Today, I’m delighted to feature a guest post by fellow copywriter Sarah Turner. As you’ll see, she’s a definitely a woman after my own heart . . . (more…)
Archive for the ‘Points of grammar’ Category
Punctuation: why do we need it anyway?
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009Why I hate the comma splice
Friday, June 12th, 2009There’s a nasty little punctuation habit that instantly gives your age away. It’s called the comma splice, and I’ve noticed it’s mostly used by writers under the age of 35. (more…)
“Around”: the preposition that can make your writing sound slippery and bureaucratic
Monday, May 11th, 2009Last week I reflected on the tendency for business types to favour the invasive-sounding “into” over the correct “to”. Today, I turn my attention to another preposition you should be careful with: “around”. (more…)
What’s with this word “into”?
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009If I were to go round claiming that the square root of 100 is 15 or that the Battle of Hastings took place in 1783, I’d quite rightly be thought a fool. What’s more, I’m fairly sure most people wouldn’t hesitate to inform me of my ignorance.
So why is it that when it comes to the English language many business folk seem to think that getting it wrong makes them sound impressive? (more…)
What happens when you don’t bother to get a writer in
Monday, October 27th, 2008This, from a full-page ad for Hill & Knowlton, who describe themselves as “a leading international communications consultancy”. I spotted it in the “Thought Leader Series” supplement, which came with a recent issue of “PR Week”: (more…)
“Less” is no more
Sunday, August 31st, 2008Still obviously the silly season if this story about Tesco makes the BBC news, but interesting for us language nuts: Tesco checks out wording change.
Splitting headaches
Monday, October 9th, 2006To boldly go where no man has gone before. You don’t have to be a Trekkie to recognise a great piece of branding when you see it. Coined in the 60s, to this day that ‘to boldly go’ strapline conjures up images of pointy-eared protagonists, low-budget hi-camp and thinly veiled (more…)
Capitalist society
Friday, October 6th, 2006American popstars with mockney accents. Designer clothes with the labels on the outside. Fishknives. You’re suitably derisive of all such affectation.
Yet when it comes to that presentation, email memo or press release, isn’t there a tiny part of you thats (more…)
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