I like, because it makes me smile, that some Australian towns thank you for visiting as you drive out by farewelling you - there are signs that say ‘Porpoise Spit farewells you’ at the edge of town. The first time I saw one of those signs I thought it sounded clumsy...
Happy new horse and book year
Which brings us back to reading and why the Year of Reading isn’t just a nice idea – it’s necessary. In a world of AI slop and misinformation, we need trusted sources more than ever
Humour in copywriting
Leave it out. Clear, helpful copy will never offend anyone. A joke that falls flat can damage trust and credibility.
AI in the workplace (as at August 2025)
AI is everywhere. I suspect some organisations are caught off guard at the rapid growth and adoption of AI tools. You can’t ignore it. A total ban is possibly unworkable and somewhat naive; the same applies to a policy requiring approval for usage. A robust, but also...
A 5-minute plain English test for your emails
If your email inbox is anything like mine, (or FAR more likely, your spam/junk folder) it potentially contains the odd business email that reads like it was written by a bot. A generic opener along the lines of "I trust this email finds you well", or "I'm reaching out...
Plain English Website Audit – A how-to for clearer communication
I’m currently looking for a very specific service provider locally. I found a most excellent candidate via his most excellent website. It was written in plain English. It directly addressed my needs. I instantly knew he offered the services I needed. Unfortunately,...
Cleaning up our streets?
If we can nudge behaviour on bottle returns, can we apply the same thinking elsewhere?
Accessible digital content – Alt text
Alt text, or alternative text, is a brief description of an image or other visual content that's read aloud by screen readers to help people with visual or cognitive disabilities understand the content. Alt text is an essential part of making digital content...
Room 101 of words and phrases that make my insides squirm
Language is fluid and subjective—what irks one person might delight another. Still, there’s something cathartic about naming and shaming the words that make you cringe.fd
Inside-out comms
Your customers are not your employees. Well, in some cases they might be, but as a general rule, especially when it comes to comms they are distinct and disparate. Why am I telling you this? I’m seeing an increasing number of external comms full of internal comms. By...