Good Copy, Bad Copy — Doris and Bertie Ltd

To Click Here, or Not to Click Here: That Is the SEO Question.

Today, I'm delighted to introduce a guest post by one of my favourite bloggers, web and social media expert Brad Shorr.

How to writeClare LynchAugust 5, 2009click here, link juice, SEO Comments

Why your employees aren't exactly delighted by the idea of "customer delight"

Do customers really expect to be delighted these days? Are they disappointed when merely satisfied?

How not to writeClare LynchAugust 3, 2009customer delight Comments

Why you'll never find a hedge fund called Bob

I’m reading a book about finance at the moment and in it I came across a hedge fund called “The High-Grade Structured Credit Strategies Enhanced Leverage Fund” Quite a mouthful, eh?

How not to writeClare LynchJuly 30, 2009finance, hedge fund, jargon Comments

How not to write a job advert

A reader forwarded a ridiculous job advert to me. I believe it to be genuine, so if you’re interested, let me know and I’ll put you in touch with him.

Thirty words and phrases you need to stop using today

Here are the bloated and baffling buzz words that are getting my goat this week. What would you add to the list?

How not to writeClare LynchJuly 24, 2009Words that should be banned Comments

The Big Cliché

Organising a campaign? Want to get everyone involved? Keen to sound inclusive, exciting and a little bit down with the kids? Not sure what to call it? Why, just add to the list . . .

How not to writeClare LynchJuly 23, 2009clichés Comments

Strapline clichés to avoid #3: "working together"

Read the strapline attached to any branch of local government or publicly funded service in the UK and you’ll soon realise just how much touchy-feely teamwork is involved in bleeding you of your hard-earned taxes.

How not to writeClare LynchJuly 22, 2009joined-up thinking, straplines, taglines Comments

Strapline clichés to avoid #2: any strapline that includes the word “passion” (but especially if it’s combined with “excellence”)

Do you really think your employees have an intense, emotional attachment to their work? And that the phrase “a passion for excellence” captures exactly how your firm gets things done?

Strapline clichés to avoid: the alliterative triplet

Need to come up with a strapline that really sums up your company? Think carefully before going the way of the alliterative triplet.

How to write, How not to writeClare LynchJuly 15, 2009brand, clichés, straplines Comments

How to answer the dreaded question: “So tell me, what do you do?”

Hate introducing yourself at networking events? Here’s how to make sure the other person leaves having “got" what you're all about.

How to writeClare LynchJuly 13, 2009business writing, elevator pitch, networking Comments

Words that should be banned: hydration

We’re constantly being bombarded with mendacious marketing messages by charlatans trying to sell us something that’s free, abundant and available on tap – literally.

How not to writeClare LynchJuly 9, 2009hydration, strapline, waterComment

Good copy alert!

Today I’m going to break with tradition. Instead of mocking an example of bad copy, as is my wont, I’d like to introduce you to some copy that I think is good – really good.

“Roles” versus “jobs”, or how the economic crisis has exposed an insidious corporate euphemism

My parents’ generation all had jobs. Today’s workers, lucky creatures that we are, have “roles”. At least we did – until the financial crisis hit. Because, where roles are created and offered, jobs are invariably cut and lost.

The Comma Splice: How to Spot It and Cure It

There’s a nasty little punctuation habit that instantly gives your age away. It’s called the comma splice, and I’ve noticed it’s mostly used by writers under the age of 35.

Job titles, hyphens and inflationary language

Sometime last year our traffic wardens became “civil enforcement officers”. Actually, there had been an intermediary stage I’d missed when they were known as “parking attendants”.

Strapline competition - we have a winner!

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of Friday's strapline competition is Lucy Nixon. Here's the winning entry.

How to writeClare LynchJune 1, 2009straplines, Strunk and White Comments

Advertising taglines – can you guess the brands?

A little puzzle for you. Can you work out the straplines the copywriter came up with after being sent these clunky first drafts by the guys from corporate?

How not to writeClare LynchMay 29, 2009brands, corporatese, straplines, taglines Comments

Twelve ways my PhD prepared me for blogging

Here’s how I think doing a PhD can prepare you for blogging – or, indeed, how blogging might prepare you for doing a PhD.

How to writeClare LynchMay 28, 2009blogging, Old English poetry, PhD, writing Comments

Grammar brush-up: Rules for indicating possession with an apostrophe

Unsure about how to use the apostrophe? It’s the one piece of punctuation people will judge you for if you get it wrong. Here are twelve rules you need to know.

Gender versus sex – why you should observe the difference

Filling in a form recently, I was asked to state my gender. It’s not the first time I’ve noticed this use of the word “gender” when what the author intended was (avert your eyes now if you’re of a sensitive disposition) “s-e-x”.

How to writeClare LynchMay 18, 2009gender, sex Comments