Versify Creative Content Solutions, LLC
In sailing nomenclature, ‘sheet’ is the term for a rope used to secure the trim of a sail. In this context, a sail is left hanging free, leaving it to flap in the wind rather than catch the breeze; if both sails are flailing — and you add a third, useless sail, for hyperbolic effect — it means someone hasn’t just imbibed … they’re wasted!
Say you’re a chef making soup … we’ll pick chicken soup. We agree there are structural principals, let’s call them “rules,” to follow when making chicken soup: you need water, a chicken and some vegetables.
Sticking with just the rules would, in fact, produce chicken soup; but, would it be tasty? It’s possible (yet unlikely).
Now, consider the drawerful of spices at your disposal: a bit of dill, pinch of turmeric and (my favorite) some Yemeni hawaij. Presto, chango … instead of plain old soup you’ve crafted some amazingly savory soup! Why? You need the spice; it’s the spice that gives your chicken soup its flavor.
Writers have access to spice — one is called “turn of phrase” — and when used effectively it can make good writing great. Using a turn of phrase can help establish your “writer’s voice,” much like the spice in your soup becomes your “chef’s signature.”
Writing’s rules (e.g. grammar, syntax, and punctuation) govern its foundational structure. Each is a necessary component for effective communication. Throw in a good turn of phrase and — POW — you’ve given your writing some flavor … zest … punch!
My preamble concluded, the turn of phrase I chose to share today is “Hobson’s choice.”
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Giving credit where it’s due, I read a quick blog post this morning on “Quick and Dirty Tips dot com” about a word-choice debate I’ve had for years: “use” versus “utilize.” (I know I’m not alone.)
It’s often one of those things many don’t notice until it’s pointed out, like a small stain on someone’s tie or chewing with your mouth open, but drilling down a smidge, you can see how the choice of word is often telling.
Basically, and without intending to sound too judgmental, people glom onto utilize because it “sounds” more authoritative.
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WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The use of active or passive voice is a basic distinction that often causes trouble for many writers. Growing up, students are often drilled that they should avoid the passive voice because it is “weak.” It’s not quite that simple. Basically, the passive voice gets short shrift, but passive should be used appropriately. Depending on the ideas being expressed and the medium where the copy appears, the passive voice can be an appropriate, sophisticated, and even preferable choice over the active voice. With that said – or in this case, written – the active voice is often a better choice; and you may use both in the same article, depending on the context and content of your sentences. There are two types of passive sentences:
At the most basic level, the active voice emphasizes the subject or agent who performs an action; in short, the “actor.” The passive voice emphasizes the recipient of the action or sometimes the action itself.
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Casting a wide net (to maximize reach) is an idiom as old as the Bible, but efficacy in message platforms is a critical consideration when interacting with your audience. This Best Practice Tip takes a look at Instagram, the Facebook-owned image- and video-sharing social media platform.
In October 2020, the Pew Research Center’s Fact Tank published an article titled, “8 Facts About Americans and Instagram,” and the number crunchers peeled back some interesting insight into Instagram users.
Even though Instagram has been around for a decade, researchers found that less than four-in-ten Americans said they ever used Instagram. While that number is significantly higher than the nine percent who responded affirmatively when the question was last asked in 2012, it pales in comparison to more established platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
The time between when a candidate, in this case President-elect Joe Biden, and the incumbent, President Donald Trump, is declared but does not yet officially take office. Otherwise known as the “transition.”