-
Site picks
- Once we hated business jargon… Back in the day, Plain Text railed against corporatese like everyone else…
- …but now we've changed our minds. It’s quite useful really, in its proper place. Why resist?
Great writing picks
- Gizmodo Flip, punchy copy that makes gadget freaks salivate.
- Tim Harford Not scared of full stops.
Archives
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- February 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- June 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- July 2006
- June 2005
- October 2004
- June 2004
- November 2003
- September 2003
- May 2003
- March 2003
- December 2002
- September 2002
- May 2002
- January 2002
- December 2001
- September 2001
-
RSS Links
V – VAGUENESS
If your reader has to guess what you mean, you’ve failed as a communicator.
“Pedestrians are requested to proceed with caution on these steps during inclement weather”
Perhaps the council’s signwriters, who crafted this example, are paid by the letter. “Slippery when wet” or “These steps may be hazardous in the rain” would be a considerable improvement.
Get to the point.