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Dear
So what have I got for you this issue? Well, inspired by a particularly bad advertisement on the back of a booklet I received the other day, there’s an article about apostrophe abuse.
Now I realise that you will know exactly when and where to use apostrophes. This article is aimed at anyone you encounter who doesn’t know where to use them and would like some help. It will make you look very supportive and helpful if you pass it on to them.
There’s also what will become a regular spot on everyday alternatives to pompous formal words that make business writing so stodgy and unpalatable.
There’s a couple of links to articles I’ve enjoyed as well. One is from Clare Lynch, who I’ve featured before, on avoiding marketing clichés. The other is from one of my lovely clients, The Safety Business, on the importance of proofreading no less.
And to finish, something that has nothing to do with writing but everything to do with great service.
I hope you enjoy this issue and if you do, please pass it on to anyone you feel may find it useful! See you in June.
Few other examples of incorrect punctuation incite so much irritation as misused apostrophes. And few reflect so badly on the misuser (yes, I know, it’s a made-up word).
One of the most irritating and unforgivable is when people use an apostrophe in a plural such as DVD’s, mince pie’s (yep – I really did see that one), tomatoe’s, pizza’s (oh stop me, stop me).
And it’s really not difficult to get it right. Read on to find out how.
Alternative remedies – simple words for clearer business writing
Want to lighten up your business writing by ditching the stodge?
This regular feature looks at a couple of pompous, over-blown words each time and gives some lighter but still perfectly valid alternatives. Click to read…
Where marketing hyperbole meets health and safety
I loved this blog post from Clare Lynch of DAC Creative.
Clare’s blog, goodcopybadcopy, is always worth a read but her post on marketing hyperbole had me in stitches.
One of my clients, The Safety Business, is a health and safety specialist. Its MD, Bettina, has told me on numerous occasions about the spelling mistakes she comes across in her industry. So she decided to do something about it and has written this blog post on the importance of proofreading. Yay!
It’s aimed specifically at health and safety practitioners but the sentiment is universal.
Ethical trading in every sense
Finally, I thought I’d spread a little spring sunshine and say thank you to Ecotopia for their excellent customer service.
Ecoptopia (ecotopia.co.uk) is an online company that, as the name suggests, sells environmentally-friendly and ethical products. I buy hand-wash from them and it always arrives the day after I place my order.
When I opened my last parcel from them, one of the tops had come loose and some of the soap had leaked into the box. I called and left a message, and got a call back very quickly.
Without any fuss, the guy I spoke to apologised and said he’d send a replacement. I got a message in my inbox a couple of minutes later to tell me the order had been processed, and the replacement arrived the next morning! Fabulous and a big thank you, Ecotopia team.