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© by Bonnie Budzowski, President of InCredible Messages, LP. 
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Winston Churchill Gives Communication Advice

By Bonnie Budzowski
President, InCredible Messages, LP

In a legendary anecdote, described by Richard Lanham in Revising Prose, an American general asks Winston Churchill to read a draft of a speech the general has prepared. The following quote is Churchill’s critique of the general’s speech:

Too many Latinate polysyllabics like “systematize, prioritize, finalize.” And then the passives. What if I [Churchill] had said—instead of “We shall fight on the beaches”—“Hostilities will be engaged on the coastal perimeter”?

You can improve communication by changing lofty words into everyday words, except where a lofty word carries a precise and necessary meaning. Here are some examples of words you can easily change:

Your business culture may encourage the use of unnecessarily lofty words—Churchill’s polysyllabic words. One communication expert refers to such language as pseudo-speak. Whatever you call it, do your best to get rid of it. Your colleagues will be grateful. They might even follow your example.
 

Permission is granted to reprint this article when the following contact information is included: © 2008 by Bonnie Budzowski, President of InCredible Messages, LP. For more free articles, go to www.IncredibleMessages.com or contact Bonnie at info@IncredibleMessages.com.

Imagine yourself in a situation in which one professional shows you how to incorporate the insights of three perspectives into your business communication:  marketing, persuasion, and visual design. 

Imagine an interactive session with an entertaining and inspiring speaker.  Do you like what you see?  You’ve just envisioned working with Bonnie Budzowski, President of inCredible Messages, LP.

Contact Bonnie to learn more about how she can guide you and your team to create compelling business messages or call 412-361-1490. 

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