An Invitation to Communication
Janet Carmichael
Miracle Soft Skills Performance Improvement
May 15, 2011
Allow me to introduce my recently published book, Say What? Here’s How you Can Say and Write it Better.
Say What? is the result of many years of my own intense discomfort every time I hear or see the English Language “slaughtered”. It is my way of spreading the word to people that there is a better way to say or to write something they might have just said or written. It is all about accurate and effective communication skills.
Why not consider a short workshop for your staff to help remove communication lapses that are dealt with in the material of my book? There may even be other communication issues that are unique to your employees' needs:- Writing effective emails
- Report writing
- Active listening and its benefits in the work place
- Speech
- The Platinum Rule—an improvement on the Golden Rule
Say What? safely steers you clear of many pitfalls in communication, offering help to communicate with confidence and credibility, and ultimately help in creating a more successful career, a successful work environment, a successful life.
Look at these incorrect sentences:
Kailey brought flowers for you and I.
You and me will buy those books tomorrow.
(Image from Microsoft clipart & pictures)
You wonder, "Can I safely say you and me this time
Or is it now just you and I?"
Corrections:
Kailey brought flowers for you and me.
You and I will buy those books tomorrow.
Explanation:
Flowers is the DIRECT OBJECT. These are what Kailey actually brought. But Kailey brought the flowers for some people—you and me. How can she bring flowers for I?
Use, instead, "Me", the INDIRECT OBJECT, the receiver of the flowers.
I, on the other hand, is a subject pronoun—always doing, never receiving.
Say also, "You and I will buy those books tomorrow." Would you ever say, "Me will buy those books tomorrow?" Of course not!
The pronoun "I" is part of the subject of this sentence —always doing, buying, always performing an action—the subject of the verb.
Now, here's another type of error:
There are never instances of 12:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.
It is either 12:00 noon or 12:00 midnight. Believe me.
(Image from Microsoft clipart and pictures)
So, when you're asked, "What time is it?" as you get between the sheets,Your clock says 12:00. You know it's right. It's always on the beat.
But a.m. or p.m. to complete your answer is just not right;
Just say, with confident precision, "It's 12:00 midnight."
The way we communicate with people—both in speech and in writing—is a true indication of the effect we have whether we are in the classroom or in the boardroom. To depend on usage or on rote can be embarrassingly unreliable. Be sure that what you say or what you write is correct. Learn the rules of the “game” and follow them. Send me your questions and I'll gladly answer them. "Seriously?" you ask. Yes, seriously.
The Bonus
Visit my blog at http://blog.miraclesoftskills.com where lively, and interesting articles deal with these issues You are welcome to a free subscription and encouraged to leave your comments. Visit www.miraclesoftskills.com and find more areas of interest within Miracle Soft Skills Performance Improvement. The name says it all.
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11/22/2011 8:40 PM
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11/27/2011 6:26 PM
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