Google Translate is a useful tool in many situations. But one thing it certainly isn’t is a suitable replacement for a translator or a copywriter (or someone who happens to do both).
Category Archives: Writing style
Do foreign words help or hinder?
Throughout its development, the English language has cheerily been hijacking words from other cultures. But does it help or hinder web copy when we pluck a word from another tongue to add a bit of style to our text?
When copy makes you go ‘bleurgh’
Sometimes, tongue-in-cheek web copy works really well. Other times, when not viewed in context with other content, it just makes you go ‘yuck’.
‘Left justify’ your web copy
It’s generally recommended that justified text (set flush to both the left and right margins) should be avoided on web pages. There are two main reasons for this.
Maintaining the tone in every contact
If your website’s main content has a consistent tone throughout, that’s great; but don’t forget those other points of contact with your readers or customers. This might be rarely needed web pages (such as the 404 error page) or following up on an order. I recently ordered a couple of t-shirts online from howies, andContinue reading “Maintaining the tone in every contact”