How using the wrong punctuation can create confusion.[4 minutes to read] “Can you schedule a meeting with me and Bob.”“Will you let me know when you find out.” “Could you send me one right away.” Have you seen sentences like these before? What do you notice? Of course, the questions are missing the question mark. Question […]
Are you asking or telling? Read More »
At a corporate training I taught last week, participants asked me to clarify the meaning of the above word pairs. Since these words seem to perplex many people, here are simple definitions. Affect (verb) This word has many meanings in the dictionary. It can refer, as a noun, to one’s emotional state. As a verb,
Clarifying perplexing word pairs: affect/effect, advise/advice Read More »
On April 11, 2011, the following article by David Brooks appeared in the New York Times. Brooks comments on the ubiquity and importance of metaphorical thinking, even outside the realms of literature and poetry. More than we might realize, we think and speak in metaphors, and whether we realize it or not, the metaphors we
How Do You Use Metaphors? Read More »
On April 13, 2011, Jeff Haden published the following article on BNET.com. His points are well taken, so I am sharing them here with the author’s permission. I’ve received a number of emails recently from readers asking how they can improve their writing skills. Here are 10 tips: Always eliminate the obvious. For example, I
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I saw a bumper sticker recently that said, “You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead.” This would be funny if it were not incorrect. The past tense and the past participle of lead is led. A general leads his troops into battle. Napoleon led his men into Russia just
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