Each day most of us use thousands of words: we talk to others, talk to ourselves, fill out forms, write reports and go to meetings where we talk and listen. Even on a quiet day, we may use hundreds of words. That’s true, you say, but so what? Before I answer that let me ask [...]
Archive for the ‘Using Words Well’ Category
Are Your Words Flabby ?
What do I mean by “flabby words’”? I mean words that mean little, or can mean whatever a person chooses them to mean. Consider phrases such as “right-sizing” for firing hundreds of people. Isn’t it more honest to say you are laying people off from their jobs? Think of the term European countries use for [...]
A 30-Day Challenge
One way to sharpen a skill is to challenge yourself to do something each day for 30 days. In April, Connie Ragen Green invited bloggers to take her 30-day blog challenge; write a post of at least 250 words each day for 30 days. It was okay to make up any days lost as long [...]
Should We Tax Words?
Have you noticed that no conversation can currently be held in America without someone saying “awesome!” or “amazing”? Today I heard two presenters who were promoting uniqueness, introduce each other as..you guessed it, “awesome.” The irony is that they were using an overused word while talking about the importance of being unique. Because they were [...]