Originally published October 2019, Updated June 2024. Have you ever realized you’ve been making the same mistake over and over, unaware it was a mistake? And I don’t mean business writing mistakes, not yet… Growing up I had a friend who would say “for all intents and purposes.” I thought she kept saying “for all intensive purposes.” I didn’t know what it meant but she is smarter than me so I figured I just didn’t understand her fancy lingo. I was in my mid 20s before I figured out my error—and her saying made sense....
I love to read. I always have. I still remember being six-years-old and the first time I read a whole “chapter” book by myself. It was a library book and I was tucked into bed with it at bedtime. I realize now it was a very short book, but it seemed very grownup to me at the time because it didn’t have any pictures. I was so excited to finish it that I hopped out of bed and ran into my parent’s bedroom to announce my triumph. That is one of my most vivid memories from my childhood. That is the impact reading has always had on me....
My friend Brenda sent me an email with an attachment and a cryptic message. The email said simply: “I believe a better word choice here may be hosting an event.” Confused, I opened the attachment to find a flyer for a resort with a huge headline that asked: Are You Having an Affair? I laughed out loud. After all, there’s a huge difference between hosting an event and having an affair. Below the headline, the flyer went on to promote the resort for romantic getaways, family gatherings, bachelorette parties, and so on. So yes, to...
Originally published November 2019, Updated June 2024 Does this sound familiar? You labor over a document or an email, finally submit it, then have someone ask you a question you answered with your writing. Obviously, they didn’t read what you wrote and you start to wonder, “What was the point of all that work?” Whether it’s lazy-ness or busy-ness in the workplace today, people are more likely to quickly scan what you write and not fully absorb what you’ve said—no matter how long you labored over it. (And that’s just a nice way of...
Originally published March 2020, Updated June 2024 I don’t need to keep telling you writing skills have spiraled downward in this country. You can see it all around you, even at the highest levels of government. And if you don’t see it all around you, follow me on LinkedIn where I post real-life mistakes. You’ll become a believer. Nor do you need me to tell you that poor writing skills have a cost—although you probably don’t realize just how astronomically high that cost is. So I’ll share a few shocking numbers with you: Poor...
