Comments on: “Around”: the preposition that can make your writing sound slippery and bureaucratic http://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/2009/05/11/%e2%80%9caround%e2%80%9d-the-preposition-that-can-make-your-writing-sound-slippery-and-bureaucratic/ A blog about good business writing and bad. Especially the bad. Because there's so much more of the bad. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:46:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Natalya http://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/2009/05/11/%e2%80%9caround%e2%80%9d-the-preposition-that-can-make-your-writing-sound-slippery-and-bureaucratic/comment-page-1/#comment-6652 Natalya Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:35:24 +0000 http://www.daccreative.co.uk/goodcopybadcopy/?p=126#comment-6652 It is the end of 2011 and the word "around" is, well, still "around" us, and your post and the comments are as timely as ever. Happy New Year! It is the end of 2011 and the word “around” is, well, still “around” us, and your post and the comments are as timely as ever.

Happy New Year!

]]> By: Clare Lynch http://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/2009/05/11/%e2%80%9caround%e2%80%9d-the-preposition-that-can-make-your-writing-sound-slippery-and-bureaucratic/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 Clare Lynch Wed, 13 May 2009 15:58:30 +0000 http://www.daccreative.co.uk/goodcopybadcopy/?p=126#comment-1044 And a very worthwhile mission that is, Jody. I fear we're fighting a losing battle but that shouldn't stop us! And a very worthwhile mission that is, Jody. I fear we’re fighting a losing battle but that shouldn’t stop us!

]]> By: Jody Bruner http://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/2009/05/11/%e2%80%9caround%e2%80%9d-the-preposition-that-can-make-your-writing-sound-slippery-and-bureaucratic/comment-page-1/#comment-1043 Jody Bruner Wed, 13 May 2009 02:24:38 +0000 http://www.daccreative.co.uk/goodcopybadcopy/?p=126#comment-1043 Clare--I love it! I agree that "around" lets people be vague, lazy, and noncommittal. I wish writers were more concrete and took the time to think about what they really need to say. That, of course, is my mission. Clare–I love it! I agree that “around” lets people be vague, lazy, and noncommittal. I wish writers were more concrete and took the time to think about what they really need to say. That, of course, is my mission.

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/2009/05/11/%e2%80%9caround%e2%80%9d-the-preposition-that-can-make-your-writing-sound-slippery-and-bureaucratic/comment-page-1/#comment-1042 Brad Shorr Tue, 12 May 2009 20:58:34 +0000 http://www.daccreative.co.uk/goodcopybadcopy/?p=126#comment-1042 I like it. I like it.

]]> By: Clare Lynch http://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/2009/05/11/%e2%80%9caround%e2%80%9d-the-preposition-that-can-make-your-writing-sound-slippery-and-bureaucratic/comment-page-1/#comment-1041 Clare Lynch Tue, 12 May 2009 15:17:28 +0000 http://www.daccreative.co.uk/goodcopybadcopy/?p=126#comment-1041 Ha, ha - I think we should start using the "orbiting" phrase and see how long it takes to catch on. You've given me an idea for a future post, though - I'm going to explore the differences between the way leaders write and the way managers write. Ha, ha – I think we should start using the “orbiting” phrase and see how long it takes to catch on.

You’ve given me an idea for a future post, though – I’m going to explore the differences between the way leaders write and the way managers write.

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://www.dorisandbertie.com/goodcopybadcopy/2009/05/11/%e2%80%9caround%e2%80%9d-the-preposition-that-can-make-your-writing-sound-slippery-and-bureaucratic/comment-page-1/#comment-1040 Brad Shorr Tue, 12 May 2009 10:53:08 +0000 http://www.daccreative.co.uk/goodcopybadcopy/?p=126#comment-1040 Hi Clare, I believe you put your finger on the cause of the "around" problem - nebulosity. Managers do not like to be pinned down, as it forces decisions to be made. A discussion around compensation plans sounds safer than a discussion about compensation plans. Probably what is needed is a decision about compensation plans. Since business language, like the universe, moving entropically, one wonders what word will replace "around". Next year, will companies have discussions orbiting compensation plans? Hi Clare, I believe you put your finger on the cause of the “around” problem – nebulosity. Managers do not like to be pinned down, as it forces decisions to be made. A discussion around compensation plans sounds safer than a discussion about compensation plans. Probably what is needed is a decision about compensation plans. Since business language, like the universe, moving entropically, one wonders what word will replace “around”. Next year, will companies have discussions orbiting compensation plans?

]]>