Every few months well-studied (and somewhat grumpy) grammarians publish a list of overused quotes, lazy language and/or misused phrases. These clichés don’t often appear in written form, but roll off the tongues of the masses countless times every day. Besides the obvious overuse of the words “like” and “ya know,” I have my own list [...]
The most valuable class I ever took was a business writing class I completed after I graduated from college. I use these lessons every (week) day, and I am unsure whether or not these rules are taught in today’s higher education institutions. I also confess I am not sure if in the Internet age there [...]
Consistent values-based communication. We believe everyone benefits when a mission-driven business or nonprofit focuses on words, messages, issues, and strategies that emphasize shared values. So when my 14-year old grandniece asked “Why?” -- the question brought me up short.
Argh! Don’t you just hate it when you find yourself and others who know better making common communication mistakes? My theory is that so much of what’s out there now is poorly written that our writer’s ear gets numbed. Here are my top communication pet peeves and tips on how to avoid letting them sneak [...]
I read an interesting blog during NYC’s fashion week by a woman in her 50s, wondering why designers target young consumers and do not pay much attention to older buyers. So I got to wondering the same thing. I am used to seeing skinny models – and ever younger ones on the runway and on [...]
We all understand that headlines are written in such a way to capture your attention. And headlines and headings on a webpage are opportunities to incorporate key words and help search engine optimization.So that’s all well and good, pretty logical. But when I pick up an issue of Sports Illustrated, I am often blown away [...]
Three recent experiences as a consumer have reminded the young marketer in me of why labeling matters. The hours of attention spent on the exact wording and careful design of product labels and hang tags, industry debates over federal and state regulations, and seemingly endless educational materials on the "consumer's right to know" can seem [...]
