Skip the Clichés
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- On February 4, 2020
In this edition of Say It Better Say It Right, an expert opines on all the conversation at the World Economic Forum about climate change and what to do about it.
Keep Your Sentences to an Average of 20 – 25 Words
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- On January 21, 2020
The head of our Health and Human Services department recently clocked in with a 61-word sentence about the Administration’s decision to ban certain e-cigarette flavors while keeping others. Here’s what he said. See if you can fully grasp it in one quick read:
By prioritizing enforcement against the products that... (Read More)
To Whom Does It Belong? Group vs Single Possession
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- On January 7, 2020
I was recently included in a group email that elicited a lot of responses from the people on the distribution list. One person finally wrote, “I agree with Tim and Stewart’s comments, so I am not going to add anything more to the discussion.”
The problem is that Tim and... (Read More)
The Difference Between “E.g.” and “I.e.”
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- On December 10, 2019
- Only 50 percent of doctors screen their patients for osteoporosis according to professional guidelines, e.g., every two years.
- If the candidate’s tax plan is implemented, John’s $1,000 investment would incur a 6% wealth tax, i.e., $60.
In one of those two sentences, the two-letter abbreviation is incorrect.... (Read More)
Holiday Greetings Done Right
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- On November 26, 2019
The holidays are upon us and with them lots of opportunities to wish people well. Putting those wishes to paper correctly, however, can be tricky. Is it, for example, Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year or Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year?
Read these guidelines... (Read More)
Skip the Quotation Marks
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- On November 12, 2019
I’m recognized as a collaborative and “hands-on” advisor to my clients.
“Why the quotation marks?” I asked as I read this line in a LinkedIn bio.
The author’s not using hands-on in an ironic, sarcastic or skeptical sense, which is one reason you use quotation marks. Hands-on isn’t a slang,... (Read More)
Simply Speaking, Watch This Show
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- On October 29, 2019
In this version of Say It Better Say It Right, a Hollywood producer talks about creating a binge-worthy series for Netflix.
When to Use “Myself”? Not Very Often
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- On October 15, 2019
- Myself, Lindsay, and Mark will be on today’s call.
- The team consists of myself and two others.
- Many of us, including myself, get down to Washington, D.C. on a regular basis.
All three statements use myself incorrectly. Here’s what the speakers should have said—and why:
- Lindsay, Mark,... (Read More)
“Every Day” and “Everyday” Are Related, but Different
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- On October 1, 2019
Here are two sentences that recently crossed my desk:
- Our reality is shaped by the language we use everyday.
- Everyday we are faced with numerous decision and choices.
In both cases, everyday should be every day.
Everyday is an adjective that is mostly used to describe something routine... (Read More)
Don’t Confuse “Legacy” With “Expertise” or “Reputation”
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- On September 17, 2019
Our legacy is built on finding and knowing the essential.
That’s what a leading financial company says on its website. Expertise or reputation would be more accurate than legacy, which is what you’re remembered for after you’re gone.
Or take the magazine executive who said he wanted to be sure... (Read More)