End of an era: A fond farewell to the iPod
The music may live on, as Apple says, but not the devices many of us relied on before streaming music services showed up. Yes, Apple has finally discontinued the iPod. It’s not surprising, of course. What other technology from 2001 is still around? Kids, this was...
6 ways volunteering is good for you, too
Volunteering can sometimes seem invisible, but it’s so important to running organizations like the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). And never think what you do as a volunteer isn’t noticed, even if you certainly can’t be in it for the...
5 ways to make environmental comms clear (Wordnerdery)
What can one person do to “invest in our planet,” the theme for Earth Day 2022? I was pondering that while out picking up garbage and recyclables to mark Earth Day. Even though I picked up a bag of each, you’d be right to suspect there will be another...
ICYMI, March edition: Readability + inclusive language links you might have missed
“The vast majority of your social posts will never be seen by the vast majority of your followers.” So says Michael J. Katz, who helps professional service firms talk and write about their work. Oh sure, posts made on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc., are “around for...
Shh – my secrets to (sort of) success with Wordle
Have you been swept up in the word craze that is Wordle? My hand is up. Yes, I start my online day with Wordle, followed by its Canadian cousin, Canuckle. Can you call yourself a word nerd if you don’t? Part of each game’s appeal is there’s just one five-letter word...
Explain acronyms to break the ‘Curse of Knowledge’ (Wordnerdery)
The mysterious case of PXO began with a pile of traffic cones at two nearby parks. A few weeks later, signs arrived, announcing a “PXO Program.” It was a term I’d never heard, and the name of the contractor involved (Aqua Tech Solution Inc.) suggested water might be...
ICYMI, February edition: How to help Ukraine, jargon to avoid + more
If you spend any time on social media, you know that words disappear in as little as a few seconds. So when I find interesting, helpful or just plain funny posts, I like to share them. Here’s another collection of content you might appreciate and might have missed:...
A look at the use and misuse of apostrophes for National Grammar Day
During such a troubling time in the world, it may seem wrong to be talking about grammar. Yet the pandemic, the anti-vaccine protestors and now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have clearly showed the importance of words and how they are presented. Also, maybe you...