In a world in which yes means no, will means won’t, and truth is whatever you want it to be, it’s easy to forget how different things are in our personal and business relationships. We don’t like liars, cheats, boasters, or tellers of half-truths....
We’ve all enjoyed another season of new games and gadgets. But how many of them made sense when they came out of the box? Who spent Christmas cursing a set of abysmally confusing instructions? Your gadgets come from China; your instructions should be home-grown...
The job of the lexicographer used to be lonely, quiet, and thoughtful – as austere as life in a monastic order. Nowadays you can bang out a dictionary definition the moment a half-formed idea hits your head. The Urban Dictionary has been doing solid work for slang and...
Copywriters rely on facts. They can put a spin on things, but if their story’s not rooted in fact, it’s waffle. But what are the facts? Some clients have everything nailed; others (mostly those that rely on their PR teams for ideas) quote the first page...
We Brits are too polite. When something isn’t as it should be, we apologise. It’s a knee-jerk reaction. But in business it’s just wasted words. And usually completely insincere. Think of all those times you’ve stood on a railway platform...