http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946 Discussion about: Six Types of Words That You Should Axe in Business Writing http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment213363
1. My car has been stolen.
2. Much tobacco is grown in Eastern Europe.
3. Both French and English are spoken in Canada.
4. Thirteen people were injured by a tornado in Florida.
5. I have been robbed.
6. These works of art were all produced by women.

A really popular use of the passive voice is to keep discourse topics in the subject position over successive sentences in order to keep adding new information about a topic.

For example:
The first programmable electronic computer was built in England during World War 2. IT was called the the Colossus, and IT was used to decipher Adolf Hitler\\\'s confidential messages to his generals. After the war, IT was destroyed so that the world would not learn how the British broke codes. presently, IT is being reconstructed at Bletchley Park in England where IT can be viewed by visitors.

If these sentences were cast in the active voice, the flow of old to new information would be lost and the paragraph would probably be harder to process quickly by a reader.


]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:45:24 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment122230 ]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:14:40 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment122226
However, people aren\'t dumb (most of us, at least). We know those words. Heck, I\'m an eighth-grader (yes, a so called simple-minded grade schooler!), and I knew every word in the article! Anyway, basically, I like big words. They are fun to use. Just don\'t get carried away.]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:53:39 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment102846 ]]> Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:40:13 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment68022
I think the interesting part here is that so many people seem to actually take this article personally. As if it\'s an attack on their intelligence or competence as a \"business professional\". How naive! and dare I say, unprofessional?

I think this becomes clear when these people defend their right (rather aggressively) to use advanced language with the argument that \"only uneducated unintelligent people use a simple language, and that\'s not me\". (It\'s right there, between the lines.)

This is of course an irrelevant argument. After all we\'re discussing methods for communicating efficiently and profitable--not wether we can tell if people are stupid or not by the language they use.

If an advanced language is indeed superior when communicating in the business world then there must be plenty of stories and examples of how this experience was learned. Surely. I think hearing some of those stories would really shed some light on this whole discussion. This battle of pride is getting rather boring and quite frankly - I think it\'s dumb.

hi-5!]]> Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:36:59 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment66289
The following sentences are from actual sales proposals,

\"Last year, we published the earth resources satellite field station implementation, maintenance, repair manual.

It is a direct drive remote terminal software modification package designed by our internal software applications development management group.

Nova offers specialized technology solutions integration services.

Personnel development in our company is guided by an employee testing training skill development program.

And a proposal title: Fax Transmission Network Access Cost Optimization Proposal\"

Quoted from Tom Sant\'s terrific book, Winning Sales Proposals.

As he says, you should never write \"Fax Transmission Network Access Cost Optimization Proposal\"

Instead, write \"Reducing the Cost of Sending Faxes: A Proposal to Enhance your Network Service\"

Simple, clean, easy-to-understand...]]> Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:13:10 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment57480 Sure, avoid the big words. But, tell the story using everyday words to paint a picture.
However, words like "peruse" are certainly NOT overly sophisticated.

Rule #1 in copy is
to get the reader
to read the next
line
that's it!
]]> Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:13:52 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment57277
The headline of this article is - 'Six Types of Words That You Should Axe in Business Writing'.

One problem. The word 'that' is probably the most overused and meaningless word in English. The headline should be 'Six Types of Words You Need to Slash Writing for Business'.

Both have the same # of words. Which one would you use? If the copywriter can't get the Headline right, all else is moot.

]]> Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:35:29 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment52344 ]]> Fri, 02 Nov 2007 09:26:59 PST http://www.bizcovering.com/Business/Six-Types-of-Words-That-You-Should-Axe-in-Business-Writing.49946#comment52258 ]]> Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:08:08 PST