Category Archives: Tone of voice

The Gentle Author of Spitalfields Life

By tim | Published: 02/02/2012

‘In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London.’ With these words the Spitalfields Life blog was born, back in August 2009.

Also posted in Attention span, Authors, History, London, Reading, Storytelling, Writing | Tagged a writer's life, blogging, blogs, communications, copy, culture, east london, justin knopp, letterpress, linkedin, london, narrative, random spectacular, spitalfields, spitalfields life, st jude's, the gentle author, tim rich, Tone of voice, typoretum, words, writers, Writing | 7 Comments

You count

By tim | Published: 26/01/2012

Waitrose – it’s the first time I’ve seen the new ‘You count’ line. I just can’t stop misreading it without the ‘o’ after the ‘c’.

Also posted in Advertising, Brand, Business, Copy analysis, Design, Food | Tagged advertising, strap lines, waitrose, you count | 2 Comments

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, Plain English, Poetry, Writing | Tagged jargon, oscar wilde, shakespeare, sign, southwark council, words, writing style | 1 Comment

Consider yourself at home

By tim | Published: 16/12/2011

This is one of my favourite customer service signs, complete with seasonal make-over. You’ll find it in Gaddis & Co, in Luxor, Egypt.

Also posted in Brand, Business, History, Photography, Writing | Tagged copywriting, customer services, egypt, gaddis, luxor, retail, shops, Tone of voice | 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, Jargon, Plain English, Reading, Writing | Tagged business writing, copywriting, finnegans wake, james loyce, language, linkedin, plain english, plain english day, tim rich, words, Writing | 4 Comments

Planting an idea

By tim | Published: 19/10/2011

Nice touch from the Bishopsgate Kitchen in London: a twist on the old book of matches thing

Also posted in Brand, Business, Design, London, Writing | Tagged bishopsgate kitchen, Brand, communication, copywriting, Design, herbs, marketing, restaurant, words | 1 Comment

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, Jargon, Letters, London, Magazines, Photography, Poetry, Reading, Storytelling, Workshops, Writing | 3 Comments

Wordsnaps

By tim | Published: 13/10/2011

Isn’t it a bit odd to use the conceit of the dictionary definition when your brand name is “rhubarb” – a word sometimes used to connote meaningless talk?