by Sue Horner | Nov 30, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
With December on the doorstep, we can look forward to lots of apostrophe abuse. You know what I’m talking about. Where a simple “S” is required to indicate more than one item, an apostrophe is thrown in the mix. Retailers are going to offer...
by Sue Horner | Nov 23, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
As a Canadian, I won’t comment on the recent U.S. election. But I will say it’s interesting that certain aspects of president-elect Donald Trump’s speaking style could be considered plain language. The November issue of my newsletter, Wordnerdery, talks about five...
by Sue Horner | Nov 17, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Branding is more than a logo or a tagline; it’s a promise. That’s the basic message of a recent panel discussion on “3D Branding” for IABC/Toronto’s Professional Independent Communicators (PIC). Here’s a brief look at what each...
by Sue Horner | Nov 8, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
On the eve of the U.S. election, even those of us up here in Canada are biting our nails. For a bit of diversion, here are some wonderful additions to my collection of expressive writing. In “Trump’s Tower of Babble,” talking about “the accidental...
by Sue Horner | Nov 2, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
Not everyone realizes the free or low-cost resources and advice available to small businesses at the Halton Region Small Business Centre. Years ago, I visited the centre to do a search on “Get It Write” and register the name for my business. Since then, I’ve...
by Sue Horner | Oct 28, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
When you have something to write, do you focus and get it done? Or do you find yourself with lots of things to write, but little time to actually do the writing? Meetings, events, planning, meetings, organizing, meetings and consulting can shrink your writing time to...
by Sue Horner | Oct 23, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
An interesting article usually starts with a conversation with a “subject matter expert,” as companies like to call them. Your job is to pull out the human side of the subject – sometimes against the instincts of the person you interview. How do you do it? Check out...
by Sue Horner | Oct 19, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
I recently met someone whose company had “gone totally digital” — no business cards. She admitted it was often awkward. Yes, a business card may seem unnecessary in a digital world where your contacts are easily found on LinkedIn. A business card may...
by Sue Horner | Oct 13, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
What better day than International Plain Language Day (Oct. 13) to talk about getting rid of jargon and wordiness? Plain Language Day is a way to let people know that plain language doesn’t mean “dumbing down” material or making it too elementary, a worry a...
by Sue Horner | Oct 6, 2016 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog
As my friend Sue once said, “Every time I start to lose a little faith in my fellow human beings, along come the Bulwer-Lytton awards.” This annual celebration of the best of the worst is the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. Writers apply their talents to...
