Our curiosity decides the word of the year
What topics caught the public’s imagination this year? Which words drove you or your friends to the dictionary? (Asking your Mom doesn’t count.) We’re starting to find out as dictionaries report the popularity of word searches over the year. The searches show...
Fun things to know about Christmas trees
When it comes to Christmas trees, it seems people are either in Camp Real (oh, that fragrance!) or Camp Artificial (oh, so easy). For many years, my family was away over the holidays, so for safety’s sake, we went with artificial. And having one, we keep using...
Before & after: Google terms of service (Wordnerdery)
Oh, my poor eyes and brain. When I logged into my analytics last week, Google asked me to agree to new “Google Measurement Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms.” Like you, probably, I usually just click on “agree.” This time, I copied, saved and read the terms....
Gifts for writers and readers, 2019 edition
As usual, festive decorations have been everywhere even before we got Halloween and Thanksgiving out of the way. So it’s time for my fifth annual list of holiday gift ideas for the readers, writers and word nerds in your life: 1. Greeting card gift pack A pack of...
Do your homework before launching a newsletter
A prospective client called me this week to talk about an e-newsletter he wants to send his customers. I’m fond of newsletters, so it would be easy to just say, “Sure, let’s do it!” Instead, what I suggest in situations like this is to ponder...
7 ways to trim and tone flabby writing
Some days I flex my writing muscles. Other days, red pen in hand, I’m trimming and toning flabby writing. By that I mean reviewing a document for typos, jargon, wayward punctuation, grammar errors, the passive voice and other writing that stops readers in their...
Don’t let fear stop you from growing
“When you make friends with fear, it can’t rule you.” – Writer Anne Lamott, in Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith With Halloween on the doorstep, it seemed time to talk about things that scare you. No, not zombies and ghosts — I mean things you want to do...
Choose your words wisely to be understood
I’m on Plain Language duty. While my client overhauls structure and cuts duplication on the website, I’m trying to make the content more readable. The existing words are often off the readable charts – post-graduate, say, or grade 13 – whereas my client hopes for...