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Yes, you CAN cancel your cellphone contract
Perhaps you don’t need your contract anymore? Perhaps you simply can’t afford it. The good news is that you can cancel the contract, says Amanda Patterson. Find out how.1. Did you know that The...
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Verbal detox™ – the shortest cut of all
In my last column I unveiled my verbal detox™ concept, which involves using as few words as possible to convey your meaning. I promised some practical examples and an introduction to the man I credit...
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Verbal detox™ – an aid to digestion (in fewer than 50 shades)
Caryn Gootkin finally makes good on her promise to reveal her muse.We had a great response to our verbal detox™ limerick challenge and I urge you to read all of the entries in the comments section of...
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Show plain language your sensitive side in our multilingual society
Caryn Gootkin cautions against the temptation to overwrite and baffle with jargon, focussing on why plain language is so important in our rainbow nation.We recently challenged you to write the best...
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The rands and sense of plain language: does it pay to write simply?
If her column on using plain language to show your sensitive side failed to move you, Caryn Gootkin looks at the financial implications of writing in plain language and why it’s in your best interest...
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Just Do It: Use active verbs as part of your plain language regime
Caryn Gootkin marks International Plain Language Day (IPLD – 13 October) with some tips on how to put life back into your writing.Many people think plain language involves little more than using...
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Was Fikile Mbalula ‘mockering’ the ‘crown jewel’ of (our) nation?
When the editor sent Caryn Gootkin a copy of the sports minister’s 25 January statement about Bafana Bafana, a plain language column practically wrote itself.Regular readers of this column will know...
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The schmendrik’s* guide to recognising (and avoiding) email scams
Caryn Gootkin’s alter ego, the Pedantic Player, advises the greedy and gullible to watch out for email scammers with their too-good-to-be true messages.If you’re anything like Caryn or me, each morning...
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‘With all due respect’ and other unplain language
In Caryn Gootkin’s humble opinion, we should write in plain language and talk in plain speech.Much of the discussion around plain language focuses on the written word and ways to edit your writing to...
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Plain language: The tricky aspects of gender-neutral language
Caryn Gootkin suggests alternatives to gender-specific pronouns that will make your writing more accurate, less offensive and plainer.The principles of plain language suggest that we should use...
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Punctuation (Part 1): the real story behind the dots and dashes
My seven-year-old has starting learning Hebrew at school. This is the moment I have been waiting for; I have neglected my love affair with the language over the past 20 years since completing my major...
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Punctuation (Part 2): The elegant yet often-overlooked semi colon
Caryn Gootkin continues her series on punctuation by demystifying the semi-colon, which has been called the scariest punctuation mark.Semi-colons have a bad reputation; unfairly, I think. The reason...
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The humble full stop: from plain language to haplography
Caryn Gootkin hopes readers have conquered their fears of the semi-colon after her last column. Today she explains why the humble full stop can become a powerful plain language tool and reveals its...
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Ten business communications you can’t afford to get wrong
Dear Big Business In 2013, you conduct 70% of your business with the electronic written word. If you write an invitation, you want me to accept. If you write a warning label, you need to make me aware...
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Elections 2014: Seven reasons to communicate clearly
Are you as annoyed as I am when you listen to politicians? With the elections in South Africa on 7 May 2014, I thought candidates would at least try to communicate clearly. I don’t understand what most...
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‘Caveat Subscriptor!’ Beware the issue of employment contracts
Labour vibes: ’Caveat Subscriptor’ is a Latin term which means ‘let the signer beware’ and is a fair warning given South Africa’s all too often draconian labour legislation! Employers beware that the...
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