Thursday, May 24, 2012

How to improve writing (no. 37)

From an NPR underwriting plug for OfficeMax: “offering Forever stamps, like at the post office.”

Like at the post office, like on NPR! The awkward “like at” aside, it makes little sense to tout the stamps sold (not offered) at OfficeMax as the same stamps sold at the post office.

Better: “selling Forever stamps, saving you a trip to the post office.”

[This post is no. 37 in a series, “How to improve writing,” dedicated to improving stray bits of public prose.]

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comments: 1

Elaine said...

Why didn't the honchos at the firm nix this when the ad-men presented their proposed commercial? Don't we, as customers, deserve some protection?

Ha, ha, just kidding.