My client wanted to alert its members to common scams and provide helpful advice in an article that appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of their magazine, Renaissance. Here it is.

‘Hi Grandma’ and more ways scammers aim to get your money

When the phone rang, 88-year-old Lorraine* was alone in the condo she shared with her daughter. The caller said, “Hi Grandma,” and launched into a sad tale involving a car accident in a distant city and the need for $2,500 or he would go to jail. It was urgent. He was desperate. He didn’t want his parents to know.

Grandma played into his hands by answering, “Is that you, Kevin?” Assured that it was, Grandma would have fallen for the scam except for one thing: she didn’t have ready access to money. Panicking, she gave the caller her daughter’s number at work. The daughter was suspicious, and didn’t believe Kevin was in a city far from home. Checking his whereabouts, she found out he was safely with his father, and called the police.

The “grandparent scam” was one of the top scams to watch out for in 2025, according to a Royal Bank of Canada “My Money Matters” report. Grandparents lost a combined $3.2 million to scammers in 2024, victims of their desire to protect a loved one in trouble.

Here are some other top scams:

• Bank impersonation: You get a call, text or email claiming a security breach of your account. All the caller needs is your PIN or password to drain your money.
• Phishing: Texts or emails prompt you to click a link to download a file, resolve an “issue” or share bank account details and other information. Or the message says you have debts and they must be paid in gift cards. Or you get a message that a subscription (that you don’t have) will automatically renew unless you click a link to cancel it. A version called “spear phishing” targets business emails, with someone posing as an executive to ask a more junior employee for a rush payment or bank transfer.
• Romance scams (catfishing): Scammers post fake profiles on social media and dating sites. They quickly “fall in love” with you and soon after ask for personal information. Or they want money for airfare to visit you or to get themselves or a family member out of trouble.
• Employment scams: Fake job listings ask you to pay a fee to get started, fake hiring firms have a screening fee, or fake work-from-home jobs demand you send money to get essential start-up equipment.
• Crypto and investment scams: Get-rich-quick schemes have always been popular, and the stunning prices of cryptocurrency like bitcoin have made this a popular scam. A text or email offers you an exciting investment opportunity; you just have to send money to get more money.
• Travel scams: Fake agencies offer free vacations, travel packages at low prices or rentals at properties that don’t exist.

With such a range of lucrative options, scamming is big business.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reports that 34,621 Canadians lost more than  $638 million to cybercriminals in 2024. However, the CAFC believes actual losses are significantly higher. It estimates that 90 per cent of incidents go unreported because victims are embarrassed, feel the money lost was not significant, or don’t think reporting it would make a difference. If so, the losses may be over $12 billion.

They might be one-time hits like “Kevin’s” $2,500. Or they might go much higher, like the $250,000 lost by one senior over a year-long gift card scam by someone met online.

There’s no limit to the scammers’ ingenuity and persistence. But the Vancouver police say many rely on three powerful ways to reel you in:

• Hope: “You’ve won a prize” (but you need to pay a small fee).
• Fear: “You owe taxes” (and you’d better pay now or you’ll be arrested).
• Your natural willingness to help: “Help us catch these crooked bank employees” (just give us your banking details and password).

All are designed to play on your emotions, stop you from thinking rationally and make you take actions you normally would not.

How to protect yourself from being scammed

By nature, you may be generous and trusting, but being alert to potential fraud means being suspicious.

Watch out for telephone calls or messages that require immediate action or secrecy. If a scammer gives you a phone number to verify their statement, don’t use it. Hang up and call a number you already have for your bank, your relative, your local police.

Never click on email links or open attachments you haven’t asked for.

Know that banks and the Canada Revenue Agency will never call and ask for money or your banking details, nor will they ask for Apple, Amazon or other gift cards or cryptocurrency as payment.

Dating? Beware of prospective suitors who are much younger than you, are excessively flattering, want to take conversations offline right away or ask for money. Be aware that many scammers target those whose profiles say they are widowed, so identify yourself as single or divorced instead.

Remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.

The government of Canada’s Get Cybersafe campaign also advises you to protect yourself in three areas:

1. Secure your accounts

Protect your information by using strong, unique passwords (not your pet’s name!), and keeping them secure. Do not use the same password on multiple accounts, and never share it. Enable two-step verification whenever possible, so you get a text or email with a code to confirm your identity before logging into an account. Only log in from trusted sources like a company’s home page, not a link in an email.

Be safe on social media. Keep personal information like vacation plans, big purchases or your child’s school events private. Don’t post photos that include revealing details like your home address or license plate. Never share financial information on social media. Don’t respond to direct messages from people you don’t know. If you have the option, keep your lists of friends or followers private.

2. Secure your devices

Guard against malicious software (malware) that gives criminals access to your computer, phone or tablet. Install anti-virus protection and keep software and operating systems updated. Customize security settings wherever possible. Log out of accounts when you’re finished with them, and regularly clear the cache and browsing history, especially after accessing your banking information. Download files from trusted sources only and scan them with your anti-virus software before opening.

3. Secure your connections

Keep your home Wi-Fi network secure. Change the default network name and password on the router and use a strong password. Limit the coverage area by placing the router close to the middle of your home rather than near a window. If you use public Wi-Fi, make sure it’s a network you trust and never use it to do banking or access sensitive information. When out in public, turn Bluetooth off or set it to hidden/undiscoverable so strangers can’t connect to your device. If a device is lost or stolen, delete it from your list of paired devices.

If some of this advice is too technical and you don’t have a friend or relative to help, check out Cyber Seniors.  This non-profit organization provides older adults with technical mentors. You can book a one-on-one call, sign up for daily webinars, and download documents to help you out.

If you’ve been scammed, report it quickly

If you’re a victim of cybercrime, don’t be embarrassed — you have lots of company. Whether you lost money or not, report the scam, and quickly.

“Fraud is a crime that affects more than just your finances, and the emotional tolls can linger for victims long after the fraud is uncovered,” says Chris Lynam, director general of the CAFC. “If you’ve been targeted, report it. It’s the best way to help with the fight against fraudsters and could help someone else from becoming a victim.”

Contact the CAFC, online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Contact your local police as well. And if you’ve given away your banking or credit card details, use the number on your card, your last statement or the website to call the bank and have your account frozen or card cancelled.

And grandparents, be ready to hang up if you hear from “Kevin” again in a few months! And be especially wary; the newest wrinkle is AI-generated technology that will make your fake grandchild sound and possibly even look like the real person.

*Names have been changed

Related reading:
Beyond polka and pierogi, how members celebrate culture
Learn about regrets and do-overs
How’s dating the second time around?

The post Assignment: Share tips to be cyber safe first appeared on Get It Write.

Lawyers are famous for using the polar opposite of plain language. Here’s a judge talking my language, railing against lawyerly paragraphs that were “long, confusing, redundant, and full of run-on sentences that mix[ed] factual allegations with editorial asides.”

Plain language can make the law more accessible, build trust in the justice system, and ensure that ordinary people can read a decision and understand whether they have won or lost. Via Conscious Style Guide.

Trimming a dense passage of legal writing from 78 words to 39 was “largely a function of substituting plain, direct words and phrases for the original’s bulkier versions.” Check out the before and after from WordRake.

And why is one word not good enough for law stuff? It’s always at least two: cease and desist, null and void, aid and abet, free and clear. Merriam-Webster says these are called “legal doublets,” and we can blame the Normans.

Look for and delete throat-clearing phrases in legal writing, like “It is important to note” and “in recent years.” Instead, Wordrake says, get to the point with a clear subject and a strong verb.

Here are more links related to plain language and the use of jargon:

Is the word “plain” the problem in people’s resistance to it? Yes, if people think “plain” means boring, overly simple or not professional or academic enough. It actually means clear, concise language. Editors Canada explains.

Great suggestions from Leslie O’Flahavan for how to handle plain language pushback from stubborn subject matter experts. One example: Use readability statistics to show the difficulty of the wordy draft.

Helpful ideas for how to steer scientists and other brainy sources away from jargon, via The Open Notebook. I do a lot of advance prep, don’t mind admitting when I don’t understand, and also ask, “How would you explain [concept] to your kids?”

How corporate jargon obscures the truth and fuels disaster, via Yale Insights. “You can only clarify the intentional opaqueness behind cliquish jargon by having the courage to ask the dumb-seeming question.”

You already knew this, but an official study shows workplace jargon hurts understanding and collaboration.

I especially like the advice to “Use words you would actually say out loud.” You will not catch me ‘leveraging’ any of these seven choice bits of corporate jargon.

Ha! I love the idea of using a buzzer to flag executive use of acronyms. Asking people to explain what they mean in plain, relatable terms works too.

What other helpful or interesting posts have you found online? Please share in the comments or drop me a note.

Stack of law books by David Whelan and Flickr.

Related reading:
More helpful tips for plain language
Links about plain language and jargon (and a few that made me laugh)
A primer on plain language in Wordnerdery

The post Plain language tips in links you might have missed, lawyer edition first appeared on Get It Write.

Cold Case Hunters Keep a Spotlight on Missing People

Lisa Maas had been missing for two years when Matthew Nopper heard about her disappearance. A former reporter, Matthew was fascinated by missing persons cases, and this was close to home. Lisa hadn’t been seen since leaving a party near Owen Sound in July 1988. Recently moved to the area, Matthew joined a search for her.

It was one of many civilian and police searches for the 22-year-old, including OPP officers rappelling into a chasm at the top of the Niagara Escarpment. All searches came up empty.

Although the searches petered out over the years, the case stayed with Matthew. After his own father disappeared in 2012, the body found by police after a search, Matthew felt compelled to help others.

In 2013, Nick Oldrieve moved to Owen Sound. At the time, he was part of a crisis team helping locate missing youth in foster care. He heard about Lisa’s case and began looking into it in his spare time.

Melissa Harwood had a passion for crime research and reached out after hearing about Nick’s efforts. So did Matthew. The three realized they shared a passion: to bring home those who were missing.

From Idea to Action

Lisa’s case inspired Matthew, Nick and Melissa to launch Please Bring Me Home. The not-for-profit organization maintains an anonymous tip line and social media accounts with the intent of looking at local cold case files. Nick is executive director; Matthew is in charge of media; and Melissa leads research and trends in missing persons cases.

The name represents the plea of a missing person. “Our goal is to find the missing and bring them home to their family and friends,” Matthew says.

At the time, there were at least seven missing person cases in the area. Nick remembers they wondered, “What if we could help find a missing person and prevent them from turning into a decades-old cold case?”

The team did just that in 2018.

Nolan Panchyshyn had gone missing in mid-December 2017. After almost two months with no answers, the family asked PBMH for help. An anonymous tip, promptly passed along, helped the local police locate Nolan’s body and arrest two men for his murder.

Five months later, PBMH found the body of Terry Schope. He had been known to walk along Owen Sound Bay, and the team guessed he had simply fallen into the water. Kayaking in the bay and searching with binoculars, they spotted clothing almost exactly where tides suggested a body might wash up.

Perils Require Planning

Many searches take place in Escarpment country, which means careful planning. Even in July, you might find snow and ice in deep fissures. Almost every search shows evidence of bear activity, and the area includes thick forest and difficult trails.

“In some places, you’re so deep in woods, you wonder if any human has ever walked where you are,” Nick says.

Partnering With Police

PBMH members are careful not to step on law enforcement toes or contaminate a case.

“When we started, the OPP weren’t shy about letting us know we were a pain,” Nick says. “But I think we’re now appreciated more than seen as a hindrance.”

The team recognizes that police often lack the resources to devote to cold cases, and new investigations take priority. Also, the team believes that in cold cases, some people just don’t want to talk to police. “We’re often a last-ditch effort to bring cold cases to a conclusion,” Nick says.

The team also takes police feedback to heart. Told they shouldn’t be interviewing the public because they were untrained, they lined up instruction. Told they didn’t have the training to conduct searches, they now work with a retired OPP officer specializing in ground search and rescue. They also partner with specialists in canine search and an anthropologist who looks at bone fragments.

PBMH relies on the generosity of businesses and individuals to cover expenses such as equipment, mileage and food for experts and volunteers. All team members have day jobs and donate their own time and resources, and local companies often sponsor excavators.

W5 Spreads the Word

In 2019, CTV’s W5 aired a documentary about Please Bring Me Home and its work to find missing people. Almost immediately, the plan to stay local changed.

“We received an influx of requests from family members in every province,” says Nick. They couldn’t say no. Now they keep missing persons from across Canada in the public eye ­— but only if asked by a family member.

At a minimum, the missing person information goes on the website and social media. The team follows an intake process and begins a formal investigation, speaking with family, friends and others. “We’re all after the same thing, to help close this loop of not knowing that can eat you alive,” says Matthew.

There are thousands of cold cases out there, and PBMH is actively following about 107. Sometimes the cases have been cold for years or decades; other times the person disappeared just weeks before.

When they do close cases — and they’ve contributed to wrapping up close to 70 as of May 2025 — it’s always due to one or more of three factors: an anonymous tip;  an investigation; a search.

“It never ceases to amaze me how a simple post about a missing person can bring in significant information,” Nick says. “I can’t help but wonder what cases might have been solved if these platforms were around decades ago.”

Lisa’s parents never discovered the truth about their daughter’s whereabouts before they passed away, her mother in 2019 and father in 2024. But they never lost hope that someone would find her, and PBMH hasn’t either. They still conduct a yearly search.

If you have a tip about a missing person, contact your local police, OPP,  RCMP or Crime Stoppers. You can also leave an anonymous tip with Please Bring Me Home at pleasebringmehome.com, or its tip hotline at 226-702-2728. If you need help finding someone, fill out the intake form online.

Also in Niagara Escarpment Views magazine: 
All’s well that end-to-ends well
Road ecology steps in where animal instincts and urban sprawl collide
Community garden movement growing like a weed
Antiquing is a treasure hunt through time

The post A spotlight on missing people keeps cold cases alive first appeared on Get It Write.

I waited until votes were in from a couple of places that choose in January. Drum roll! Here are the words that earned spots on Word of the Year lists for 2025:

6-7: Dictionary.com

Pronounced “six-seven,” this slang term is “meaningless, ubiquitous and nonsensical,” says the dictionary. It can be traced back to a song called “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla. Other words on the short list include aura farming (intentionally developing one’s presence); broligarchy (a concentration of power among a small group of high-profile tech and business leaders); and kiss cam (like the one that captured the image of two executives canoodling at a Coldplay concert. I was disappointed that “Coldplayed” did not make the list!).

The public also voted 6-7 as the top word on the 2026 list of “misused and overused words that should be banished” posted by Lake Superior State University in Michigan. The list also included demure (used by a TikToker in the phrase “very demure, very mindful”); incentivize (an unfortunate instance of turning a noun into a verb); and my bad (which hardly conveys an apology).

Parasocial: Cambridge Dictionary

Parasocial is the word for the connection fans feel between themselves and a famous person they do not know or a character in a book, film, or TV series they binge-watched. By September 2025, the Cambridge Dictionary updated the definition of parasocial to include the possibility of a relationship with an artificial intelligence.

Rage bait: Oxford University Press and Oxford Dictionaries

Rage bait is online content designed to cause anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative or offensive, with the aim of driving traffic to a particular social media account. The shortlist also included aura farming (presenting yourself with an air of confidence, coolness or mystique) and biohack (trying to improve your physical or mental performance, health or longevity by altering your diet, exercise routine, lifestyle or drugs).

Slop: American Dialect Society, Merriam-Webster, and Ragan Communications

Perhaps reflecting how artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, slop made the top of numerous charts. American Dialect Society defined slop as low-quality, high-quantity content, typically produced by generative AI. Merriam-Webster agreed, although was quick to point out that humans chose it as the Word of the Year. Ragan added that slop is “material designed to keep eyes moving without giving the mind something meaningful to hold.”

Other words often looked up were gerrymander (dividing districts to give one political party or group an unfair advantage), touch grass (participate in normal activities in the real world vs. mindless online scrolling); performative (made or done for show); and tariff (a schedule of duties imposed by a government on imported goods).

Vibe coding: Collins English Dictionary

This word describes how AI enables creative output while you can forget that the computer code behind it even exists. Other shortlisted words are aura farming, biohacking, broligarchy (see above), taskmasking (giving a false impression that you’re being productive at work), micro-retirement (a break between periods of employment to pursue personal interests) and glaze (the praise or flatter someone excessively or undeservedly).

Did you look up or use any of these words? Which ones do you find most annoying?

Related reading:
Dissonance and polarization lead in 2024
AI and hallucinate top the 2023 Words of the Year
Gaslighting and goblin mode lead the 2022 list
Pandemic words still dominated 2021

The post Slop, rage bait and 6-7 top word lists in 2025 first appeared on Get It Write.

1. One of my clients regularly surveys its members for the views on topical issues. The most-read post was a reprint of an article for this client, where I asked its members: If you could go back in time, what would you do over? Some of the answers were surprising, some inspiring, all interesting.

2. Another popular read was an article for this client where I shared members’ experiences with dating the second time around. As one retiree told me, “Being in love is no different whether you’re 20 or 60.”

Since August 2021, I’ve been running roundups of posts shared on social media. My original thought was, “What are the chances people were on the specific social media channel at the time I posted this link?” Now I also see these as helpful collections related to specific themes. Readers put many of these in the top 10:

3.  The buzz about artificial  intelligence seems to be increasing every year. In 2025, we had a better idea of the need to use it strategically, edit it and watch out for hallucinations. This post collects some links related to AI.

4.  “Rainbow hushing” is the term when companies quietly drop or rebrand diversity programs, as happened a lot in 2025. This post collects links related to diversity and inclusive language.

5.  This collection of posts looks at how companies can and should reach their employees. The posts touch on town halls, deskless workers, real life values and more.

6. These links about plain language and jargon include how to organize a web page so people can find what they need and how to help readers can understand complex events by putting them into context. Plus three links that made me smile, like We Rate Dogs and “corporate translations.”

7. In this collection, posts relate to better interviewing to start your writing (including the final “Is there anything I haven’t asked that you’d like to include?”), and writing tips themselves, like the surprising idea of obituaries as creative inspiration.

8. Here’s another roundup of links about artificial intelligence, including a reminder to add  -ai to your online searches to avoid an AI-generated overview.

And for something different:

9. I’m always interested to see which words end up on the “Word of the Year” lists. Reflecting the year that was 2025, the top words include dissonance and polarization.

10. Here’s another annual tradition: My list of gift ideas for the readers, writers and word nerds in your life. Ideas include book lover items, a “magic” journal, inspiring mugs and a funny candle. I started this in 2015 and it always makes the top 10.

As always, thanks for visiting the Red Jacket Diaries in 2025. Cheers to a kinder, less dissonant 2026.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images on Pixabay.

Related reading:
Top 10 posts of 2024
Top 10 posts of 2023
Top 10 posts of 2022

The post Top 10 posts in the Red Jacket Diaries in 2025 first appeared on Get It Write.

The end of the year seemed like the right time to put a bow on Wordnerdery.

Of course, I couldn’t wrap it up without a fond look back.

The December issue notes that when I launched Wordnerdery, a number of my clients had hired me to write for their employee newsletters. I loved newsletters, still do, and it made sense that I would have my own newsletter that would touch on some common topics. The very first issue talked about how to dig up interesting content for newsletters.

I also talked about readability and the best ways to achieve it: cut the average sentence length, avoid jargon and use familiar words. I shared writing tips from musicians, Sesame Street, Dancing With the Stars, hiking the Bruce Trail and more. I delved into plain language and gave dense writing the “before & after” treatment. I shared terrific metaphors and other expressive language, like “linguistic cicadas.”

But four end-of-year issues that came from the heart drew the most comments, with reminders to live in the moment, shine a light of kindness and more.

Read all about them in December Wordnerdery.

Thank you for opening and spending some time with this newsletter over the years. Thank you for your kind comments and sharing your thoughts. Thank you, and please stay in touch.

The post One last Wordnerdery, and I’ve put a bow on it first appeared on Get It Write.

The newsletter usually touches on recurring topics, like plain language, giving wordy writing a “before & after” treatment, great metaphors and similes that help readers understand why a project or number is significant. Usually, I link the topic to something going on in the world. For instance:

• Taylor Swift’s concerts in Toronto led me to look at the storytelling and expressive writing she uses for her song lyrics.
• Wildfires in Los Angeles prompted a look at how explaining numbers can help readers grasp the significance of something.
• All the talk about tariffs led to a roundup of analogies that compare the known to the unknown to explain how tariffs work.

As it turned out, the “what’s going on” in my world was writer’s block. So I did what any self-respecting writer would do: I went looking for what causes writer’s block and how to overcome it.

You’ll see the answers in the November issue of Wordnerdery.

How do you handle writer’s block? I’d love to know — for next time.

The post Drawing a blank? Try recharging (in November Wordnerdery) first appeared on Get It Write.

But I am sniffing around for ideas. And if it’s November, it’s time for my annual tradition: sharing a list of holiday gift ideas for the readers, writers and word nerds in your life.

These are all Canadian sources, but I hope my friends in the U.S. can take inspiration and search out your own local sources. As always, none of these are affiliate links; I just think they are fun. All can easily be replaced by a gift certificate for a restaurant or store to encourage shopping local.

FOR THE HOME OFFICE

1. “You are Magic” journal

Ooh, a “captivating magic design” and “a touch of enchantment” for your daily gratitude journal? How can you resist? Ruled pages and a page marker. $9.99 from Staples. Or, here’s another, with a cover filled with encouragement like Dream big, Live simply, Stand strong, Smile lots.  Lined pages, plus a loop to hold your pen. $16.99 from !ndigo.

2. “I’m fine” stoneware mug

Ha. The cheerful trash can on fire is the image I think of when people say “It’s fine, everything is fine.”  $12 from !ndigo.

3. Custom ceramic book mug

Personalize with your name and favourite book titles. From Etsy shop TangCreativeBoutique. $15.50.

4. “Smells like a writer hard at work” candle

Coconut soy wax blend candle in an amber glass jar from Etsy shop TheFallenWick. Scents include vanilla, citrus and roasted coffee. Mini size is 3.5 oz, $16.49; regular 7 oz. size is $25.49. Other shops let you create your own label; how about “Smells like a paid invoice”? If you’re handy, this could also be a DIY.

5. Book plate stickers

These might be helpful if you lend your books. “From the library of” and “Ex Libris” designs; $8.99 from !ndigo.

6. Book ornament

Cute. A glass ornament containing a pile of mini books. $14 from !ndigo. Also check out the adorable felt bookworm ornament.

WEARABLES

7.  “Love” book stack sweatshirt

Pink cotton blend sweatshirt with “LOVE” printed over the heart. A stack of books topped with a teacup forms the O in LOVE. $45 from !ndigo.

8. “Read more books” sweatshirt

Navy unisex cotton/polyester crewneck sweatshirt. $45 from !ndigo.

9. Dainty book earrings

Stainless steel in silver or gold colour. $19 from Etsy vendor LeadingLeopard. Maybe not as cute as last year’s find, “silvertone” zinc alloy books, $15 from Etsy vendor ColdLakeCathy.

10. “Sorry I’m booked” t-shirt:

Adorable embroidered raccoon or bookworm reading a book on a cotton t-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie. From $29.80 from Etsy vendor CustomMoose.

ON THE ROAD

11. “Book Lover” canvas tote bag

Sure, you have a million grocery and tote bags. But do you have an organic cotton canvas tote bag printed with “Book lover” or “Talk books to me”? I didn’t think so. $14.99 to $16 from !ndigo.

12. Universal phone and GPS car mount

For better charging or storing your phone while you drive. I like that this has options to use on your car’s dash, vent or cup holder. $32.99 at Canadian Tire.

Do you have any other amusing, quirky or just plain appropriate gift ideas? Please share in the comments.

Related reading:
Check my posts from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 for more inspiration (and surprisingly, some items might still be available).

The post Fun gifts for readers and writers, 2025 edition first appeared on Get It Write.

They had already emailed me a few times to ask me to update my profile – IF anything had changed with my account or my business. Nothing had changed, so I ignored the emails and the phone calls.

Once home, I couldn’t reach anyone at the bank’s toll-free number. So I trotted off to my local branch. The bank rep took one look at my bank card and said, “I know what’s wrong. Your card has expired.”

Oddly enough, there was no expiration date on the card. And the earlier emails had said something completely different.

In my October newsletter, I look at what the bank said and what they should have said to inspire action, not confusion. Going back to the principles of plain language, they should have focused first on what their customers need or want to know and why it’s important to them. The desired result would mean customers quickly and easily:

• Find what they need
• Understand what they find
• Act appropriately on that understanding.

My rewrite focused on the real reason the bank wanted me to call, specifically pulling out “this will affect you.” See what you think of the before & after in October Wordnerdery.

Have you seen a “before” piece of writing that needs an “after”? Please share! I’m always looking for good (bad) examples.

Related reading: 
Editors Canada explains plain language
Even lawyers prefer plain language (really!)

The post Bank email inspires confusion, not action (a Before & After in Wordnerdery) first appeared on Get It Write.

It’s not just when you deliberately use AI. If you enter a search term into Google, the first thing that pops up is an AI-generated overview.

It’s a small step, but you can avoid that use of AI by putting “-ai” (without quotation marks) after the search term you enter. Then you’ll get the usual selection of sites that might answer your query. That’s one of the suggestions in a post with updates on AP style rules, including writing about AI, from Grammar Girl.

Here are some of the other interesting posts about AI I’ve encountered and shared online:

When “fine, I guess” becomes the finish line, the drive to be excellent quietly dies. Dave Birss says treat AI as a craft, not a crutch; knowing when NOT to use it is a skill.

No, you shouldn’t use AI to write your business strategy. That’s “thinky” work YOU should do, says Broom & Moon. Instead, let AI proofread or fix overly corporate language.

I love this story of Ann Handley’s use (for research) and not-use (the actual writing) of AI to support officiating a wedding.

Interesting look at how authors – and others who don’t want to use AI to write things – can use AI to boost their thinking, by Josh Bernoff.

Circle of [IABC] Fellows no. 115 discusses how generative AI is speeding up the spread of false and misleading content. They also share strategies comms professionals can use to detect, respond to and stay ahead of these evolving threats.

How to make your writing stand out from AI-generated candyfloss copy, including listen to people and use the words they’re already using, via Clare Lynch.

Don’t you like Dave Birss’s take on AI? It’s if you just use AI to get lean (cut costs) without building muscle (creating new products, etc.), you’ll end up a weakling rather than an action hero.

There’s a whole list of generative AI terms we apparently need to know, and of course there is now an acronym (ugh) for having humans approve or fix AI-generated content: HITL, or human-in-the-loop.

“While writers have long turned to the em dash for dramatic flair or lively interruption, generative AI has taken that impulse and run with it – often in every other sentence.” Why the em dash is attracting unfair suspicion.

Thirty of the best AI prompts for better communications work collected by Allison Carter for Ragan Comms. LOL to “Rewrite without em dashes.”

The Em Dash responds to “the baseless, libelous accusation that my usage is a telltale sign of artificial intelligence.” via McSweeneys.

What other helpful, interesting or surprising posts about AI have you found online? Please share in the comments or drop me a note. Oh, and 100% of “curating” and writing this blog post was done by me, the human.

Image by Markus Winkler on Unsplash.

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The post More things people are saying about AI, in links you might have missed first appeared on Get It Write.