Hear the difference when only—which is used to make a specific point—is placed right in front of the thought it’s emphasizing. The sentence becomes more powerful and precise. Only is a small word that can pack a punch, so put it where it belongs.
You might think from this headline, by Business Insider, that Osama Bin Laden was killed for refusing to wear a mask. Reading your copy aloud is a good way to catch awkward construction and unintended meaning.
Big Tech is Watching You
Who is Watching Big Tech?
That ominous headline jumped out at me—for its menacing message and the incorrect way it is formatted. In both lines, the word is should be capitalized.
Many people think all little words should be lowercased in... (Read More)
In this edition of Say It Better Say It Right, the president of Hearst Magazines comments on the new editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar magazine.
A while ago I wrote a post about not starting emails with I hope you are well.
In everyday business writing, I counseled, there’s generally no reason to open with a reference to your reader’s well-being, particularly if you don’t know the person to whom you’re writing.
But coronavirus has... (Read More)
Insidious and insipid share the same page in the dictionary, but their meanings have nothing in common. Insidious means proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects, while insipid means lacking flavor. Yet on account of their physical similarity—all those i’s, n’s and s’s make them look and... (Read More)
I got an email from the restaurant down the street offering me elevated comfort food in this time of crisis. I know, they were trying to make me feel better: If I order from them, I’ll feel as though I’m dining out and not standing at the kitchen counter in... (Read More)
I recently received an out-of-office reply that read, I and the whole team are at an off-site meeting this week, so checking email is going to be a little difficult.
The writer should have written, The team and I are at an off-site meeting, because you always put yourself last... (Read More)
I saw an ad for a health plan the other day that read, Our large selection of doctors is there for you.
If that doesn’t sound right to your ear, it’s because it’s not. The verb is should be are, as in, Our large selection of doctors are there for... (Read More)
Ivanka Trump was talking recently about the success of the Administration’s worker retraining program. “15 million lives impacted, 15 million families impacted,” she said.
Ouch.
Impact, traditionally a noun, as in have an impact on, has turned into a verb (one shunned by stylists everywhere), pushing aside more human-sounding verbs,... (Read More)
