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...

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...

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...