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Word of the Week: Impromptu
Impromptu means something done on the spur of the moment without being planned or rehearsed.
For example, “Keith’s new boss had a reputation for holding meetings which were often impromptu and unnecessary.”
Word of the Week: Recalcitrant
Recalcitrant means to have an obstinate and uncooperative attitude toward authority.
For example, “Keith was upset with the recalcitrant website team that refused to implement his changes to the company website.”
Here’s a little sound, concise (very concise) advice from experienced writers.
1. “A sentence should never be cruel and unusual.” — William C. Burton, attorney
2. “I have made this letter longer that usual because I lack the time to make it shorter.” — Blaise Pascal, mathematician
3. “Clarity begins at home.” — Edie Schwager, speaker with the American Medical Writers Association
4. “The trouble with so many of us is that we underestimate the power of simplicity.” — Robert Stuberg, author and speaker
5. “I never write metropolis for seven cents when I can write city and get paid the same.” — Mark Twain, author
6. “When writing about science, don’t simplify the science; simplify the writing.” — Julie Ann Miller, former editor of Science News
7. “This report, by its very length, defends itself against the risk of being read.” — Winston Churchill, former British prime minister
8. “All good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. — Anne Lamott, author
9. “Good writing is clear thinking made visible.” — William Wheeler, journalist and author
10. “Easy reading is damn hard writing.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne, author
Word of the Week: Exculpate
Exculpate means to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing.
For example, “The company’s lawyer exculpated Keith of any blame in the sales team’s attempt to defraud the company.”
Word of the Week: Umbrage
Umbrage means a feeling of resentment after being slighted or insulted.
For example, “When the client mockingly inferred that Keith’s sales figures were inflated, he took umbrage at the remark, turned and walked away.”
Word of the Week: Mordant
Mordant means showing a sharp or critical quality, biting.
For example, “Keith refused to work with the intern because he did not like the intern’s mordant sense of humor.”
Word of the Week: Verbose
Verbose means wordy, using more words than necessary.
For example, “Keith’s response to a company inquiry of his excessive spending at a tradeshow was verbose, confusing, and misleading.”
Word of the Week: Codify
Codify means to arrange laws or rules into a systematic code.
For example, “The CEO asked Keith to codify the many different HR policies that their company implemented over the past 10 years.”
Word of the Week: Camaraderie
Camaraderie means a spirit of friendly good-fellowship.
For example, “Keith felt his team’s camaraderie gave them a leg up against the competition.”
Word of the Week: Cloister
Cloister means to cut off or seclude from the world.
For example, “While Keith was protective of the two new interns from his alma mater, he did not want to cloister them either.”