Notebook

For writers, notebooks are where ideas come to life. This blog is a space for sharing our news and ideas with you.

  • Brand language: over-committed?

    Noted by Matt on 06.11.09

    Brand words

    Companies are keen to tell you they’re committed. Some are committed to giving you a call. Others are committed to saving the planet. But does this brand language sound a bit hollow?

  • Thinking literally

    Footnote

    “When we say someone is a warm person, we do not mean that they are running a fever. When we describe an issue as weighty, we have not actually used a scale to determine this. And when we say a piece of news is hard to swallow, no one assumes we have tried unsuccessfully to eat it.” via The Boston Globe

  • Should you write ‘he or she’ or ‘they’?

    Noted by Matt on 16.10.09

    Web words , Business words

    Talking about an individual person? Find out why the Oxford English Dictionary advises you to write ‘they’ instead of ‘he or she’.

  • How to brief your copywriter

    Noted by Matt on 08.10.09

    Web words , Business words

    Give your copywriter a good brief and you’ll be rewarded with good work. We’ve put together some tips to show you how.

  • Websites: fix typos to boost credibility

    Noted by Matt on 23.09.09

    Web words

    Research shows that the smallest spelling mistake can damage the credibility of a website. But how can you make sure your organisation’s site is free from typos? Web spell checker Spellr.us could be the answer.

  • Stuck for creative ideas? Stop working and start walking

    Noted by Matt on 18.09.09

    Web words , Business words , Words words words

    Going for a walk may not sound like work but it’s an important part of our copywriting process. Find out how walking can help you think creatively.

  • Missing the nuance

    Footnote

    “The most effective writing uses words sharply and precisely. Loose or slipshod usage can make prose vague or mushy, and eventually the words themselves start to lose the nuance that makes them effective.” via The New York Times

  • The A-to-Z of online copywriting

    Footnote

    “Online copywriting can make all the difference between a website that engages and converts, and one that stagnates.” via Econsultancy

  • Giving a presentation? Don’t forget the words

    Noted by Matt on 27.07.09

    At last, the myth that words account for only seven percent of a spoken message has been busted. Take a look at this lovely animation from Creativityworks.

  • Two novel ways to practise writing in different styles

    Noted by Matt on 17.07.09

    Web words , Brand words , Business words

    As a writer, how do you keep your copy fresh? Our top tip: set yourself some novel tone of voice exercises.