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Tip #75: Illegal is often illicit, but illicit may not be illegal

6/25/2015

More effective writers always use precise language. Last week I discussed one such example — the difference between assure, ensure, and insure. This week I’m going to discuss another example — the difference between illegal and illicit.

Illegal means prohibited by law. Illicit means prohibited by societal custom. Since laws usually emanate from societal customs, what is illegal is usually also illicit. But since societies typically do not enshrine all of their customs into law, what is illicit may be completely legal.

Consider the example sentence in the graphic above. The writer of this sentence correctly distinguishes between the related but different meanings of illegal and illicit. While the behavior (whatever it was) violated a societal custom, the prosecutor determined that no laws had been violated and thus the behavior was not illegal. What is illegal is often illicit, but what is illicit may not be illegal.

Make sure that your writing recognizes such subtle differences in language. More precise language makes for more effective writing, and that better communicates the image of yourself and your brands that you want to convey to your audience.

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Tip #74: Assure yourself with the use of ensure and insure

6/18/2015

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Early in the history of this blog, I explained the proper use of ensure and insure. But there is a related word that I did not include in that post. I’m going to correct that here and now.

As I explained previously, ensure means to make sure or certain that X will occur. Insure means to provide assurance that Y will occur if X does. And the related word assure means to set someone’s mind at rest or to eliminate worry. Clearly, the denotations of these three words are very much related.

However, the connotations are quite different. In that earlier post I explained the differences between ensure and insure. Assure conveys the action of eliminating worry, usually through a promise or guarantee. Although insure also involves a promise or guarantee, insure connotes a specific outcome if the promise or guarantee is either met or violated, such as financial compensation, whereas assure can both general and specific and usually requires a direct object.

Consider the same example sentence used in the aforementioned post. It uses the correct word — ensure. But what if the writer used assure? Here’s how the sentence would read.

They assure engineering principles are used to design both the street and the flow of traffic on that street.

The absence of a direct object presents a problem here. Who exactly are they assuring? Certainly engineering principles need no assurance as they have no worries. Thus, to use assure correctly, the writer would need to supply a direct object.

They assure the public that engineering principles are used to design both the street and the flow of traffic on that street.

Another direct object other than the public could be used. Without the direct object, however, ensure becomes the more effective choice.

Revising a rule of thumb

In that aforementioned post I presented a mnemonic device I used to distinguish between ensure and insure. Now that I’ve introduced a third word to the mix, I need to update my device.

In order to assure myself in times of need, I need to ensure that I insure my car.

As I said in that previous post, if you find this device helpful, great. If not, use what works for you. Whatever you do, assure yourself with the use of ensure and insure as well as assure. Your image of yourself and your brands will be all the better for it.

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Tip #73: Wait on customers and for everything else

6/11/2015

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More effective technical writers often use precise language. That’s because precision in word selection can make the difference between more effective presentations and less effective ones. But that requires a distinction between spoken English and written English, a distinction that many less effective writers simply don’t make.

Take the verb to wait, for example. Speakers and writers of the English language will often use a preposition such as for or on with this verb. The conventions of speech are more lax, and so often such prepositions can be and are used interchangeably. Such is not the case, however, with written English. It is a different animal!

Careful writers understand the difference between waiting for and waiting on. Waiting for is usually correct, unless the sentence treats the actions of employees interacting with customers. In that case, waiting on is appropriate.

Consider the example sentence in the graphic above. At first glance, many writers may not think that sentence needs any improvement. However, no customers are being attended. That makes waiting on a less effective choice. Waiting for is more effective. Here's how the revised sentence would look.

Although it appears results will be favorable, we are waiting for the receipt of those test results to finalize our preliminary report.

Yes, wait for people and events when necessary. But don’t wait on precision in language. Wait on customers. And when it comes to improving your writing, don’t wait for anything or anyone. Make the choice today to select your words with greater care. That choice will reimburse you with more effective presentations of both you and your brands.

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Tip #72: Inasmuch as wordiness dilutes, avoid it

6/4/2015

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I’ve been posting about the little things that make the difference in effective writing. Two weeks ago I showed how wordy expressions like on the grounds of weaken otherwise effective writing. This week I’m doing likewise with a shorter yet still oft abused phrase: inasmuch as.

Inasmuch as really means because. And because one word conveys its meaning, effective technical writers never use inasmuch as; they use because.

Examine, if you will, the difference eliminating wordiness makes. Read the example sentence in the graphic above and feel the impression it makes upon you as a reader. Then compare that impression with the one made when you read the sentence below.

Because the weather delayed the project, the building will not be completed on schedule.

Inasmuch as sounds erudite, but that’s deceptive. Extra words which add little or no meaning to the message conveyed dilute the power of your language. It’s like adding more solvent to a solution; additional solvent (your words) decreases the concentration of solute (your message) and with it the overall impact your solution (communication mechanism) can make.

So, because wordiness dilutes the power of your messages, always be mindful of more concise ways to say the same thing. Your writing will pack more punch, and that will more effectively communicate a better image of both you and your brands.

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Tip #75: Illegal is often illicit, but illicit may not be illegal

Tip #74: Assure yourself with the use of ensure and insure

Tip #73: Wait on customers and for everything else

Tip #72: Inasmuch as wordiness dilutes, avoid it

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