Notebook
It’s full of thoughts, ideas, news, links and (occasionally) rants.
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A Christmas gift to the National Literacy Trust
Instead of sending Christmas cards, we've donated £400 to a charity that gives disadvantaged children vital literacy skills.
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How the way you write changes the way you think
Canadian journalist Clive Thompson on why it's sometimes better to write by hand, and sometimes better to type.
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Getting to grips with gender-neutral language
Is there sexist language lurking in your template documents or policies? If so, it's time to root it out.
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When brand language goes off the rails
The tone of voice in West Midlands Railway’s new branding shows it’s all too easy to strike the wrong note if you’re not careful.
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Simple words make for powerful writing
As Winston Churchill knew, great writing doesn’t rely on knowing lots of fancy words, but on using straightforward language effectively.
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Show, don’t tell – a lesson from Bruce Springsteen
An anecdote in the rock star’s autobiography illustrates the importance of showing people what you want them to know instead of telling them.
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Why is everything compared to the size of Wales?
From ice sheets to rainforests, geographical features in the news are often compared to the size of Wales. We explain why – and how you can use the same technique to make your writing memorable.
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How to write a winning award entry
Award ceremonies may be all about the glamour, but lifting an industry trophy often means lots of hard work writing a compelling entry that catches the judges' attention.
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The difference between short and concise
We believe writing is more powerful if it contains only the words needed to achieve the desired effect. But that doesn't necessarily mean it should be shorter. Here’s why.
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Effect or affect? More commonly confused words
This handy little video from Oxford Dictionaries unpicks the problem of words that sound the same but have different meanings.
