Category Archives: Plain English

Apostrophegeddon

By tom | Published: 07/05/2013

Writing is not about rules, but communicating ideas. Any company that rejects a job application because of a misplaced apostrophe is barking up the wrong tree. The most original thinkers I work with struggle to tie their shoelaces.

Also posted in Advertising, Art, Authors, Books, Brand, Business, Campaigning, Colloquialisms, Copy analysis, Corporate communications, Crisis communications, Design, Education, Free speech, History, Jargon, Media, Poetry, Politics, Reading, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Vocabulary, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sorry tale

By tim | Published: 05/04/2013

These printed apologies demonstrate one thing very clearly – when a company has its back against the wall it turns to words not pictures.

Also posted in Advertising, Brand, Business, Copy analysis, Corporate communications, Crisis communications, Jargon, Letters, Media, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The noise of waters

By tim | Published: 25/07/2012

The Thames Water van was on a street nearby. ‘We love water’ suggests these providers of London-based aquatic solutions are making a noble effort to sound friendly and engaging.

Also posted in Brand, Business, Copy analysis, Jargon, London, Photography, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Responses

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, Jargon, London, Poetry, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Responses

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, Jargon, Reading, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Responses

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, Jargon, Letters, Magazines, 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, Jargon, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged | 13 Responses

A blazing star

By tim | Published: 05/11/2010

Despite the anti-popery, there’s something Bellocose about Lewes Bonfire’s combination of dark fuming and expressive zest, this farrago of black powders. Effigies of ‘Enemies of Bonfire’ – usually local officials – are paraded on pikes, but there’s also a sense of togetherness and vitality.

Also posted in 26, Authors, Books, Free speech, History, Photography, Politics, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Responses

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, Jargon, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 37 Responses