Word Power

Long Live Word Power! Always Break the Rules

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Strike out against oppression – there are some rules of grammar you can and should consider break if you want to enhance your routine workplace writing and write free!

I hated traditional grammar in school like most people … and most writers. So, I routinely break some time-honored practices today just to have fun, flaunt my sense of independence and creativity and get back at Professor Gwendolyn Apostrophe-Dingleberry for all her abuses in 11th grade English class. If only she could know that I earn some of my living as a professional freelance writer and executive writing coach, she’d turn over in her grave in Grammar Hell.

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Why I Hate ‘Multiple’

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When did ‘multiple’ become the new ‘many’? ‘Multiple’ means ‘very many of the same thing.’ But so do ‘ many’, ‘several’ and ‘numerous’. These words are just as clear or clearer than ‘multiple’ without so many other meanings and sounding a little pompous.  So, the next time you find yourself about to write or say … Read more

Phil’s Faves – Vague

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 I appreciate the positive feedback from readers that indicated periodically sharing key concepts from my training and coaching engagements is both useful and interesting. So, add this one to your ‘Best of Phil’ list. Avoid vague words or references. Otherwise, you leave it up to your readers to define what you mean. And they may come … Read more

Reject Redundancies!

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Let’s continue challenging your word use habits in workplace writing and communication. Effective word use is the same, whether the medium of communicating those words is spoken or written. And remember, the responses ‘That’s the first word I thought of’  or  ‘That’s the word I usually use’ don’t work very well with reader-centric messages.

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Activate Active Voice!

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Based on some calls and notes from readers, some of you are seriously challenging your word use habits in routine workplace communication. Great – I was hoping that would happen. Effective word use is the same, whether the medium you use to communicate those words is an email, a phone call, a face-to-face conversation or a more formal presentation.

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