Thoughts on Real Estate Marketing... » word tricks

Is it Less or Fewer? The Correct Word Choice

Marte Cliff — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:11:07 +0000

Even writers can get confused about which word to use. So when I came across this easy way to remember how to choose between less and fewer, I was tickled.

It’s one of those things that’s so simple, you have to think “Why didn’t I notice that before?”

If you’re talking about something that can be counted, you use the word “fewer.” The way to remember is that in our language we use “a few” to mean 3 or 4 of something. In other words, we use the word “few” in place of an actual number.

If you’re talking about something you can’t precisely count, use “less.”

So: “There are fewer stop lights on Main than on Mission.” And “Driving on Main is less stressful than driving on Mission.”

Or: “There are fewer calories in an apple than in a slice of apple pie.” And “An apple is less fattening than a slice of apple pie.”

Funny – we’re often tempted to say “Less” when we should say “fewer,” but the opposite isn’t true.

You might (incorrectly) say “I hope there will be less homes in foreclosure next month,” but no one would say “There’s fewer fog this morning than there was yesterday.”

Words. I sure don’t envy anyone trying to learn English as a second language.

Can Your Words Be Twisted to a New Meaning?

Marte Cliff — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:54:03 +0000

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.)

Two small words that add punch to a request

Marte Cliff — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:20:00 +0000

Words and where you use them really do make a difference, and these two are surprisingly effective.

The two words? “Will You.”

Instead of making a statement such as “Call if you’ll be late,” change it to “Will you call if you’ll be late?” and get the affirmative response. Once someone has said yes, they’ve made a commitment to you and are far more likely to follow through.

Use this tactic in dealing with friends, family, and with customers.

Your specific business dictates what you might want your customers to do. It might be calling to confirm an appointment, calling if they can’t make it, calling if they have questions prior to a decision, or calling after the purchase to let you know if they have any concerns. (Which is better than talking about you behind your back.)

If you’ve got any little word tricks that work for you, share them please!

Yours for success,
Marte