Human Skills and Better Communication
There’s sometimes confusion about whether to use one word or two, in certain circumstances.
Altogether or all together? Sometimes or some times?
Does it matter?
Well, yes, it often does.
Continue reading “One Word Or Two? What’s The Difference?”
Are you shocked to discover how close it’s getting to the end of the year? But how close are you to being able to achieve your goals – for the year, the financial year, the quarter or even the month?
Continue reading “How To Achieve Your Goals: 3 Steps”
You probably use a variety of visual techniques – things that are designed to appeal to the eye.
Obviously, they are used widely in what are primarily ‘visual texts’ – e.g. advertisements, brochures, flyers, and posters. They might be images, banners, shapes, etc. that accompany text. They might or might not include words.
There are other important visual techniques, though, that add an extra dimension to texts that are primarily written.
Continue reading “Visual Techniques: Let Me Show You What I Mean”
Metaphors add colour to language. Mixed metaphors are a mismatch of images that often create a bizarre effect.
Continue reading “Mixed Metaphors And Improbable Imagery”
The art of argument is a set of skills you need to be able to master. Whether you’re a writer or a speaker, in a business or personal context, you’ll find it to be invaluable.
Continue reading “The Art Of Argument: Convince Them!”
The ‘elevate’ buzzword addiction is yet another example of corporate copycatting. It might have been original, once, as an extension of ‘take it to the next level’ (and aren’t we all tired of that one?) Now, at best, it’s overused; at worst, its use is often meaningless and just plain silly.
Continue reading “The ‘Elevate’ Buzzword: Get Off The Elevator”
What’s happening with the use of why? There’s a lot written about ‘why’ we do (or fail to do) things. Specialists in motivation, therapy, training and coaching and many others often write well about it. But why on earth is ‘why’ a buzzword noun?
Continue reading “The Use Of Why: But Why On Earth?”
We love to use figurative language. It adds colour, interest and extra emphasis to points we want to make. When it’s wrongly applied, though, it ruins the image completely.
Unfortunately, speakers and writers like to copy phrases that have impressed them without thinking about what they really mean.
Continue reading “When Figurative Language Fails”
The words ‘if’ and ‘whether’ are often used interchangeably. In most cases, it isn’t a problem. Sometimes, though, it can lead to awkwardness or misunderstanding.
Continue reading “If and Whether Or Not”
Writers construct texts to shape the response of their readers; readers react and respond to what they read.
This writer-reader interaction is fundamental. Therefore, you should focus on making it a positive and effective one.
Here are 10 questions to ask (and to answer)
Continue reading “Texts For Effects”