Category Archives: Flair & Finesse

In my first post one year ago, I talked about the downsides of starting sentences with “There is” or “There are” (http://www.normfriedman.com/blog/dont-stumble-at-the-start/). Now let’s look at another kind of less-than-optimal opening. To make my point, I’ll focus on what I … Continue reading →

Last week (http://www.normfriedman.com/blog/precision/), I suggested that when we write we might want the melody of “Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof playing softly in the back of our heads as “Pre-ci-sion!” Let’s continue the discussion. Many people have told me … Continue reading →

Picture Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof singing “Tradition,” but with different lyrics. The song is now called “Precision,” and it’s his advice on writing in the workplace. (Maybe Tevye even dreams of writing ad copy – “If I Were … Continue reading →

Clearly, clarity is paramount in writing effectiveness. But even if we understand that and commit to it, we’re bound to send fuzzy messages from time to time. The antidote? Allocating ample time to organizing the message is crucial, but it … Continue reading →

Are editing and proofing different? I think so. I see editing as sharpening our content through means such as reorganizing, elaborating, cutting, and rephrasing. I see proofing as rooting out errors in usage, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and facts. And although … Continue reading →