Category Archives: Jargon

Buskers told to Foxtrot Oscar

By tim | Published: 22/01/2012

‘Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.’

Also posted in Authors, Copy analysis, Design, Free speech, History, London, Plain English, Poetry, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tis as human a little story

By tim | Published: 09/12/2011

Designers don’t always limit themselves to pure function; why should copywriters restrict themselves to functional language?

Also posted in Authors, Brand, Business, Copy analysis, Plain English, Reading, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WORDSTOCK – One Amazing Day

By tom | Published: 14/10/2011

WORDSTOCK began as a twinkle in our collective eyes at a 26 Board meeting: Could it be possible to attract 70 people who are mad about writing and communications to a wordstorming Saturday somewhere in central London? And if so, who so, where so, when so? Approaching likely punters was the easy bit because 26 [...]

Also posted in 26, Art, Authors, Books, Brand, Business, Campaigning, Copy analysis, Design, Food, Free speech, Graffiti, History, Letters, London, Magazines, Photography, Poetry, Reading, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Workshops, Writing | 3 Comments

Passing thoughts

By tim | Published: 22/07/2011

Why have they made one of the most historically rich parts of London sound like an area in Manhattan?

Also posted in Brand, Business, Copy analysis, Design, London, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Postcards from Paradise

By tom | Published: 07/07/2011

Who needs the hassle of traffic jams, rammed airports, heaving ferries and bloated beaches when you can hang out at the Southbank. This glorious rolling festival has been the hit of the summer with thrilling exhibitions, ambush fountains, curious pavilions, an allotment in the sky, and an intriguing language installation that has set everyone talking [...]

Also posted in 26, Advertising, Art, Brand, Business, Campaigning, Design, Graffiti, History, London, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Reading, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Travel, Writing | Leave a comment

Could be foggy

By tim | Published: 07/06/2011

The English language in America is fog-bound. This is hellish serious, more serious than who will be the next Republican nominee for the Presidency

Also posted in History, Letters, Magazines, Plain English, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some problems with ‘tone of voice’

By tim | Published: 01/12/2010

Public bodies should only launch anti-jargon ‘campaigns’, ‘drives’, ‘initiatives’ and ‘guides’ if they really are trying to make a lasting improvement to their language.

Also posted in 26, Brand, Business, Plain English, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged | 11 Comments

99% right

By tim | Published: 09/11/2010

The 99% name is a memorable counterblast to contemporary scaremongering and crippling community anxiety around young people.

Also posted in Advertising, Brand, Campaigning, Copy analysis, Design, London, Photography, Politics, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Plain wrong

By tim | Published: 05/10/2010

Hasn’t business life come to something when so many organisations feel the need to outsource the judgement of communications quality and integrity?

Also posted in Brand, Business, Plain English, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

One from the archive — Balls™

By tim | Published: 27/09/2010

If you set out to celebrate engineering you must ensure your copy is brilliantly engineered. The ideas must make sense. The thoughts must connect. The jargon should lead to illumination, not frustration. The benefits should flow from the conversation, not remain obscured by self-satisfied technical babble.

Also posted in Advertising, Brand, Business, Copy analysis, Design, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments