[5-minute read] Never use a long word when a short one will do. — George Orwell During World War 2, Winston Churchill was asked to deliver the commencement address at a British boys’ school. The staff was thrilled to have the Prime Minister addressing the students. After a long introduction, Churchill took the podium. He said, […]
Best Words to Use in a Crisis Read More »
[2-minute read] I recently heard a businessman giving a testimonial. He said, “I can’t thank Bill enough for what he did for me.” My first reaction was, “Why not give it a try?” What did he mean when he said he couldn’t thank the person enough? That he could thank him, but he won’t? I believe he meant something
“I Could Care Less”… or could I? Read More »
[6-minute read] A prominent attorney called me yesterday with an embarrassing question. “I’m helping my daughter write her college entrance essay, so we have to get this right,” he said. This man went to a well-known law school and earns a hefty salary in litigating complex cases. Nevertheless, he was stumped by one of the
Avoid Common Vexations: Mistaken Word Pairs Read More »
[4-minute read] I am drafting this post by hand, using a favorite fountain pen, in a leather-bound journal that I cherish. Consequently, this article may be more intimate than others. Different Writing for Different Times Writing on a computer is great for business correspondence, but right now, business may be far from our minds. We
Writing With Hand and Heart Read More »
[4-minute read] Quick: What is a noun? Person, place, or thing (or concept)What is a verb? Action or being. We just clarified an essential truth about writing: Nouns, by definition, sit still until they encounter verbs. Verbs are the engines of language. Of course, nouns are necessary; they form the subjects of our sentences. What
Be Concise: Write with verbs. Read More »
