Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear

Women are proactively looking to make themselves beautiful, not just looking to hide away the extra pounds or additional wrinkle. They are seeking health, not simply running away from illness. It is not fear of something bad that motivates them; it’s the hope for something better. That’s why every communication should include the message of limitle

Daily Kos’s glossary (or Kossary) defines netroots as: “The Internet-based political grassroots movement; in other words, us.”

Originally, a geek was the objectionable character in a circus sideshow whose talent primarily consisted of biting the heads off chickens or eating bugs down in the “geek pit.”11 And the literal meaning of dork is “penis” (first used in 1961 to the best of my knowledge)12—not something most tasteful people would discuss in civilized conversation.

But woe to the public figure who violates these unwritten social rules about which terms are acceptable and which have become verboten.

The language lesson: A+B+C does not necessarily equal C+B+A. The order of presentation determines the reaction. The right order equals the right context.

(The “ask” only comes at the very end, within the last ten words. Why? Because a recall is the most extreme political maneuver other than impeachment. Don’t ask voters to take an extreme measure until you have told them why. And don’t expect them to agree with you unless and until you tell them the consequences of inaction. That’s why we added that

i. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do. iii. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active. v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can thin

The best messages intellectually invite audience participation. In this case, it was essential that the speaker used questions that triggered thoughts not just about the present but also about a troubling future if the status quo was allowed to stand: WORDS THAT WORK “I know that there are some who would say that the illegal immigrants are here alr

Sad—The word originally had nothing to do with a person’s mood or temperament. It has the same origins as the word sated, meaning “full” or “satisfied”—the way you feel after Thanksgiving dinner. Only later did it take on the sense of “heavy” or “weary,” and from there it developed into its modern meaning of “unhappy.” And it was only about a hundr