ambiguous” adjectives could cost you money
“Dangerously ambiguous” adje...
I pick up writing advice in the oddest places. Most recently, I learned a valuable lesson about the power and fragility of adjectives while reading “Freakonomics.” In a chapter on real estate agents, the authors, Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, explain how commission structures create different incentives for agents and their clients. Your interest and your real estate agent’s interest are not always aligned. “When she sells her own house, an agent holds out for the best offer,” they write. “When she sells yours, she encourages you to take the first decent...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 16, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Quiz: Can you define these 13 words?
Quiz: Can you define these 13 words?
Last week, spelling bee officials announced that for the first time, multiple-choice vocabulary tests will be added to the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. That means contenders in the 2013 bee will now need to define these obscure words in addition to spelling them. A speller’s qualification for the semifinals and finals will be based on onstage spelling, computer-based spelling questions, and computer-based vocabulary questions. The vocabulary evaluation will count for 50 percent of the speller’s score. Spelling bee Executive Director Paige Kimble told the...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 11, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 6 traits of great writing — according to a fourth grade teacher
6 traits of great writing — according to...
I’ve written several posts about my 10-year-old son and his developing writing skills. And though he may not share my alacrity for writing, his school curriculum is full of great writing advice. Recently, he came home with a handout called “Six traits of great writing.” The advice outlined in the handout is basic, but it remains important for writers of all stripes. Here are the traits along with a few takeaways. Ideas and content • Observe first; tell next. • Develop supporting details before you start writing. • Use a balance of showing and...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 2, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 tricky cases of one word or two confusion
10 tricky cases of one word or two confu...
English is full of words and phrases that are identical except for a letter and/or a space. Examples include altogether/all together, over time/overtime, and over all/overall. As professional writers and editors, our “writer’s instinct” will often tell us which form to use in a sentence. In some cases, the differences are subtle. I’ve caught myself questioning a few one-word phrases recently. A recent article in the Columbia Journalism Review offered the following guidelines: • The one-word form is usually an adjective or adverb; • The two-word form is usually...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 27, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Commonly misunderstood words that trip up writers
Commonly misunderstood words that trip u...
Do you remember being a teenager and feeling like no one understood you? Well, this column is about words with definitions that are continually misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misconstrued. They are the middle schoolers of our lexicon. Arbitration, mediation Arbitration means a third party listens to evidence from all parties and hands down a decision. Example: “The contract called for arbitration by a federal judge.” Mediation means a third party listens to the evidence from all parties and brings them to an agreement. Example: “The plaintiff agreed to...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 21, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 52 transitional phrases to keep your writing connected
52 transitional phrases to keep your wri...
Years ago, I attended a medical writing workshop where I received an incredibly useful handout for writers: a list of 50 transitional words. I kept this list on my desk and referred to it every day without fail. Transitions can make or break your writing. Good transition words connect sentences and paragraphs and turn disconnected writing into a unified whole. Transition words help the reader (and writer) move from idea to idea. Transitions can also be tricky. Sometimes you need to use words other than “but,” “however,” and “in addition.” That’s why my list...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 12, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 capitalization rules every writer should know
10 capitalization rules every writer sho...
If you were standing outside my office door, you would hear a loud banging noise. That’s my head banging on my desk out of sheer frustration. The reason? Capitalization. I have documents to edit that are filled with words that shouldn’t be capitalized—such as “federal,” “state,” “statutes,” “deadlines,” “laws”—but are uppercase. I have documents to edit that are filled with words that should be capitalized—such as “West Texas” and “Supreme Court”—but are not. So to keep the head banging to a minimum, let’s go through the rules...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 4, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 11 apparel items for language lovers
11 apparel items for language lovers
Today is National Grammar Day. To celebrate, we’ve compiled some apparel that’s perfect for grammar and language lovers, including more than enough shirts for a week and totes to accessorize them. For those who take grammar very seriously: Available at: Shirt.Woot Can’t forget about “Eats, Shoots and Leaves.” Available at: Shirt.Woot There’s a cure for writer’s block? Available at: Shirt.Woot Raise your hand if you do this: Available at: CafePress This is actually true. Available at: Zazzle My kids gave me this one for Christmas: Available at:...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 27, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Many famed writers were no fans of the exclamation point
Many famed writers were no fans of the e...
Last week, I wrote about the rampant overuse of the exclamation point and looked to style guides for guidance. The consensus was to use these punctuations marks sparingly. This week I wanted to share some quotes from authors and grammar wonks who have some strong words to say about the beleaguered exclamation point. Laughing at your own jokes “Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald Mark Twain also said the use of exclamation points was like laughing at your own humor, “all of...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 20, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Stop the madness! Rules for using the exclamation point
Stop the madness! Rules for using the ex...
A recent study reported on PR Daily found that “43 percent of online daters consider bad grammar a ‘major’ turnoff.” So I think it’s safe to say that bad grammar can affect relationships. And so can punctuation. Does anyone remember the “Seinfeld” episode in which Elaine breaks up with her boyfriend over his failure to use an exclamation point? In case you missed it, Elaine’s boyfriend had written down some phone messages, one of which said that her friend had baby. Elaine found it “curious” that he didn’t think someone having a baby warranted an...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 13, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 creative alarm clocks to rouse you earlier
8 creative alarm clocks to rouse you ear...
A recent post on PR Daily offered some great insight into everything you can gain by waking up earlier. You automatically give yourself more time for just about anything — breakfast, reading, exercising, an easier commute. I used to be an early riser—rise at 4 a.m., get to work by 5 a.m. — and experienced all of these benefits. But today I could no more get up that early than I could stop using the serial comma. Getting out of bed to go to work is excruciating. I’ve tried going to bed earlier. I’ve tried not reading before I go to sleep. I’ve tried drinking...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 5, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 27 expendable phrases to slash from your copy
27 expendable phrases to slash from your...
Wordiness is everywhere—in emails, ad copy, press releases, and websites. Even as more people skim and scan than actually read our content, we have clients and bosses who think the more words the better. But readers are busy. Unnecessary words slow them down. Every word should matter. Some words and phrases do no work; they’re slackers. Deleting them doesn’t hurt your meaning; it often improves the readability of your content. Consider this sentence: I am bewildered by your inconsistent use of the serial comma. Tacking on any of the expendable phrases below would...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 31, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on “Grimm” lessons for corporate writers and editors
“Grimm” lessons for corporat...
Recently, my favorite author Philip Pullman published a new version of “Grimm’s Fairy Tales.” Pullman is best known for his fantasy trilogy “His Dark Materials,” but his work includes other genres, such as historic fiction and parodies. I read his work voraciously and always take away something inspiring when I read interviews with him. In his recent book, “Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm,” I was struck by his description of how fairy tales are different from modern fiction and how these differences make the stories work. Pullman writes: “There is no...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 23, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Parentheses don’t belong in your copy — or do they?
Parentheses don’t belong in your c...
Recently, I tried to explain to my 9-year-old son about the use of parentheses. Here’s how the conversation went: He: Mom, how do you know when you’re supposed to use parentheses? I: You use them around words that seem a bit out of place in the sentence. If you’re trying to explain something or make something more clear, or provide extra information, you put that in parentheses. He: Then the reader doesn’t really need to read what’s in parentheses? I: Not all the time. He: Then why put that information in there at all? Now, my son is not at all fond of writing....
10 more made up words
Today is Thesaurus Day. On this day, we celebrate, note, mark, observe, and commemorate the birth in 1779 of Peter Roget, author of Roget’s Thesaurus; we also honor words. To mark the occasion, we’re sharing 10 words you won’t find in Roget’s, because they’re made up. Last week, I shared some of my favorite made-up words, among them: beertastrophe, slacktivist, and voluntold. I also asked PR Daily readers to offer some favorite coinages. Here’s what you came up with. Use them wisely; these words are too marvelicious to waste. 1....
12 fantabulous made-up words
I write and edit for a living, so I often think of words as my currency. I love to share them, trade them, and stash them away for later use. Though I don’t often get to invent words as part of my job, I love to read about words that others have created. Below is a list of my favorite fictional words. You probably won’t find these in the Oxford English Dictionary any time soon, but let’s have some fun with them. Try using one in conversation with your co-workers or in your next staff meeting. 1. Beardspiration — a person whose beard is so inspiring, it causes...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 4, 2013 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on New year’s resolutions for writers
New year’s resolutions for writers
It’s that time of year—time to look at our 2013 resolutions and to begin the performance review process at work. Though I’ve put off writing my self-assessment for weeks, I’ve had fun with my New Year’s resolutions. This year, all my resolutions are related to writing. Here are my goals for 2013: 1. Never use the word “utilize” There is no good reason to use “utilize” because “use” will do just fine. It’s a lazy, useless corporate verb, and it has to go. Therefore, I will not use “utilize” in any press release, article, Web page, or...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 19, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 19 businesses with creative names
19 businesses with creative names
This year, I spent a lot of time editing corporate drivel. I’ve changed “utilize” to “use” more times than I can count. To take a break from this mind-numbing task, I like to play with words. Lately, I’ve noticed puns and creative word play, particularly when they are applied to the names of businesses. Here are some of my favorites, in alphabetical order: 1. Austin Found – resale shop 2. Barton Strings – a string quartet, a play on words for Barton Springs, a spring-fed pool in Austin. 3. Cycloanalysts – bicycle shop 4. Doody Calls – pet waste removal...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 11, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thoughts on editing, inspired by “A Christmas Story”
Thoughts on editing, inspired by “...
One of my favorite Christmas movies is “A Christmas Story.” Although we don’t like it enough to sit through TBS’s annual 24-hour marathon of the film, one of our traditions is to watch it once at this time of year. In case you haven’t seen it, the movie is about 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and a central plot line is his quest to get a Red Ryder BB Gun. Whenever he asks for the gun for Christmas, he invariably is told, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” In one sequence in the movie, Ralphie’s fourth-grade class is told to write “a theme” on the subject,...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 5, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 5 great books for the writers in your life
5 great books for the writers in your li...
In addition to any of the items on PR Daily’s 20 holiday gifts for writers, what else would the writer in your life really enjoy this holiday season? How about books that can help make his or her job easier? Here are five titles that any writer will enjoy: 1. “Lifetime Encyclopedia of Letters,” by Harold E. Meyer This book contains sample letters for “virtually every business and personal letter you’ll ever have to write.” And the author means every letter. Meyer has letters for telling someone a meeting is unnecessary, firing a babysitter, answering...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 28, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 7 key elements of micro-editing
7 key elements of micro-editing
I’ve previously shared my 4-step editing process; today let’s examine one of those steps: micro-editing, which focuses on the sentence level. Typically, it deals with the “technical” aspects of the article, such as sentence structure, style, usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. For now we’ll set aside spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and look at seven other aspects of micro-editing: 1. Strive for clarity. Does the reader understand what you are trying to say? No matter whom you write for, your audience will appreciate clear, concise language. Keep the...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 23, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The most indispensible jobs (in children’s books)
The most indispensible jobs (in children...
The busyness trap has engulfed the workplace. CEOs pressure their executives to put in more time. In turn, executives pressure managers who then pressure their employees, with smartphones keeping us tethered to the office 24-7. Meanwhile, big-box retailers are opening their doors on Thanksgiving because shoppers can’t possibly wait until midnight on Friday to start shopping. Tim Kreider described this busyness trap in a recent column for The New York Times—a column that also inspired a PR Daily contribution from Melissa Johnson—in which Kreider describes “busy”...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 16, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 19 terrible email subject lines
19 terrible email subject lines
With the holiday shopping season closing in, our spam folders will soon be overflowing with special offers and one-of-a-kind deals. About once a week, I open my spam folder and scan the subject lines to see what not to write in an email subject line. The best email subject lines should be concise and straightforward and give the reader an idea of what the email is actually about. Here are some examples of the worse email subject lines I’ve seen. These are from real emails: • Register to Win Your FREE iPod!! This one is so generic, I skip right over—don’t even see...
7 traits of great writers
I’ve been thinking about what makes a writer great. The obvious answer is that he or she produces clear, concise, and creative content using the best-chosen, grammatically correct language. (No small task!) Of course, the much bigger question centers on how this is done. Here are seven traits of great writers. 1. You are an avid reader. Great writers are voracious readers. Like musicians who listen to music to analyze it, writers analyze what they read. They pay attention to structure, technique, and word choice, and incorporate these techniques into their own...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 31, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 inspiring quotes from sci-fi hero Jean-Luc Picard
10 inspiring quotes from sci-fi hero Jea...
Inspiration comes from the strangest places. Last weekend, for example, I took my inaugural trip to a science fiction/comic book convention. For the first time in years, I was immersed in the science fiction that I used to love in college—“Star Wars” and “Star Trek,” to name a few. Here’s a look at the best lines uttered by one of the greatest sci-fi characters of all time: Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) from “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” How do these tie in to corporate communications? Perhaps I’ll use one or two of these in my next staff...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 24, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 rules for using the apostrophe
10 rules for using the apostrophe
Last week, I tackled a controversial topic — the comma. There are definite rules for its use, but many writers use commas subjectively, leading to disagreement (and acrimony) whenever writers or editors discuss this modest punctuation mark. This week, I’m tackling another punctuation mark—the apostrophe. The rules for the apostrophe are much more definite, but they are frequently misapplied. So misunderstanding often ensues when it comes to the apostrophe. Here are some rules for its use. 1. An apostrophe is used to show the possessive case of proper nouns. •...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 19, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 7 quick and easy (and controversial) rules for commas
7 quick and easy (and controversial) rul...
There is probably no more controversial punctuation mark than the comma. Have three editors tackle a paragraph that is devoid of commas, and you will probably end up with three pieces of text in which commas are used very differently. “The American Medical Association Manual of Style” sums up the issue quite nicely: “There are definite rules for using commas; however, usage is often subjective. Some writers and editors use the comma frequently to indicate what they see as a natural pause in the flow of words, but commas can be overused. The trend is to use them...
12 quotes about reading
by Laura Hale Brockway Good writers are voracious readers. Like musicians who listen to music to analyze it, writers read to analyze. We also read to find inspiration. Whether we read classics, modern fiction, comic books, recipe books, tweets or New Yorker articles, we can always take away something to incorporate into our writing. One of the secrets to good writing is simply reading. Below are some inspirational quotes about books and reading, including a few by other writers. 1. “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only...
Posted by laurajane on Oct 2, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on WD-40 for writers: how to get unstuck
WD-40 for writers: how to get unstuck
At my son’s school, fourth grade is the start of a serious focus on writing—“organization, voice, ideas, conventions (spelling and grammar), word choice, and sentence fluency.” Wow. His first assignment, creating a character and writing a chapter about him or her, proved daunting, despite the “help” of this professional writer. He told me he had “too much going on in his head” and didn’t know where to start. My advice to “just put something down on paper” only made it worse. He had it. Writer’s block. So I took a step back, put all my writing and...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 23, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 25 (more) words that are fun to say
25 (more) words that are fun to say
With two children in school, we’ve been talking a lot of phonetics at my house. This has inspired me—once again—to put together a list of words that are fun to say. Have some fun pronouncing these on your own. Then click on the word for an audible pronunciation. (Definitions and pronunciations are from Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com.) Archaeopteryx—a reptile-like bird from the late Jurassic period. Arugula—a Mediterranean plant from the mustard family. Befuddle—to confuse; to make drunk. Dirigible—an airship. Effervescent—bubbling; vivacious;...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 19, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 intriguing rhetorical devices — and how to use them
10 intriguing rhetorical devices — and h...
by Laura Hale Brockway It’s an election year and we’re all being regaled with political messages: TV and radio ads, Twitter posts, blogs, debates, and so on. Although I’m not particularly interested in politics, I am intrigued by the ways candidates use rhetorical devices in their messages. As writers and communicators, we’re all familiar with the more common devices, such as hyperbole, allusion, and analogy. Some others are more obscure. Next time you hear a political message, see whether you detect any of these rhetorical devices. 1. Allusion—an indirect or...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 12, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The 8 parts of speech — do you know them?
The 8 parts of speech — do you know them...
by Laura Hale Brockway, ELS There’s no easy way to admit this. Last week my fourth-grader asked me to name the eight parts of speech, and I could come up with only five. I remembered nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs, but I drew a complete blank on the other three: prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Of course, I know all of these parts of speech and can identify each one when I see them, but naming all eight parts had me stumped. As professional writers and editors, we sometimes focus so much on diction, sentence structure, and clear...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 29, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 11 puzzling phrases and their meanings
11 puzzling phrases and their meanings
by Laura Hale Brockway, ELS As an unabashed word nerd, I am fascinated with how language changes over time. In particular, I like to learn about expressions and phrases that were once commonly known, but that puzzle us today. Fifty years from now, will people know what “bad hair day,” “big brother,” and “Elvis has left the building” mean? Here are some phrases that were once in common use, along with their definitions. 1. Bee’s knees — means the height of perfection. (Also, “the cat’s pajamas,” “the cat’s meow.”) The...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 22, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How to punctuate list stories
How to punctuate list stories
by Laura Hale Brockway, ELS We see bulleted lists everywhere — and for good reason. In the age of distraction, in which people crave more information but read less, bulleted lists help readers skim and scan. But how do you punctuate and capitalize them? Here are some general guidelines taken from the Chicago Manual of Style and the American Medical Association Manual of Style. 1. When full sentences are used in a list, the first word should be capitalized and appropriate end punctuation should be used. For example: The various arguments for and against the use of the...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 15, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 34 redundant, repetitive, and superfluous phrases
34 redundant, repetitive, and superfluou...
by Laura Hale Brockway, ELS As writers, editors, and PR professionals, we are keenly aware that we must fight for readers’ attention. My daily sanity check is to ask, “Is someone actually going to read this?” To help readers, I use concise language and eliminate redundancies. As Strunk and White say, “Make every word tell.” Below are phrases in which every word does not tell. They are redundant, repetitive, wordy, verbose, and superfluous. Eliminate such phrases to tighten your writing. (Redundant words are italicized.) • added bonus • advance planning •...
Posted by laurajane on Aug 8, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 20 more words you need to stop misspelling
20 more words you need to stop misspelli...
by Laura Hale Brockway Last week, I posted an article about 50 commonly misspelled words (such as inoculate, susceptible, bellwether). At the end of the post, I asked PR Daily readers to share words they have trouble spelling. Turns out, there are nearly two-dozen other words giving you grief: 1. Campaign 2. Carburetor 3. Commission 4. Contributor 5. Counterfeit 6. Definitely 7. Gauge 8. Hors d’oeuvre 9. Iridescent 10. Liaison 11. Losing 12. Millennial 13. Mise en place 14. Necessary 15. Occasion 16. Premiere/premier 17. Restaurateur 18. Separate 19....
Posted by laurajane on Aug 1, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 50 words you need to stop misspelling
50 words you need to stop misspelling
As writers, editors, and avid PR Daily readers, we are all above-average spellers. We’re the people others call for spelling advice; we’re the ones who kick butt at Words with Friends; we’re the ones who remember the spelling rules we learned in elementary school. And yet, sometimes even we get stumped and make spelling mistakes. I’m guilty of misspelling words. Just last week, I had to double-check the spelling of “inoculate.” I could have sworn there were two N’s in that word. As they say, admitting you have a problem is the first step. So yes, there are...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 26, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How to write for your readers — not your executives
How to write for your readers — not your...
Any experienced writer or editor will tell you that the first rule of good writing is to know your audience. For whom are you writing? What motivates them to read your material? How can you make your topic relevant to your readers? This rule applies no matter what you’re writing. Whether it’s a press release, a feature article, or a blog post, begin with your audience in mind. I wish it were that simple. In the world of corporate communications, “writing for your audience” often takes a back seat to political correctness and the whims of executives. Be honest: Is...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 18, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 22 filler terms we abuse every day—and how to avoid them
22 filler terms we abuse every day—and h...
by Laura Hale Brockway Have you ever been in a conversation with a seemingly smart, rational person who says something utterly absurd? It can leave one at a loss for words. “Uh-huh,” might be the only available response, followed by, “Gee, how ’bout those Cubs?” Absurd or baffling statements aside, too often we find ourselves filling silences with pure twaddle. I recently made a list of these awkward filler terms. Though they might appear to keep conversation flowing, they’re nothing more than verbal speed bumps. And when I started paying attention, I...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 11, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 16 reference works you never knew existed
16 reference works you never knew existe...
by Laura Hale Brockway Being a science and medical writer at my day job, I often end up spending more time researching an article than I do writing it. And after 14 years, I’ve come to relish the research phase. When else can I so freely indulge my inner knowledge hound? One of the greatest joys of researching is discovering unusual and obscure reference works. If you look hard enough, you’ll find a wealth of information about even the most obscure topic. Here are some of my favorites: Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia — referred to as “the supreme reference...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 4, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 6 incredibly useful spelling rules from childhood
6 incredibly useful spelling rules from ...
by Laura Hale Brockway, ELS For every rule, there is an exception—especially when it comes to English spelling. PR Daily readers are, of course, adroit spellers. We’ve been writing and editing for so long, spotting spelling errors is a reflex. But examine how certain English words are spelled, and you’ll pick out more inconsistencies than a fact-checker reviewing a Hunter S. Thompson article. In English, we have words that sound the same but are spelled differently (such as “their,” “they’re,” and “there”); words with letters that have nothing to do...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 27, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 useful insights for writing irresistible web copy
8 useful insights for writing irresistib...
by Laura Hale Brockway, ELS When I was in journalism school, our writing classes focused on feature writing and news writing. The Internet was in its infancy, so there was no formal instruction on “writing for the Web.” But to me—and I would guess many other J-school graduates—writing is writing. The audience and the medium are different, but we adapt our style accordingly. In learning to adapt my style for the Web, I discovered Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works, by Janice Redish. This book—filled with practical advice and case studies—is...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 20, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 17 verbs that cut fat from your writing
17 verbs that cut fat from your writing
by Laura Hale Brockway Verbs are the powerhouse of your sentences; choose them wisely. Another issue that I see frequently in the work that I edit is weak verbs coupled with nouns that are strong verbs in disguise. Consider the following sentences: The managing editor made a recommendation to use a new style guide. The managing editor recommended a new style guide. In the first sentence, made is a weak verb used with the noun recommendation. But as the second sentence demonstrates, you can simplify and strengthen the sentence by using recommend as the verb. Here...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 13, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 33 homophones that ensnare writers and speakers
33 homophones that ensnare writers and s...
by Laura Hale Brockway “Galaxy Quest,” in case you haven’t seen it, is a science fiction parody about a group of actors who get caught up in a very real intergalactic battle between forces of good and evil. The movie is filled with pithy one-liners, clever word play, and even a lesson on homophones. A homophone (or homonym) is a word that is pronounced the same as another, but means something entirely different. Take, for instance, one scene from “Galaxy Quest” in which the crew visits a strange planet in search of a beryllium sphere they need to repair their...
Posted by laurajane on Jun 6, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 more words that may not mean what you think they mean
8 more words that may not mean what you ...
Two weeks ago, inspired by “The Princess Bride,” I wrote about words that don’t mean what you think they mean, such as “poisonous” versus “venomous,” and “imply” versus “infer.” The response to this post was phenomenal—more than 450 comments were posted. PR Daily readers shared other examples of words that are commonly misused. Others discussed how language evolves, insisting that the meanings of words change because “majority rules.” Apparently, the word “literally” means the same thing as “figuratively” because everyone uses it that...
Posted by laurajane on May 30, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 14 corporate verbs that you despise
14 corporate verbs that you despise
Two weeks ago, I called for a ban on 24 lazy corporate verbs, among them “utilize,” “implement,” and “synergize.” At the end of the column, I asked PR Daily readers to share the verbs they thought should be banned. We heard you loud and clear. Turns out there are far more than just two dozen weak verbs driving you crazy. PR Daily readers shared roughly a hundred more verbs (and pseudo-verbs) they’d like to jettison. In case you didn’t have time to read all the comments, we went through them and grabbed 14 more words that need to be banned, along with the...
Posted by laurajane on May 22, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 words that may not mean what you think they mean
8 words that may not mean what you think...
In one of the early scenes of the film The Princess Bride, a mysterious man in black is pursuing the kidnapper Vizzini. [Editor’s note: If you haven’t seen this movie, stop reading this article right now—slap yourself across the face—and go watch it.] When Inigo Montoya (one of Vizzini’s hired hands) points out that they are being followed, Vizzini responds that it is “inconceivable.” With the man in black closing in, and Vizzini still insisting that this is “inconceivable,” Inigo says to him: “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you...
Posted by laurajane on May 16, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 24 lazy corporate verbs you need to fire
24 lazy corporate verbs you need to fire
by Laura Hale Brockway A common problem with corporate writing is that it’s full of lazy, meaningless verbs. Utilize, implement, leverage—these words litter our writing and weaken our message. “We are leveraging our core competencies to meet our customers needs.” I stopped reading when I saw the word “leveraging.” The verb is the powerhouse of your sentence. Choose clear, active verbs instead of throwaway ones. I hereby call for a ban on the following verbs from corporate writing, press releases, social media, and websites. Try these alternatives...
Posted by laurajane on May 9, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 43 odd, awesome, unbelievable town names
43 odd, awesome, unbelievable town names
As a lover of words, I have always been curious about how things are named — in particular, the names of cities and towns. In Texas, where I live, we have 2,751 cities and towns, some with the most unusual names you can imagine. Many of these towns are no more than bends in the road, but it’s interesting to think about how these towns were named. What went on at those meetings? 1. Battle 2. Blowout 3. Content 4. Cut and Shoot 5. Dimple 6. Ding Dong (located in Bell County) 7. Dull 8. Earth 9. Elbow 10. Eulogy 11. Fate 12. Foot 13. Frog 14. Frognot 15. Golly 16. Good...
Posted by laurajane on May 2, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Is that different from or different than?
Is that different from or different than...
by Laura Hale Brockway, ELS I’m hoping my readers can help me out on this one. This week, my associate editor and I disagreed about using different from versus different than. Here is the sentence: “Physician surveys have shown that primary care physicians in rural areas have a notably different work experience than primary care physicians in urban settings.” My associate editor insisted that different than is always wrong and different from should be used. I argued that different than makes better sense in the sentence. A quick check of the rules on the usage of...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 25, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 18 more words that are fun to pronounce
18 more words that are fun to pronounce
by Laura Hale Brockway In a previous post, I wrote about words that are fun to pronounce. On the list were polydactyly, contumelious, and mundungus. At the end of the post, I asked PR Daily readers to share their favorite fun-to-say words—though the allure in some cases may lie more in their definition than their enunciation Here are some of the responses. Click on the word to hear its pronunciation. (Definitions and pronunciations are from Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com.) Aficianado — a person who likes, appreciates, and knows about an activity or...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 18, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Edit the editor: how would you correct these sentences?
Edit the editor: how would you correct t...
This week has been a rough one for editing. From pronoun/antecedent mismatches to sentences that are a parsec long, it seems like I’ve corrected every possible writing error. So, I thought I would call on the collective experience of my readers. How would you fix the following sentences? I’m sharing what I did with them; do you agree? What would you have done? 1. But having a discussion on end-of-life issues could well be the most important discussion you, as a physician, ever have with your patient; helping them through this process allows your patient to think about...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 10, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Words that are fun to pronounce
Words that are fun to pronounce
Several years ago, my son was going through a dinosaur phase. He was obsessed with anything and everything about pre-historic life. He wasn’t quite able to read yet, so it fell to me to pronounce words like sinosauropteryx, pachycephalosaurus, and eustreptospondylus when we read his books. Dinosaur names can certainly be a mouthful, but learning to pronounce them gave me a new appreciation for phonetics. Inspired by all this prehistoric nomenclature, I compiled a list of words that are fun to say (dinosaur names not included). Have some fun pronouncing them on your own,...
Posted by laurajane on Apr 3, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 20 phrases you can replace with one word
20 phrases you can replace with one word
Circumlocution is so prevalent in today’s corporate writing that we may not even notice it. In case you’re unfamiliar, circumlocution is the use of many words when one will do. For example, writing “at this point in time” when “now” will work. As PR Daily publisher Mark Ragan often points out at his seminars, readers have “an incredibly shrinking attention span.” As writers and editors, we need to communicate as clearly and concisely as possible. One way we can do this—avoid circumlocution. Here are some examples: Instead of Try ...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 28, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on What those performance review phrases really mean
What those performance review phrases re...
We are all familiar with corporate jargon, acronyms, and legalese and how use of these elements can obscure the true meaning of a message. But rarely is language more purposefully obtuse than in an annual performance review. We’ve all been on the receiving end of a performance review in which we’re not quite sure what’s being said. What follows is a sampling of phrases from performance reviews—along with their possible translations. All phrases were taken from the book “2600 Phrases for Effective Performance Reviews” by Paul Falcone. Note the word...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 21, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Embiggen your vocabulary: 10 coinages from ‘The Simpsons’
Embiggen your vocabulary: 10 coinages fr...
I spend most of my workday correcting other people’s writing. It can be tiresome, so sometimes it’s fun to take a break and play with words. This week, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite terms coined from “The Simpsons.” You won’t find them in the dictionary, but try slipping them into conversation and see what happens. (Special thanks to the Simpsons Wiki for the definitions and examples.) Embiggen and cromulent (two great words, one episode) • Embiggen means to make something better. • Cromulent means valid or acceptable. These two words were used in...
How not to write a sentence
When is a sentence not a sentence? When it’s a fragment (such as this one), a comma splice, or a run-on sentence. This is basic stuff that we all learned in elementary school, but it’s often helpful to revisit the basics. A sentence is a sequence of words that expresses a complete thought. It is an independent clause that contains a subject and a verb. (Note: The subject can be implied, as in an imperative: Stop! The implied subject in this case is you.) Correct: I woke this morning to the sound of light sabers clashing in the living room. We get into trouble when we...
Posted by laurajane on Mar 7, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Want to write better? Rate yourself on these 15 factors
Want to write better? Rate yourself on t...
I’m so jazzed. My son is finally old enough that they’re starting to focus on the mechanics of writing in school. He brought home a worksheet on commas the other day, and I was euphoric. They’re teaching them to use the serial comma! (I know, I know. I’m going on about the serial comma again. Roll your eyes accordingly.) Though my son may not share my enthusiasm for writing, the curriculum his school is using is full of great writing advice. The following is from a checklist called “Traits of Good Writing” in which the kids are asked to rate their writing...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 29, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on In case you weren’t confused enough . . .
In case you weren’t confused enoug...
Given my two previous posts on confusing word pairs, I thought I had this topic fairly well covered. We’ve discussed the difference between comprise and compose and hone and home, just to name a few. Still, I keep running into problematic word pairs; they’re turning up like run-on sentences in a James Joyce novel. Here are seven more pairs to note: Exacerbate and exasperate To exacerbate means to worsen (an already bad situation). Example: Having John write the response will only exacerbate the backlash. Exasperate means to exhaust, usually someone’s patience....
Posted by laurajane on Feb 15, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The ellipses . . . use it properly
The ellipses . . . use it properly
In a world of instant messaging and texting, everyone is trying to say more with less. We abbreviate, we truncate, we punctuate — all to get our message across using the fewest characters. In my own texting, I’ve just begun to notice that I use the ellipses excessively. “While I’m thinking about it . . . can you please check that link.” “Parent-teacher conference . . . 10 a.m. . . . Wednesday.” I’ve even caught myself misusing the ellipses at work. Wait a minute, did I just write “Meeting cancelled. . .Stacey was a no-show. . . Rescheduled for Friday”...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 8, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A four-step method to my madness
A four-step method to my madness
Not all writers are created equal. I’ve spent most of my career editing the work of writers with varying degrees of skill. Some articles that cross my desk need a complete rewrite; others don’t require a single change. Through the years I’ve created a process that helps me edit on different levels. Editing to improve the structure of an article is different from editing for style and usage. Here’s a four-step method to my madness: 1. Read, and read only This may seem obvious, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to read the article before making...
Posted by laurajane on Feb 1, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 5 ways to focus so you can write
5 ways to focus so you can write
I have a confession to make. I’m not actually very productive when it comes to writing — at my day job, that is. For three weeks I’ve been trying to write an article about a business initiative, and I can’t get to it. I open a blank Word document with every intention of starting the article, and then the emails start. Or the phone rings. Or someone stops by. Everyone experiences this. We are all doing more with less time and fewer resources. But in the “age of distraction” how do you find time to focus on the task of researching a topic and writing about...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 25, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Sometimes it take more than adding an “s”
Sometimes it take more than adding an &#...
In the English language, there are exceptions to every rule. Some of the most maddening exceptions occur with spelling rules. For instance, it’s “i before e except after c”—unless it’s the fourth Thursday and there’s a full moon, right? So, let’s look at “weird” plurals. And I say “weird” because pluralization is not always about adding an “s.” With the singular form listed first, here are some words you can’t make plural just by adding an “s”: • syllabus • syllabi • diagnosis • diagnoses • radius • radii • stratum •...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 18, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Colon or semicolon? Follow these simple rules
Colon or semicolon? Follow these simple ...
Two of the most misused and abused punctuation marks in the English language are colons and semicolons. They each have specific functions and cannot be used interchangeably. To help cut through the confusion, remember these simple rules: • Semicolons replace commas in a list whose items themselves contain commas. For example: Liz tried several things to treat her allergies: taking over-the-counter medications such as Chlor Trimeton, Zyrtec, and Claritin; alternating those drugs; wearing mosquito netting over her head; and, finally, swearing never to go outside in the...
Posted by laurajane on Jan 11, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 3 unusual exercises to improve your writing
3 unusual exercises to improve your writ...
It’s January, so naturally we’ve heard a lot about new-year resolutions — not to mention all the advertising for weight-loss programs, gym memberships, and smoking-cessation products. If one of your resolutions is to improve your writing skills, consider these tried and true writing exercises. 1. Turn your writing process upside down. Do you plan, outline, and organize before you start writing? Or do you “just write” and put things down without considering how to organize the content? Whichever you prefer, do the opposite. Try writing without an outline, and see...
There’s a word for that?
Several of my previous posts have been dedicated to the power of words. I’ve written about words that describe words, confusing word pairs, and words that make writers swoon. Let’s dive down even further by looking at examples that will make you say, “There’s a word for that?” Hypergraphia: a compulsion to write, sometimes uncontrollably. She was disappointed that her hypergraphia did not yield anything worthy of being published. Mysophobia: an abnormal fear of dirt. Don’t let a little mysophobia keep you from enjoying the camping trip. Lissotrichous: having...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 21, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 10 more signs that you might be a word nerd
10 more signs that you might be a word n...
In a previous post, I wrote about 15 telltale signs of word-nerdiness. On the list were attributes such as correcting the grammar in children’s stories and quoting from Eats, Shoots & Leaves. At the end of the post, I asked PR Daily readers to share their word nerd giveaways. Here are a few of those responses: • “I love to find typos in books/articles/pamphlets, not because I love that they’re there, but more so because it’s a weird dim-witted victory for me. Strange, I know. Nerd alert for sure!” • “My latest pet peeve? The rampant and...
Posted by laurajane on Dec 14, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 15 unusual words that make writers swoon
15 unusual words that make writers swoon
In a previous post, I wrote about the value of using simple words in place of complex words. Readers are not impressed by the use of complex words; they’re frustrated by them. Though I strive to use simple, clear terms in my own writing, there are some words that I am just dying to use. Archaic, unusual words that I have stumbled upon in fiction. Words that have drawn me in. I like the ways these words sound. I like the way they look. If I could only find a way to work them into my next article on surgical checklists. Vex. To cause someone to feel annoyed,...
15 signs you might be a word nerd
Do you have more than one style guide on your desk? Are you the one person in your company others call when they have a grammar question? That book you read before you go to bed at night—how many typos have you found in it? If you answered yes to the first two questions and more than 10 to the second question, you might be a word nerd. Never fear; no one here will make fun of you. PR Daily readers are a group of like-minded people who—though they have different interests and opinions—share an appreciation for the power and subtlety of words. Still not quite sure if...
7 more confusing word pairs
In a previous post, I discussed the distinctions between word pairs such as comprise and compose and imply and infer. The English language is full of problematic word pairs; here are seven more to note. Oral and verbal “Oral” means by mouth and should be used when referring to spoken language. It is more precise than verbal. • Example: The incident was mentioned in an oral report to her supervisor. “Verbal” means with words, either written or spoken. • Example: Patrick O’Brian is a verbal virtuoso. Complement and compliment “Complement” means to add to...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 9, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Careful, writers! 10 common words with opposite meanings
Careful, writers! 10 common words with o...
The English language is full of words with uncommon properties. There are backronyms, metaplasms, and neologisms. My favorite words of unusual properties are contranyms, or words that are spelled the same, but have two opposite meanings. These words are also known as Janus words, named after the Roman god of gates and doorways and of beginnings and endings. Janus words teach us the importance of context and bring a whole new meaning to the phrase “use it in a sentence.” Here are a few examples: Oversight. It can mean watchful care or an error or mistake. Example:...
Posted by laurajane on Nov 2, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 8 tips to make the writing process easier
8 tips to make the writing process easie...
No one who writes for a living will tell you that they actually enjoy writing. It’s tedious and soul-crushing to stare at a blank computer screen, knowing what you want to write but being unable to call up the proper words. Canadian author Ann-Marie MacDonald describes it aptly: “Writing is a hellish task, best snuck up on, whacked on the head, robbed, and left for dead.” This year, I was asked to lead a workshop on writing for non-writers. Participants were of varying experience levels, so I spent the majority of our time discussing how to make the writing process...
Put that jargon to good use . . .
Looking for a way to make all those meetings less mind numbing? Turn them into a creative, brain-building exercise with a game I call Word Quest. The only thing you need to play is an accomplice. For Word Quest, you and your accomplice pick one clichéd, meaningless business term—such as managing expectations—and see who can be the first to use that term in a meeting. That person earns the most points. Bonus points are given if you get someone else (not your accomplice) to say the term in the meeting. Of course, you can give extra points for style when someone...
17 haikus about writing and editing
As a professional writer, I am always looking for ways to keep my writing fresh. Over the past several months, I’ve experimented with constrained writing. And it’s just what it sounds like—imposing specific conditions on writing, such as disallowing certain types of words or writing to a specific pattern. (In college, for instance, we once had to write a paragraph without any prepositions.) Writing to a pattern means I can’t simply use the first words that I type on the screen. I have to stretch to find words that fit the pattern; they’re writing exercises...
Another reprieve
Taking the week off from blogging while I attend the IABC Southern Region Conference in New Orleans. Looking forward to networking with my fellow communicators.
To capitalize or not to capitalize: 7 ea...
If I don’t know the answer to a spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, or style question, I know where to look it up—or so I thought. The question that stumped me this week came when I was writing a medical case study. In the case, a patient complained of a “charley horse.” My question: Do you capitalize the “c” in “charley horse”? After searching through several stylebooks for rules about capitalization, I was unable to find a clear answer. I asked a colleague, and her response was, “What difference does it make if it’s capitalized or not?” I...
What’s the term for a group of wri...
My friends and co-workers often harass me for what they call my use of “trivial” words. By “trivial,” they mean words that no one else uses except me. I like to remind them that I once received a free lunch because of my “trivial” knowledge of words. I was sitting in a sandwich shop waiting for my order. A white board by the cash register said: “This week’s word puzzler. Tell us the term for a group of kittens and your lunch is on the house.” I recalled my time in library school—before anyone had ever heard of Google—when we were charged with...
Words about words
Like many other word nerds, I love to collect quotes about writing and the power of words. Here are a few of my favorite “power of words” quotes. “When words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain.” — William Shakespeare, Richard II “One great use of words is to hide our thoughts.”— Voltaire “Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne “So difficult it is to show the various meanings and...
I’m talking to you . . . serial co...
PR Daily readers seem preoccupied with the serial comma. Several readers of my posts have commented on my use of the serial comma, quoting different style guides and telling me it’s wrong to put a comma before the “and” or the “or” in a list. Invariably, my response is that I use the serial comma because the style guide I follow says to use it. I know this is a provocative topic. I can’t think of anything that gets writers and editors more fired up than debating the pros and cons of the serial comma. And, as author Lynne Truss says, “Never get between...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 8, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Grammar quiz! Should these verbs be singular or plural?
Grammar quiz! Should these verbs be sing...
Want to take a test that might trip up your high school English teacher? In the following sentences, should the singular or plural verb be used? None of the books she referenced (are) or (is) in the library. Each of the members (has) or (have) one vote. A number of employees (was) or (were) selected for the education committee. A total of 12 products (was) or (were) offered to new customers. The number of spelling errors (was) or (were) distressing. A majority of the board (wants) or (want) the merger. Not sure of the answers? You’re not alone. Noun/verb...
Posted by laurajane on Sep 1, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The secrets inside your dictionary
The secrets inside your dictionary
Over the past several weeks, I’ve been watching the Writing the OED series on YouTube, fantasizing about what it would be like to work for the Oxford English Dictionary. Imagine going to work every day to study and write about the history and meaning of words. (Please, sir, may I come in and work on your dictionary?) Recently, I’ve been studying the different kinds and styles of dictionaries. And though they are ubiquitous in our profession, many writers and editors may not be familiar with all the types and styles of dictionaries. Here’s a summary. Language...
4 ways to improve quotes in press releas...
What will sink your press release faster than an iceberg on a foggy night? Well, besides clichés, superlatives, and meaningless terms such as “cutting-edge,” using poorly worded quotes will have reporters hitting the delete button before they read your third paragraph. Don’t fall victim to this problem. Consider the following tips as you are crafting your press release. Trash those lazy verbs A common problem with press release quotes is that they’re full of lazy corporate verbs such as synergize, utilize, leverage, or facilitate. “We are leveraging...
Resist the urge to ‘dumb down’ your cont...
Writing myths are everywhere. In my 14-plus years as a writer and editor, I have heard everything from “good writers don’t need to be edited” to “you shouldn’t sit down to write until you know exactly what you want to say.” The myth that I find the most misguided: Writers should “dumb down” their content so everyone, everywhere can read it. Pure fiction! The first rule of writing is to write for your audience. Take their current level of knowledge into account, and use language they know and feel comfortable with. Don’t write for sixth-graders if...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 28, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Plagiarism versus paraphrasing: Ensure your copy makes the grade
Plagiarism versus paraphrasing: Ensure y...
Next o’er his books his eyes began to roll, In pleasing memory of all he stole; How here he sipp’d, how there he plunder’d snug All suck’d o’er like an industrious bug. — Alexander Pope Over the past few weeks, several articles have appeared in PR Daily about plagiarism. One involved a medical school dean who had lifted passages from a speech originally given by Dr. Atul Gawande. Another involved the principal at a New York school for writers. If these allegations prove true, it’s unlikely that these individuals can credibly claim they didn’t know they...
Posted by laurajane on Jul 13, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 12 unusual words that describe words
12 unusual words that describe words
Like many other word groupies, I love to collect words. I keep a running list of my favorite ones in the notes application on my smartphone. And though I may never be in a situation to legitimately say or write any of these words, I keep them all the same. Lately, I’ve been interested in words about words. We all know about acronyms and euphemisms, but what about an ananyms and dysphemisms? Below are some of my favorite words about words and examples of their use. Ananym – A type of anagram, formed by reversing letters of another word. For example, an “emirp”...
If you love the OED . . .
Calling all Oxford English Dictionary groupies, Oxford University Press has produced a series of YouTube videos called “Writing the OED.” These videos give you an insider’s look at world’s most definitive dictionary and the people who work there. My favorite is New Words. Please sir, may I come in and work on the dictionary with you?
Why use a complex word when a simpler on...
Years spent editing articles written by attorneys (whose writing is purposefully vague) and physicians (whose writing is full of specialized language) have taught me the value of using simple words in place of complex ones. The use of unfamiliar or complex terms interferes with comprehension and slows readers down. Readers may even skip terms they don’t understand, hoping to find their meaning in the rest of the sentence. Readers are not impressed by the use of complex words; they’re frustrated by them. Take “use” and “utilize.” According to the Oxford...
7 confusing word pairs
The English language is full of confusing word pairs. How many times have you changed accept to except or stationary to stationery when editing another’s work? The word pair that I correct most frequently — comprise and compose. Considering that there are an estimated 250,000 distinct English words, it’s easy to understand the confusion. Those of us who ply our trade with words are in a unique position to understand their shades of meaning. Others who are less experienced may not understand the distinctions. Take note of the following word pairs . . . Adverse and...
A brief reprieve
Taking the week off from blogging while I attend the Ragan Corportate Communicators Conference in Chicago. Looking forward to networking with my fellow editors and writers. Maybe I’ll meet someone else who shares my appreciation for the em dash.
Write it anyway
Writing has never been easy. Good writers make it look easy, but struggle until the last word is printed or posted. For me, I have the most trouble following my own advice and separating the writing and editing process. My “left brain critic” seems to subdue my “right brain muse” with alarming frequency. The result — writing paralysis. Recently, however, I was encouraged by the words of one of my favorite writers — Philip Pullman. “Writer’s block . . . a lot of howling nonsense would be avoided if, in every sentence containing the word WRITER,...
Linchpins of the world, unite!
To my professional detriment, I have not really paid that much attention to “business” books. I never really cared who moved my cheese or wanted to break all the rules for that matter. But recently, a friend told me about Seth Godin. I am ashamed to admit that I was only vaguely familiar with the name. But for the past 12 years, I’ve been sailing the high seas with Patrick O’Brian and exploring dust with Philip Pullman. There has been little time for non-fiction. Recognizing that I had completely ignored this genre, I decided to start with Seth Godin’s Linchpin....
That vs. which . . . oh the humanity
This week, I edited a lengthy article written by a fairly experienced author. The article was well written, but (isn’t there always a but) there was one problem . . . that and which were used incorrectly in most sentences. This is hardly surprising; in my experience knowing when to use that and when to use which is one of the most confusing usage issues. The reason for the confusion? Those who try to explain the use of these relative pronouns invariably launch into an explanation using words such as relative pronouns, subordinate clauses, restrictive clauses and...
Posted by laurajane on May 11, 2011 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on At a loss for words? Make them up . . .
At a loss for words? Make them up . . .
I recently attended a performance of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by The Baron’s Men, a local acting troupe dedicated to performing Elizabethan plays using historical staging and costumes. Like all other productions from this troupe, Twelfth Night was brilliantly cast and played. In addition to relishing in the pageantry and authenticity of play, the word nerd in me was enlivened when the program listed “a sampling of unfamiliar vocabulary.” Words such as “mellifluous,” “contumely,” and “perfidious” were defined. I enjoyed listening for those...
It takes two brains . . .
How many times has this happened to you? You’ve been working for hours on a document, trying to meet a tight deadline. You finally finish. Your document is well written, error free, and ready to be sent to your boss and your boss’s boss. You craft your email, hit the send button, and then relax. Check this one off your to-do list. About two minutes later, you receive an email . . . “Did you forget the attachment?” Horrified, you check your sent items and indeed, you forgot to attach the document. You craft another email — this one with a self-disparaging joke to...
For him the bell tolls
You knew this one was coming. After all, what kind of language/usage/grammar/ random thoughts blog would this be if I failed to cover who versus whom. Before you click the back button, please forbear and be patient. Our exploration of who versus whom will be painless. Trust me. There will be no discussion of direct and indirect objects. No figuring out the subject or the object in the sentence. And no one is diagramming anything. In fact, there’s a really easy way to tell when you should who or whom in a sentence. If we had only been taught this in school . . . Consider...
Form ever follows . . .
“Form ever follows function” is a phrase often tossed around by graphic designers, architects, and industrial designers. It means that if an object performs a certain function, its design must support that function to the fullest extent possible. If a designer doesn’t understand the function of what they’re designing, they make wrong decisions about the form. For a clear example of this failure to understand function, look no further than the restroom door at any trendy restaurant, bar, or club in town. When it comes to communicating whether a bathroom is...
Spell more good
When I started this blog, I promised not to make it a showcase for impertinent remarks. Since then, I’ve written about punctuation, usage, words and their shades of meaning, and how to proofread for success. Certainly, none of these topics would be considered impertinent . . . Now it’s time to move on to spelling. (I heard it. It was faint, but I heard that collective groan.) But instead of a post about commonly misspelled words and how to spell them correctly, I’m going to confine this post to a short quiz and a few sentences. Please make note of which words from...
Text can shift . . . part 2
In last week’s blog, I discussed the inevitability of human error and how mistakes in print are there for everyone to see. It’s kind of like showing up for a presentation in your underwear . . . there’s nowhere to hide. The bad (and maybe in some cases, the good) is out in the open for everyone to see. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should stop trying to alleviate errors. Don’t show up in your underwear on purpose. And don’t skip the presentation just because you’re in your underwear. (Okay, okay. I know. I’ve run wild with the underwear analogy, but...
Text can shift . . . part 1
“The perfect is the enemy of the good.” — Voltaire As a professional writer and editor, my work is out in the open for everyone to see. Either in print or online, my job is to create content for others to read. And though I strive for perfection in everything I produce, I am far from perfect . . . and the mistakes I make are out in the open for all to see. As a writer, I accept this. But the kick in the head is that no matter how hard I try — proofreading backward and forward, fact checking, checking sources, etc — simple, preventable errors still...
A cumulation
I (like many other word nerds) love to collect quotes about the power of words. We revel in the fact that the pen in mightier than the sword. That when words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain. And, even that one great use of words is to hide our thoughts. My favorite “power of words” quote comes from the didactic Nathaniel Hawthorne. He once wrote “Words — so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.” Those of us who make a living “combining...
Thermostat wars
A common complaint in the workplace, aside from the usual bickering and office gossip, is about the temperature. You’re cold, so you bump the heat up slightly. Five minutes later, someone turns the heat down. Round one in the thermostat wars . . . If you complain about being cold, and you are a woman and not overweight, invariably you will hear “You need to eat. Put some meat on those bones and then you won’t be cold.” (Not sure what people say to overweight women or men who complain of being cold.) Statements like this are not particularly helpful, and they may...
If at first you don’t succeed . . ...
I can see my piano in the other room. My metronome, my light, my music, everything I need to practice. What am I waiting for? Like most adult piano students, I took lessons as a kid. But it was tough and I quit. I’ve always regretted that decision, especially when I hear Beethoven’s Sonata Pathétique, Vivaldi’s Winter, or Schumann’s Of Foreign Lands and People. And then there’s Chopin. (If I stick with piano, I’m at least 10 years from playing anything by Chopin.) This music inspires me to put in the time for a weekly 45-minute lesson and 30 minutes of...
I’m in the club . . . now what ?
This week something monumental happened. My request to join the LinkedIn group “Word Nerds” was accepted. (And there was much rejoicing!) I am now part of a group of like-minded people who share my appreciation for the power and subtlety of words Unfortunately — now that I’m in the club — I’m a little disappointed. They let me in, but how did they verify that I was worthy of membership? No one called to ask if I knew the difference between comprise and compose. No email was sent asking me to define a back formation. Didn’t a secret membership committee meet?...
A hyphenation headache
In my last post, I wrote about the em dash. This gentleman-like punctuation mark is used to indicate a pronounced interruption or break in thought. Now, on to the most exasperating and tiresome punctuation mark of all — the hyphen. In general, we use hyphens to avoid ambiguity. Otherwise, how would we be able to tell the difference between a “man-eating shark” and a “man eating shark”? There’s also a big difference between a pickled herring merchant and a pickled-herring merchant. (And we don’t want to go around casting aspersions on herring merchants, as...
Ad ode to the em dash
In Eats Shoots & Leaves: the Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, plucky Lynne Truss describes punctuation as “a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling.” With this in mind, I introduce the most chivalrous punctuation mark of all. Ladies and gentlemen — the Mr. Darcy of punctuation marks — the em dash. Em dashes are used to indicate a pronounced interruption or break in thought. They should be used sparingly, and only when another punctuation mark (such as a comma or colon) will not suffice. While some do not afford the em...
