Here is a problematic word puzzler where one outlier does not follow the rule. [QW5] "It's" vs. "Its" We often find an apostrophe demonstrating ownership: The dog's bone A company's logo A Ferengi's tooth sharpener (If you're not a Star Trek fan, never mind :) ) We can shorten these to: Its bone Its logo (Ferengis are humanoids, so I can't call them … [Read more...] about [QW5] “It’s” vs. “Its”
Posts
“Am I a good work-from-home candidate?”
Someone just screamed at their phone: "NO!" And I sympathize. In February or March, your employer joined the worldwide lockdown movement. The company sent you home to work. From ... home. Every weekday. For months. You plunged ahead, called your entrepreneur buddies for support, and ... "got 'er done." You've seen the work world from our side. And … [Read more...] about “Am I a good work-from-home candidate?”
[QW4] ‘Democratic’ vs. ‘Democrat’
Okay, pet peeve time. We in the U.S. are ramping up to an election in early November. And I guarantee: we will hear and see the word 'democratic' misused 99% of the time between now and then. Well ... forever, really. Few of us – including grammar pundits and the Democrat Party! – remember what's correct. That's a bummer. [QW4] 'Democratic' vs. … [Read more...] about [QW4] ‘Democratic’ vs. ‘Democrat’
A fresh look @ follow-up
Kathie York, CSQE Chief Wordsmith and Gaffe Eradicator! When my friend Shawn and I talked about meeting reminders, she gave me an excellent idea for the perfect follow-up (no pun intended) to that post. “I’d like to find the best way to follow-up and thank clients. Has the etiquette around thank-you notes changed?” Funny you should ask. When I sent the … [Read more...] about A fresh look @ follow-up
[QW3] Don’t confuse ‘I’ and ‘me’
Kathie York, CSQE Chief Wordsmith and Gaffe Eradicator! [Surprise! I'm experimenting with sending my posts on Saturday mornings. It's history makin', and you're part of it ;-). Thanks for tagging along. Enjoy, K.] One of the most difficult things to get right in sentences is 'I' and 'me.' [QW3] Don't confuse 'I' and 'me' Let me show you two correct … [Read more...] about [QW3] Don’t confuse ‘I’ and ‘me’
“Why is it so hard to find good employees?”
When I asked you for 2020 blog post ideas, this question came back from various readers (who are mostly small business owners): "Why is it so hard to find good employees?" Sad. But I wasn’t shocked. I began researching this topic a while ago. Here's my ‘take’ on the subject, plus a discussion on how to keep good people once we find them. This post … [Read more...] about “Why is it so hard to find good employees?”
