Why is it that the answers to some of the most obvious questions people ask are the hardest to put to words? We like to think that most of our decisions are rational, but in fact most of our decisions…
People tend to underestimate one another’s bullshit detectors and overestimate their own. Some of the best evidence of this is how frequently we resort to the following phrases. Don’t use them unless you want to trigger people. 1. “No offense, but …”…
Updated: Aug 4 As a marketing copywriter and writing consultant I fervently believe in the power of language—particularly in well-told stories. Yet impact can be hard to measure and I don’t see hard proof of it every day. My writing…
Updated: Jul 6 If you’re an editor, a marketing manager or a collaborator who’s worked with me, the clarity and succinctness of my writing has made your job easier. Admit it. You may even think I’m talented. But here’s the…
Updated: Jul 6 The ability to write well is scandalously undervalued. Both the benefits of quality writing and the economic costs of poor writing are underestimated by organizations of all sizes. Although I've written about this before, I thought using…
Updated: Apr 27 He’s the worst roommate you ever had. He leaves dishes in the sink and never vacuums. He has to be asked five times to square up on his share of each month’s utility bill. He spills bong…
With writing, as with so many other disciplines, it's easy to spot others' mistakes but hard to recognize our own. Nobody realizes when he or she is coming across as an amateur, but there are introspective tools you can use…
If facts are the backbone of a well-crafted argument or pitch, stories are the heart. We greatly overestimate the extent to which facts and logic influence those around us. This misconception is reflected in the language used in board meetings,…
