Blog - Page 14 of 17 - Judy Gregory Writer

More on saying what you mean (and salt and fluid for heart disease)

I've learned something today that adds complexity to my recent post about the advice for a type of heart disease: that the treatment is 'fluid and salt reduction' It turns out that, in some types of heart disease, fluid reduction is exactly what's needed because the disease is all about an excess of fluid So maybe the advice I heard really did mean fluid reduction and salt reduction!For a non-medical person like me (or for anyone who isn't an expert in the field being discussed), it's being...

Saying what you mean

Sometimes, it's remarkably difficult to say what you mean And the consequences can be very realThis morning I heard some advice for a particular type of heart disease: the recommended treatment is 'fluid and salt reduction'Logic tells me that the suggestion is to increase fluid and decrease salt, but is that actually what the recommendation says It could just as easily be interpreted as the reduction of fluid and the reduction of saltI'm beginning to notice that writers (and speakers) get into...

I’ve found an electronic dictionary

For some time, I've wanted an electronic dictionary - preferably something that would sit on my netbook I'm often asked word definition or word use questions that I'd like to be able to checkWhile I don't yet have a good dictionary on my netbook, I have found something that's almost as good I've bought an Electronic Dictionary Bookmark - an ultra-thin, flexible, plastic bookmark that holds the Collins Dictionary I love it! Now the trick is to remember to carry it with me at all timesI found it...

Is it Daylight Saving or Daylight Savings?

Today is the day when Australians start their annual summer experience of time-zone madness Today we have five time-zones, while in winter we only have three As a Queenslander, it becomes oh so easy to dial in an hour late for teleconferences or arrive an hour late for interstate meetingsBut is this time shift an experience of 'daylight saving time' or of 'daylight savings time'I've always assumed that 'daylight saving' is correct and that people who use 'daylight savings' are making a...

Electronic dictionary hunt

A few times lately, I've thought about how useful it would be to have a dictionary on my computerI facilitate quite a few workshops, and I'm often asked questions about word definitions and word usage that I'd like the check before answering How handy it would be to have my trusty Oxford dictionary loaded onto my computer for a quick search And how much better for workshop participants than to have me give a slightly uncertain response with the promise that I'll check the answer and get back to...

Background information that encourages action

I received a letter last week that got me thinking about how much background information writers should provide when they're asking their reader to take some actionI received a letter from my home insurance company, telling me that I needed to phone them within two days There was no explanation of why I should make the call I did what I was told - but only because the letter was about my insurance, and I didn't want to run the risk of my insurance policy being cancelled If I received a similar...

Emails that get opened (and read)

There are a few basic rules of email that most professional communicators can recite at the drop of a hat Things like:Clear subject line Most important information first Relevant to the reader Simple and easy to read Conversational tone Now, I recognise that nobody is perfect and it's only too easy to make mistakes But I was astonished by the email I received recently from an international professional communication association It was confusing, the main message was buried, and I...

Making sense of public signs

I'm usually the type of person who tries to do what's asked of me by public signs I figure that the person or organisation responsible for the sign has given their request some thought I hope that there's a good reason behind the request and that I can contribute to the public good by doing what's askedBut this sign by the lift at a bus station has got me wondering At this bus station exit, there are two choices: the lift, or a steep flight of stairs Several times each week, I arrive at...

Stopping those door-to-door salespeople

I have a real dislike of pushy selling tactics My personal policy is to never buy from people who phone me, knock on my door, or stop me in the street Of course, I'm aware of the conflicts this creates for me as a communicator When I develop communication materials, I often try to grab the attention of disinterested audiences Yet here am I, openly expressing frustration about organisations trying to use the same tactics on meWithin that context, I was amused by the sticker I received from my...