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ChanteSez … Don’t forget your brand

Posted by on in ChanteSez Tip of the Day1 Comment

Tuesday is my neighborhood trash pick-up day. I forgot to move my bin to the curb. … I almost forgot to post today’s ChanteSez Tip of the Day, too.

So, speaking of trash, did you know there’s a difference between “trash bin” and “Dumpster”? That difference is trademark.

Dumpster is capitalized since it is a trademarked brand. The rule is to use the trademarked brand only if it’s essential to your story, or if you’re aiming to add a detail that gives color to your piece. Otherwise, try to use a generic alternative.

Here are a few others:

  • AstroTurf
  • Velcro
  • Thermos (if you’re referring to the particular brand name)
  • Clorox
  • Jet Ski

ChanteSez … Keep it 100

Posted by on in ChanteSez Tip of the Day4 Comments

I like the saying “Keep it 100.” Since it’s a reference to “100 percent,” let’s talk about using “percent” in your writing.

  • Always spell out “percent.”
  • Exception: headlines or titles, where it’s OK to use the % symbol.
  • If you’re comparing percentages, always use “percent” after both figures. For example, “The business has seen an increase of between 40 percent and 50 percent compared to last year.”
  • Speaking of figures, always use numerals when pairing them with “percent” — even when they’re single digits. For example, “She decreased the errors in her writing by 8 percent after reading ChanteSez every week.”