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Plain language improves public alerts (in October Wordnerdery)

Plain language improves public alerts (in October Wordnerdery)

by Sue Horner | Oct 21, 2024 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

While you’re prepping for incoming cold weather by consuming pumpkin spice everything, the U.S. National Weather Service is talking about plain language, of all things. It seems people don’t necessarily pay attention to warnings about cold weather. Or maybe they don’t...
Pick short words for a shortcut to understanding (in May Wordnerdery)

Pick short words for a shortcut to understanding (in May Wordnerdery)

by Sue Horner | May 22, 2024 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

The easier we make it to read what we write, the more people actually will read it. Even more important, they’ll understand and remember it. That’s a key part of plain language: Helping readers find what they need; understand what they find; and use what they find to...
It’s plain: You don’t need ‘stripes’ to show different ‘kinds’

It’s plain: You don’t need ‘stripes’ to show different ‘kinds’

by Sue Horner | Feb 15, 2024 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

Have you ever noticed that suddenly everyone seems to be using a particular word or phrase? “Upskilling” is having a moment, unfortunately. “Overarching” has staying power, also unfortunately. But the one I keep running into lately is “[people]...
Helpful tips for plain language in links you might have missed

Helpful tips for plain language in links you might have missed

by Sue Horner | Feb 2, 2024 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

I’m always on the lookout for examples of good and bad writing, and you’ll find plenty out in the world. Here are some of the articles recently shared online, all related to plain language and getting rid of jargon and lawyer-speak. Plain language is all about helping...
A primer on plain language (in October Wordnerdery)

A primer on plain language (in October Wordnerdery)

by Sue Horner | Oct 23, 2023 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

Way back when the world was still coming to grips with the pandemic, helping people understand information took on new urgency. Where could we find the latest news? How could we stay safe? And how far apart was six feet anyway? You could argue that today’s state of...
A fresh look at weasel words in April Wordnerdery

A fresh look at weasel words in April Wordnerdery

by Sue Horner | Apr 25, 2023 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

Just four minutes into its launch on April 20, Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship engine “experienced rapid unscheduled disassembly.” Not sure what that means? The engine blew up. Actually, SpaceX said they “commanded” a “flight termination system” to intentionally blow it...
Word choice, jargon and plain language in ICYMI, Sept. edition

Word choice, jargon and plain language in ICYMI, Sept. edition

by Sue Horner | Sep 19, 2022 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

You may or may not be on social media. Almost certainly, you aren’t seeing every interesting link that flashes past. So here are more links to helpful posts I’ve shared that you might have missed: Word choice “Don’t be mealy-mouthed about mortality,” says John...
Explain acronyms to break the ‘Curse of Knowledge’ (Wordnerdery)

Explain acronyms to break the ‘Curse of Knowledge’ (Wordnerdery)

by Sue Horner | Mar 19, 2022 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

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

ICYMI, February edition: How to help Ukraine, jargon to avoid + more

by Sue Horner | Mar 11, 2022 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

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:...
Before & after: Be clear if you want public  comment (Wordnerdery)

Before & after: Be clear if you want public comment (Wordnerdery)

by Sue Horner | Jan 20, 2022 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

At 100+ decibels, the sound of a large jet nearing a runway’s end is as noisy as being in the front row of a rock concert. (Remember those?) While the pandemic slashed the number of planes landing at and taking off from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport,...
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