Category Archives: Uncategorized

I don’t usually use the word “myriad.” Perhaps it’s because I’m never sure whether to say “myriad of” or just “myriad.” In a recent article I quoted someone else who used “myriad.” The quote was “I am extremely grateful for … Continue reading →

There’s a sign in front of a pizza restaurant in my small town that infuriates me every time I drive by. It reads: “Mother’s Day: Mom’s get free dessert.” Okay, don’t even get me started about Mother’s Day. I think … Continue reading →

If you follow this blog, you’re used to me carping about common errors in grammar and awkward, wordy, unclear writing. I often sound like a bitter and hyper-critical wannabe writer, which pretty much covers it. But the fact is, when … Continue reading →

This weekend we saw Fiddler on the Roof at the Festival Theatre in Stratford. It was a wonderful production, and I predict it will be a big success. I had seen the musical a long time ago, but had forgotten … Continue reading →

When the stock market collapsed in 2008, few people saw it coming. When an angry public asked banking leaders why they didn’t tell us about the risks they were taking, they demurred. The financial system is too complicated for the … Continue reading →

As a Rotarian, I receive Rotary International’s monthly magazine. The Rotarian is a well-crafted little publication, and I enjoy reading it. The March issue begins with a message from Sakuji Tanaka, the President of Rotary lnternational. Tanaka is Japanese, and … Continue reading →

Okay, confession time: I’m not a fan of the word “however.” What do I have against the unoffending three-syllable word, you ask? Well, it’s three syllables, for one thing. But mostly it’s because I prefer the alternative “but.”  I like … Continue reading →

I recently received the Annual Report of the U.S.-based multinational, Johnson & Johnson. It begins with a letter from Alex Gorsky, the CEO and Chair of the Board. The letter was written in that heavy-handed corporate style of so many … Continue reading →

Earlier this week I was working with a client developing a set of key messages, and it got me thinking. A key is usually used to open something, right? Yet the “key messages” developed by corporate communicators often lock up … Continue reading →

When Pat and I were in Tucson a few weeks ago, we went to an excellent play, Freud’s Last Session, put on by the Arizona Theatre Company. Like most arts organizations in North America, it depends on the support of … Continue reading →