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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,...
100+ buzzwords and jargon bugging us in 2021

100+ buzzwords and jargon bugging us in 2021

by Sue Horner | Sep 2, 2021 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

Roughly this time last year, I was lamenting the overuse of words like cadence that have turned them into jargon or buzzwords. It’s still everywhere, as in this recent example: “Prime Your Revenue Engine with a Prospecting Cadence.” It’s also been a big year for...
Before & after: 5K run release (Wordnerdery)

Before & after: 5K run release (Wordnerdery)

by Sue Horner | May 20, 2021 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

I’m taking part in a fundraising 5K event this summer called Push for Your Tush. As usual with such events, I had to sign a release – actually a “RELEASE, WAIVER and INDEMNITY AGREEMENT,” in all caps every time it is mentioned – for the organizer, Colorectal Cancer...
Warm up your words to match the brave new Zoom world

Warm up your words to match the brave new Zoom world

by Sue Horner | Feb 19, 2021 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

Endless Zoom calls and Microsoft Teams meetings have changed how we look and relate to our co-workers and bosses. Home offices give a glimpse of how we live. Pets and small children are likely to loudly demand attention as our calls get underway, or we might forget...
In a confusing situation, aim to be clear

In a confusing situation, aim to be clear

by Sue Horner | Nov 4, 2020 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

I was among the many Canadians glued to the TV, watching the election results with America. I made it to midnight, and went to bed when it was clear there would be no speedy result. One word kept popping out at me during discussions on CBC’s The National: Several...
Before & after: Promote your program with plain language

Before & after: Promote your program with plain language

by Sue Horner | Oct 14, 2020 | The Red Jacket Diaries blog

Plain language can save lives or make them harder, as the Center for Plain Language noted on Twitter this week. The occasion: International Plain Language Day (Oct. 13). We were disappointed with many of the results of the Federal Plain Language Report Card this year....
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