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Yaffe’s Law vs. Murphy’s Law: A New Look at an Old Problem Murphy’s Law is considered by many to be the fundamental law of the universe. It states: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” Philip Yaffe claims to have found a loophole regarding writing and speaking. In this article, he shows how Yaffe’s Law can be used to counteract Murphy’s Law, leading to more persuasive marketing plans, sales letters, financial reports, etc., as well as speeches and oral presentations people will be eager to attend and actually listen to. Why Visual Aids Need to Be Less Visual There is a false belief that most presentation slides - if not all of them - should be illustrated. If your objective is to show the beauty of a tourist destination, the genius of an architectural concept, the difficulty of a manufacturing procedure, etc., then illustrations make sense. But they can be distracting and therefore detrimental. This article defines principles and offers suggestions for making slides that will truly help presentations rather than hindering them. Why Clear Writing Means Aiming for the Lowest Common Denominator - and then Some Someone once said, "Nothing is so simple that it can't be misunderstood." Thus, when conveying ideas and information, you should always aim for the lowest common denominator. Far from "dumbing down", recognizing and applying the truth of this dictum is the only sure path to successful writing and speaking. What Abraham Lincoln Can Teach Us about Clear, Concise Writing Abraham Lincoln, America's iconic 16th President (1861-65), was never known as either a great writer or a great orator. Yet he penned one of the most highly praised and oft-quoted speeches in history. It was probably so good because it clearly expressed his controlled passion towards the monumental event he was talking about. Nevertheless, it is possible to dispassionately analyze it and draw some important lessons. The Sin of Arrogant Advertising Is advertising an art or a science? In fact, it is both; however, the science is often sacrificed in the drive for “creativity”. Tested Advertising Methods, a classic treatise on the subject, rigorously explodes many cherished myths. Armed with these field-tested insights, we can better harness art and science to work in tandem towards achieving advertising’s one true objective—influencing customers. This article offers suggestions on how to use this knowledge to avoid costly misadventures. The Mathematics of Persuasive Communication This article defines the fundamental but frequently neglected principles of persuasive communication. These principles are easily applicable to virtually all kinds of writing and speaking. The article is based on the book In the “I” of the Storm: the Simple Secrets of Writing & Speaking (Almost) like a Professional. Stop Writing Press Releases. Start Writing News Releases. Journalists hate “press releases” and love “news releases”. Although most people use these terms interchangeably, there is a significant difference. Understanding this difference can dramatically increase the publication rate of your press information. This article describes the two fundamental aspects of a news release to ensure your media success. Pithy Prose: The Wit & Wisdom of People Named 'W' "Pithy prose" are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle. A few people (e.g. Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde) produced pithy prose, in their hundreds. Others only a handful, but these too are well worth preserving. This article is dedicated to the wit and wisdom of people with surnames beginning with "W". Pithy Prose: The Wit & Wisdom of Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde was an illustrious Irish dramatist, novelist, and poet. He was renowned for his "pithy prose". These are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle. Pithy Prose: The Wit & Wisdom of Mark Twain Mark Twain famously observed, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." Quotations like this are called "pithy prose". They can cover an unlimited variety of subjects: love, religion, politics, human nature, etc. What unites them is their ability to say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle. Pithy Prose: The Wit & Wisdom of Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher who questioned ideas and dogmas that were not "life-affirming". His keen observations were often formulated in "pithy prose". These are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle. Pithy Prose: The Wit & Wisdom of Anatole France Anatole France was a prolific French novelists and essayist who in 1921 won the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was renowned his deep thinking and "pithy prose". These are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle. Pithy Prose: The Wit & Wisdom of Ambrose Bierce Ambrose Bierce was an American journalist and author. He is best remembered for "The Devil’s Dictionary" (1906), which is the epitome of "pithy prose". These are quotations that say more in one or two sentences than could be expressed in a thousand-word treatise. They are like pouring a liter of liquid into a half-liter bottle Notes on Writing from Writers of Note Why do people almost always equate the term "writer" with creative writing (fiction) and almost never with expository writing (non-fiction)? In trying to find the answer to this question, expository writer Philip Yaffe discovered that the two genres, in many ways distinct and divergent, nevertheless have many features in common. The two types of writers can profit from these similarities in order to better exploit the differences. Myths and Realities of Writing for the Web It is often said that writing for the Web is fundamentally different from other types of writing. It isn't. Good writing is good writing whether it is printed on paper or on a screen. Because of this erroneous belief, some advice given about writing for the Web is significantly detrimental. Making Sense of Nonsense: Writing Advice from Lewis Carroll and the Jabberwocky Author Lewis Carroll is renowned for his light, almost fluffy children's books and his nonsensical poems, most notably "The Jabberwocky" from Alice through the Looking Glass. So what can we learn from him about clear, concise, persuasive expository (non-fiction) writing? Actually, a great deal, because under the surface "The Jabberwocky" is a meticulously crafted and masterly executed example of clear, concise, persuasive prose. Laugh Your Way to Persuasive Communication If you can tell a joke well, you already possess many of the skills you need to write a persuasive marketing plan, sales letter, financial report, new product proposal, etc. Equally, you already possess many of the skills you need to prepare persuasive speeches and other types of oral presentations. This article shows how to use the hidden attributes of good jokes in all areas of persuasive communication. Is a Worldwide Common Language just over the Horizon? An official common language for the world - one that would be spoken by virtually everyone virtually ever where on the planet – would appear to be a utopian dream. However, the first significant step towards realizing the dream seems about to be taken. This article discusses when and where this is likely to happen and the probable path to an official worldwide language once the process has been set in motion. How Verbal Variety Kills Comprehension Some writers will do almost anything to avoid repeating a word to achieve "verbal variety". The fact is, judicious repetition aids readability and comprehension while varied vocabulary can actually harm it. The trick is to know when to be the same and when to be different. How to Use Presentation Slides to Best Effect Many presenters pay great attention to designing slides and virtually none to how they are used. This discordance gives rise to the calumnious phrase "death by PowerPoint". PowerPoint and other visual aids can significantly enhance a presentation if properly employed and significantly detract from it if not. Fortunately, the problem can be easily resolved. By recognizing and applying three basic principles of slide presentations, you can make "death by PowerPoint" completely disappear. How to Improve Your Writing by Standing on Your Head Newspapers provide the best examples of clear, concise writing you can find anywhere; otherwise people wouldn’t read them. Journalists not only write superbly well, they do so extremely rapidly. Learning how they work their “daily miracles” can help you write better at your more leisurely pace. Fixing the Flaws in the 10 Principles of Clear Writing A widely circulated list of 10 Principles of Clear Writing offers much useful advice. However, these “principles” are really tips and techniques. By understanding the true principles that underlie them, they can be used with even greater effectiveness and impact. Fast-tracking Foreign Languages: How to Meet the Linguistic Challenges of Working Abroad Native English-speakers are exhorted to learn foreign languages to play a more effective role in globalisation—and failing miserably. There are good reasons for this. Whilst these factors explain why so few anglophones are multi-lingual, they are not valid excuses for not learning other languages when the situation calls for it. This article offers a number of tips and strategies specifically designed to help native English speakers learn foreign languages with the least pain and most gain. Debunking the 7% Rule, Public Speaking's Most Pernicious Myth Have you ever heard the adage that communication is only 7% verbal and 93% non-verbal, i.e. body language and vocal variety? You probably have, and if you have any sense at all, you have ignored it. There are certain "truths" that are prima face false. And this is one of them. Asserting that what you say is the least important part of a speech insults not only the intelligence of your audience, but your own intelligence as well. Columbo: What Can a Bumbling, Inarticulate Los Angeles Cop Teach Us about Effective Communication? Columbo, the apparently bumbling, inarticulate Los Angeles cop of the popular 1970s television series, always cornered the criminal. While obviously fiction, the show's structure and Columbo's methods have important lessons for expository (non-fiction) writers and speakers. Can the Fundamental Principles of Non-fiction Writing Be Applied to Fiction? Fiction and non-fiction may seem to be contrary by nature; however, they have much in common. The fact is, by applying the three fundamental principles of non-fiction writing you can make any piece of fiction significantly more engrossing, intriguing, and captivating. Can Learning Languages Help You Better Understand Science and Technology? What do science and languages have in common? According to author Philip Yaffe, knowing something about science can ease the way towards learning languages, and vice versa. To take advantage of this surprisingly symbiosis, he argues that language teaching should be radically reformed, especially in English-speaking countries, where both science and language learning seem to be in decline.

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