Pandemic words still dominated our lives in 2021
Just as in 2020, one subject drove us in record numbers to Google and online dictionaries and dominated our lives this past year – that pesky pandemic. This time, as we got used to words like quarantine, lockdown, pandemic, COVID-19 itself and the ever-present...
Top 10 posts in the Red Jacket Diaries in 2021
While the pandemic still dominated our lives in 2021, you may have tired of reading about it. I was tired of writing about it, too. So there’s likely a connection to the lack of “pandemic posts” in the 10 most-viewed posts on my blog this year. Here they...
54 ways to be kind and shine a light (Wordnerdery)
Each year, a Twitter account called Canadian Forces in the U.S. (@CAFinUS) asks the public to send cards for those away from their families for the holidays. This year, they asked for something even easier, and this really struck a chord with me: “Hold a door. Leave a...
Words, writing tips, jargon to avoid and more: Yet more links you might have missed
A lot of information flashes by in the 575,000 tweets that flood Twitter every minute. And yes, there’s anger and fake news aplenty. But you’ll also find helpful hints, smart advice, late-breaking news and hello – adorable dog thoughts and kittens and hedgehogs and...
Another quirky contest for book nerds and wordplay lovers: Oddest Book Title for 2021
Any contest (1) dealing with books and (2) awarding a prize to The Oddest Book Title of the Year is a winner. So if you’re a book lover too, you’ll be eager to find out the winner of the quirky Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title for 2021. Drumroll…. Is Superman...
13 tips to set up your survey for success (Wordnerdery)
You want to know how well your company is serving customers, or if employees feel a part of the company. Or you want to know if customers loved that product you sell or had a good experience with service. Surveys can be the answer, highlighting trouble spots and...
Gifts for writers and readers, 2021 edition
Festive lights and Christmas trees are already popping up in my neighbourhood. American Thanksgiving is fast approaching. The news is full of dire predictions for the availability of whatever it was you hoped to buy for Christmas gifts. Let’s get cracking, then,...
Don’t settle: ‘Performative diversity’ isn’t enough to support DE&I progress
Is your company doing the important work that supports diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I)? Or is it settling for “performative diversity”? The subject came up after I shared an article on social media that listed some “easy ways” communicators could support...