I recently saw “lie” and “lay” used incorrectly Unfortunately, it is definitely understandable. “Lie” and “lay” may be the two most confusing words in English. The verb “lie” means to be at rest, especially in a horizontal position. (“I’m going to lie down for a nap.”). The verb “lie” also means to be in some condition. (“The fault lies […]
The “Right” Word: The Principal Principle
Here are two words that often get used incorrectly: “principal” and “principle.” “Principal” means the most important person or thing. It can be a noun (e.g., the principal of the school) or an adjective (e.g., the principal issue). “Principle” is a noun that means a fundamental law or doctrine. (e.g., “It’s the principle of the thing.”) How can […]
The Killer News Release (Part 7): More Tips
Here are more tips on how to write an effective news release. Write in meaningful English. Explain technical terms. Avoid acronyms if possible, unless they are commonly used (e.g., “ATM” for “automated teller machine”). If you must use an acronym, define it first and put the acronym in parenthesis after that, e.g., “World Interoperability for […]
The Killer News Release (Part 6): The Body of the Release
In my previous posts, I discussed writing the headline and lead of your news release. Here are tips on writing the body of the release. Include a quote that moves your story along. A quote is the only place in the release where you can state an opinion. Keep the quote restrained and do not […]
The Killer News Release (Part 5): The Lead
So you’ve done your research, crafted your headline and subhead. Now it’s time to write the body of the news release. Here are some tips. Write a lede (“lead”) that tells the complete story. Releases need to include the most important facts – the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why” and “how” – preferably in the […]
The Killer News Release (Part 4): More on Headlines
My previous post discussed how to write a good headline for a news release. Here are more tips. Use a benefit headline for more impact. Instead of starting with the hard news angle, you could begin with the benefit of your announcement. This will help you stand out in the crowd. Benefit headlines typically “flag” […]
