Tag Archives: language

Plain Language

Posted on March 20, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever I know that this isn’t news since the Plain Language Act passed last year, but since I’ve recently talked about convoluted and over-inflated language, I thought I’d mention it … Continue reading →

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Let’s Collaborate to Eradicate Collaborate!

Posted on March 11, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever I know it’s not going to happen, but I would love to get through one day without hearing the word “collaborate.” No one works with anyone else any longer.  … Continue reading →

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Buzzword Bingo

Posted on March 6, 2011 by languageandgrammar

We talk quite a bit here about inflated, trendy language (also a popular topic in Literally, the Best Language Book Ever), but dailywritingtips.com has suggested 24 popular buzzwords that can be turned into a game of buzzword bingo. The idea … Continue reading →

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Convoluted and Over-Inflated Language

Posted on February 25, 2011 by languageandgrammar

In Literally, the Best Language Book Ever, I have a chapter called “You Thought You Were Clever, But..” in which I talk about words, phrases, and expressions that might have once been clever or cute but have lost all charm … Continue reading →

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24 Things You Might Be Saying Wrong…

Posted on February 17, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever and Weather Whys: Facts, Myths, and Oddities A Reader’s Digest article from last year, 24 Things You Might Be Saying Wrong, includes quite a few examples of what I … Continue reading →

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Statement Enclosed

Posted on February 10, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever and Weather Whys: Facts, Myths, and Oddities. Envelopes arrive at my house nearly every week with the phrase “Statement enclosed” stamped on the front, and the statement inside is … Continue reading →

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Super Ad Sunday–Greatest Advertising Scam in History

Posted on February 4, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever The commercials during the Super Bowl have seemingly become so important that perhaps we should call the day Super Ad Sunday, but I don’t understand the one-day obsession with … Continue reading →

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Strange Interview Questions

Posted on January 25, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever We typically think of job interview communication in terms of what the prospective employee might say, but the interview is a two-way communication. It’s fairly easy to find posts … Continue reading →

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Come On, Newspaper!

Posted on January 18, 2011 by languageandgrammar

We all make typos, but come on, New Orleans Times-Picayune! (For more, see the Yahoo Sports blog)

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“Correlate” Retirement Age with Life Expectancy

Posted on January 14, 2011 by languageandgrammar

By Paul Yeager, author of Literally, the Best Language Book Ever Republican lawmakers who want to extend the number of years that you need to work before getting your social security benefits are afraid to say that they’re raising your … Continue reading →

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