Reading time: Less than 1 minute Don’t let jargon cause you to make embarrassing typographical errors. Everything you write needs a proofreader, even if you can’t afford having a professional do it… I volunteer at my local high school, where I’m the debate coach. I love working with teenagers — I find their energy infectious. But […]
Why you need a proofreader… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes Do you ever encounter forms that are tough to read? It’s not your fault! The fault usually lies with the organization that developed the form… Is there anything more onerous than filling out government or bank documents? (I think not.) A neighbour reminded me of this issue recently, when
How to make forms easier to read Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Does your workplace take the time to discuss what you’re doing and how to do it better? Don’t ever underestimate the value of training. I held a one-on-one coaching session today with a PR writer from a large US-based corporation. Her employer had hired me to host a webinar
The value of training Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes How much time do you spend preparing for what can go wrong? If you’re ready to be prepared you can save yourself both embarrassment and some bad decisions… Fallout from the May 6/15 Alberta election has made me recall some of the mistakes I’ve made in my own professional
Why you need to be prepared for anything… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Here’s why I care about correct use of the pronoun who — and why you should care, too… I try not to be outraged by simple grammatical errors. I grew up in a household where my father heaped scorn on people who didn’t speak correctly. As a result, I
Who cares about “who”? Read More »
Reading time: About 2 minutes When the votes are counted in the BC transit plebiscite, I fear the answer is going to be a resounding no… A mail-in vote — a plebiscite — is being held now in Greater Vancouver, where I live. Citizens are voting on whether they’re willing to pay a 0.5 per cent
Why yes side is running out of track Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Don’t ever under-estimate the power of signage… Advertisements for TV shows and movies are always created by professionals. Ditto for print ads in magazines and newspapers. But why, oh why, is signage often left to amateurs? Do people who create (or place) signs imagine that not very many people
The power of signage Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes You’ve undoubtedly heard the expression ‘tempest in a teapot.’ Today I write about a crisis in a coffee cup. I’d missed the whole brouhaha over Starbucks’ ill-advised scheme to start a public discussion about race. Perhaps that’s because I’m Canadian and the program didn’t exist here. Or maybe it’s because I
Brewing a crisis in a coffee cup Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes Most of the news relating to Angelina Jolie and her recent surgery announcement focus, as they should, on Jolie’s health and bravery. But I think there’s another part to the story as well… A deep, murky well of cancer runs through my family. Both my grandmothers, who died well before
The real message from Angelina Jolie…. Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute Some people call it high rising terminal. But I call it uptalk. And I avoid it…. I have an important question for you: Do you uptalk? What I mean is: do you end every statement sounding as though you’ve just asked a question? If you don’t know what uptalk