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...

Rhetoric lessons from “Star Trek&#...

Figures of speech, when used correctly, add depth to our content and help us paint a descriptive picture. When they are used incorrectly, the results can be silly and confusing—such as mangled metaphors and colorful turns of phrases. “Star Trek’s” Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy might be a poster boy for incorrect usage. Whether he uttered them in the original series, the classic films or the newer movies, the chief medical officer of the Enterprise peppers his language with clichés, mixed metaphors and other linguistic head-shakers. Here are a few examples (quotes...

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...