Can Your Words Be Twisted to a New Meaning?
All professional copywriters and marketers try to be careful with the words they use – thinking ahead to how someone else might understand them. That’s one of the reasons that writing good copy takes a lot more time than many would think.
That said, I haven’t read the words that made the laws for the following “rules” but have to assume that the people who wrote them meant something different…
From my email today:
- In Danville, Pennsylvania, fire hydrants must be checked one hour before all fires.
- Oklahoma law requires that drivers involved in fatal accidents stop immediately and give their names and addresses to those who were struck.
- In Lakefield, Ontario, legislation permits birds to sing for 30 minutes during the day and 15 minutes at night.
Be careful… make sure your words mean what you intended, no matter who reads them!
(Hint: Ask a friend or two to read your copy before you send it out… and ask them what you meant.)
Posted: May 6th, 2009 under ad copy, word choices, word tricks.
Tags: copywriting, laws, rules, understanding copy, word choice