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The Weltchek Weekly

Your Bulletin for Better Business Writing

 
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Your Bulletin for Better Business Writing

“And Beyond”—How Does That Help?

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • On October 20, 2020

Senior-level women—tough, tested, ambitious leaders—are being pushed to their limits and beyond. 

That’s what Sheryl Sandberg wrote in a cautionary editorial about the number of women leaving the workforce or taking less stressful jobs because of the pandemic. Sandberg’s concern is legitimate, but I paused at and beyond. Why not... (Read More)

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How to Capitalize Headlines

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • On August 4, 2020

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)

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You Before Me—The Other Person Always Goes First

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • On March 31, 2020

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)

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“Affected,” “Influenced”—Sometimes Even “Improved”—Are Better Choices Than “Impacted”

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • On March 3, 2020

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)

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Keep Your Sentences to an Average of 20 – 25 Words

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • 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)

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Simply Speaking, Watch This Show

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • 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.

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“Every Day” and “Everyday” Are Related, but Different

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • 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)

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Don’t Confuse “Legacy” With “Expertise” or “Reputation”

  • Category: Edit, Uncategorized
  • |
  • 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)

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Mindful Snacking, Mindful Speaking

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • On August 20, 2019

In this edition of Say It Better Say It Right, an executive of a major food company talks about teaching people to snack mindfully, that is to enjoy cookies and candy—responsibly.

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Let’s “Agree”—Not “Align”

  • Category: Edit
  • |
  • On August 6, 2019

Please let us know if you’re aligned to this.

That line appeared in an email about an agenda for an upcoming meeting. Its author should have written, Let us know if you agree with this.

In everyday English, align means to arrange in a line, as in, The pictures look... (Read More)

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