Poll: When can’t you replace “headwinds” in your commentary?
Is there any time you can’t substitute “challenges” for “headwinds” in investment or economic commentary? “Headwinds” shows up everywhere in market and economic commentary. I don’t like it because its meaning isn’t clear in the context of commentary. I prefer plainer language, such as “challenges” or “barriers.” When I posed this question on Twitter, Justin […]
Punctuation reminder: When an -ly adverb is part of a compound modifier
Should you hyphenate “socially responsible” in the following phrase? “Socially responsible funds are…” “Hyphens should never be used with compound modifiers that include an adverb ending in -ly,” as my colleague Hilda Brucker reminds me occasionally. Yes, I make punctuation mistakes, too. This is one of my weaknesses.
Q&A: How to look trustworthy in your professional photo
Convincing clients and prospects to trust you is essential to building relationships with them. A great photo alone won’t win them over, but a bad photo can undermine how they see you. This is why I conducted an email interview with Lori Johnson of Your Best Image. By the way, Lori specializes in photographic image […]
Are your paragraphs the right length?
The length of your paragraphs can help or handicap your readers. I favor short paragraphs, especially when I’m writing blog posts for readers in a hurry. However, I also believe you should vary paragraph length according to the length demanded by your subject matter. It’s better to run too short than too long in these […]
Reader challenge: Can you explain duration better than The New York Times?
The duration of a bond isn’t easy to explain in few words. This is why I was delighted by the brief description I found in The New York Times. Author Carla Fried wrote, “For the most part, managers seem to agree that it is best to limit a fund’s duration, or sensitivity to changes in […]