How to Talk Good - Latest comments

Brad Pettes [Visitor] in response to: Literally the Best Article You’re Reading Right Now

Brad Pettes [Visitor] — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:17:25 +0000

I agree 100%. My wife employs "literally" way yonder too much. I usually refrain from pointing it out to her, but I quite often find myself trying to picture the "literal" situations she describes. The best (and only) true, real-life example I can think of is a Yellowpages commercial in which a customer was giving his testimony after using the Real Yellowpages, and actually said, "the phone was literally ringing off the hook." I suggested that he buy a new phone that works properly. Great post!!

Ben Grant [Visitor] in response to: Everyone Get Back in the Box

Ben Grant [Visitor] — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:10:59 +0000

Here's something interesting. When I was visiting Colombia, I asked how to say the word "awkward." The response was "desencajado," which literally means "un-encased," or in other words, "outside the box."

Seems like that's a clearer connotation for thinking or doing anything "outside the box." But since the whole "outside the box" thing is so cliché, I agree that we should keep it buried for a while.

Megan [Visitor] in response to: How We've Made Communicating Harder than it Has to Be

Megan [Visitor] — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:08:26 +0000

I appreciate the MN reference! Along with this, I think it's important to resist the urge to just talk to people digitally (IM, text messages, emails) and I am as guilty as ever. All that digital communication makes it difficult to remember how to interact with someone in real life.

Sterling [Visitor] in response to: Okay, You Can Start Listening Now

Sterling [Visitor] — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:31:59 +0000

What is efficient is often sufficient to make one proficient

Hooked on www.howtotalkgood.com worked for me!!!

Ben Grant [Visitor] in response to: 5 Reasons to Not Use Jargon

Ben Grant [Visitor] — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:20:54 +0000

I've heard too much political jargon lately. Doubt that's going to let up. It's what makes us think they're good at what they do. Kind of the opposite of the winning football coach at the press conference.

Wrong? [Visitor] in response to: Opinions are like, well,you know the rest...

Wrong? [Visitor] — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:45:36 +0000

"In my opinion"
as opposed to "what I've read on the topic"
as opposed to "stuff I've heard on TV"
as opposed to "what society says as a whole"
as opposed to...

Well, I don't need to go on.

Mesha [Visitor] in response to: Literally the Best Article You’re Reading Right Now

Mesha [Visitor] — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:52:22 +0000

HAHA HEHE Thanks for the giggles. Literally.

Had [Visitor] in response to: Literally the Best Article You’re Reading Right Now

Had [Visitor] — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:47:12 +0000

Now, I usually use literally as a qualifier to say things such as "I literally will kill her if she doesn't shut up," with the intent of employing hyperbole. I intend to say that I WILL in fact kill her, but I mean so as a conscious overstatement. Is this allowed?