Writing & Editing

Russell Working

Cutting your copy? Slash the quotes

Everybody’s trying to write tighter these days. Start with paring wordy, repetitive quotes—even if it’s the CEO who is speaking.

Bill Spaniel

Demonyms find their place in our lexicon and across the country

As Halloween looms, we might think this word describes goblins, fiends and other hellions. Not so. It refers to Hoosiers and Yoopers and Yanks (oh, my!)—people hailing from particular locales.

Ted Kitterman

Twitter bans political ad buys, Toyota changes messaging on emissions, and when to use ROI or KPI measures

Also: A viral Popeyes-themed Halloween costume, Deadspin’s splashy staff exodus, Southwest’s crisis response over alleged bathroom camera, where PR pros get their news, and more.

William Comcowich

Why and how to use handwritten notes in business

A thank-you note, crafted by your own hand, delivers meaning beyond its text. Using pen and paper for your writing encourages a freer flow of ideas. Consider these and other benefits.

Beki Winchel

TikTok’s growth spurt, Halloween-themed social media posts, and rivals stoking a viral YouTube fundraiser

Also: NCAA buckles on athlete earnings rule, recruiting employees with grant money, a #MeToo version of ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside,’ and more.

Beki Winchel

Popeyes’ chicken sandwich returns, Adobe breach hits 7.5M, and rushing to measure ROI won’t produce results

Also: Juul to lay off 500 employees, Apple debuts more-inclusive emojis, Walgreens pivots from clinics to Jenny Craig partnership, and PR pros’ greatest fears.

Beki Winchel

Facebook tests ‘News’ feature, Lyft offers rides to job interviews and doctor visits, and YouTube’s 20M trees campaign

Also: 25 years of banner ads, CIOs’ crucial role, Chipotle ballyhoos burritos on TikTok, and your top content priorities for 2020.

Sue Horner

8 writing takeaways from ‘Dancing with the Stars’

It’s not about turning sambas into similes, but more about deriving lessons from processes and presentation, as contestants up their game in a competitive field. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Robby Brumberg

10 of the most nefarious words in the English language

Cast these infernal abominations and annoying clichés into the abyss of wretched writing.

Robby Brumberg

How to write a better résumé

Use a readable font, remove irrelevant jobs from high school, and delete all that mindless jargon.

Ted Kitterman

One in five journalists lives in NYC, LA or DC

The contracting news industry has seen a concentration of staffing in those three major cities. What does that mean for communicators trying to land coverage in other markets?