Holy Cow! They Shook Up Milkshake

 

Hmmm. According to this ad, shakes come in mild. Do they come in spicy, too? It’s another case of one letter making a big difference in meaning. This issue comes in the form of the totally wrong letter, like above, or an omitted letter: “public affairs” has appeared as “pubic affairs.” Or there might be a transposition error, like the more tame and common “from” instead of “form.”

Unfortunately, spell check does not apprehend this typo gremlin; the words’ incorrect counterparts are often real words. I stress these practices to avoid this occurrence:

• Slow down or take a break. Hurrying to the press makes for sloppy copy.
• Double-check your work. Let your writing sit overnight. Look at it the next day with a refreshed perspective.
• Use a second pair of eyes. We are often too close to our writing to find errors.

Have you seen one letter changing a meaning’s message? Tell us about it. I open the floor to you.

Happy reading and writing, my friends!

Sean C. Wright is the author of the novella Honey Riley and short stories Bubble Bath Twelve, Hazel Hogan and Devil Does Dallas. For more information about her writing skills and how she can assist you with yours–business or consumer–visit http://www.seanarchy.wordpress.com.

Send me your typo images! Snap pictures and email them to authorseanc@gmail.com. They must be real pictures and not images in online links, as those might be doctored. I’m looking for The Real McCoy. Conceal the company’s identity if possible. No sweat if you can’t. I’ll hide the name before I post it. We’re not looking to embarrass, but to educate.

3 Tips to Gaining Workplace Prominence

 

 

In the post-dotcom era, job security is pretty much an outdated concept. However, my relative, who worked in HR for years, noticed certain employees’ habits that lessened their chances of getting pink slips. And I am sharing them with you.

Develop a trademark. TV character Blossom’s flower hats. Lady Gaga’s meat dress. Those signatures cemented those people in our minds. Do the same in the office arena.  Everyone remembers the guy who always wears a bowtie or trendy eyeglasses. And no one forgets the woman who comes in every morning, brightly stating, “New day; new adventure!” It’s human nature: people take a shine to someone memorable.  Reinforcing your presence in the office reinforces your job security that much more.

Forget about “us and them.” If you’re an executive, you may feel you have nothing to say to a mailroom clerk, and vice versa. My relative stressed the importance of greeting everyone you cross paths with in the office. Her quote concerning this matter: “The same people you see on the way up are the same people you see on the way down.” And learning about what he or she does also helps you understand more about how your corporate machine works. And if you find yourself unemployed, you’ll have a network of acquaintances that remember you fondly, and will be willing to assist in your job search.

Share the wisdom. Create a fantastic job aid, or find an awesome website relevant to your job? Share it. I’ve sometimes worked with people who did indeed create a cool job aid or find a helpful site, but kept it to themselves for self-promotion purposes. It had an inverse effect. Once their selfish acts were discovered, teammates viewed them as threats to team cohesion. Think back to when you were in elementary school. How did everyone feel about the boy who brought a bag of lollipops to share with everyone at lunch? Now, how did everyone feel about the girl who brought a bag of lollipops and ate one at lunch every day, never sharing? It’s the same principle as adults; generous people are popular people. Sharing what you know cultivates relationships with team members, and puts you on the path to leadership.

While there is no magic formula for maintaining employment, these human-friendly practices may unconsciously affect human resources’ decisions when it comes time to scale back, putting you on the top of the “keep” pile. Wishing you much success in your career journey…

Sean C. Wright is the author of 8 books. For more information about her writing skills and how she can assist you with yours–business or consumer–visit https://seanarchy.wordpress.com.

 

I’m pleased to announce the release of my 8th book, Skoll’s Diary.

Africans and African Americans left Earth in 1900, and went to another planet in The Milky Way to escape mistreatment…

It’s now the year 3005 on that terraformed planet. We get a peek into the life of a bright and sensitive teenaged boy, Skoll, through his journal. He loves his world, but is curious about life on Earth. Then suddenly, an epic event casts him in the middle of a difficult decision.  The fate of the planet’s community is in his hands.

Get the book here. I’d appreciate your leaving a review if you read it. Thanks in advance!