Comments on: One Less Word Challenge (#onelessword)

By: Claxon Marketing – “Top 5 Words to Avoid” Featured on Kivi’s Nonprofit Communications Blog

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:51:21 +0000

[…] the one you use too much and then take the One Less Word Challenge. How will you replace […]

By: Beth Ann Locke

Beth Ann Locke — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:32:50 +0000

In reply to Erica.

Erica – part of the reason I chose prospect is that I was going to be speaking with foundation about building a program, and NOT using prospect was pretty challenging! But talking about including the community, new supporters, advocates and champions, creating new support from men and women who had been served sounds a lot more humanizing than speaking about the “non-person” prospect. Good exercise!

By: Tammy Zonker

Tammy Zonker — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:21:58 +0000

I overuse the word commit. I’m committed to not using…..er, Mmmm.
I promise to not use the word commit. Thanks Erica!

By: Lindsay Bealko

Lindsay Bealko — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:01:05 +0000

There are two words I overuse and more creative options for both. This will be hard, but I’ll try reengineering my statements using the words 1) Effective and 2) Impact. Both will be hard, but impact will be the toughy. but I feel we as a sector (both on the funding side and the receiving side) have started using impact so much that it now sounds trite and is a broadbrush replacement for understanding what the real results of our eff…. er, productive work will be. 🙂 IT’S ON!

By: Peg Giffels

Peg Giffels — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:51:43 +0000

Let’s see… “capacity” “roll out” “change management” come to mind. A colleague suggested “catalyze”. If the goal is to be more conscious of our word choices and use words that are the very best for connecting and engaging, then I’m going to try a “capacity building” diet. Next week. Cold turkey. I’m tempted to go say it 50 times right now to get it out of my system…

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:41:55 +0000

In reply to Erin. This seems to go hand-in-hand with Lisa's below...do people try to disaggregate insight? : )

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:38:30 +0000

“Disaggregate.” EduSpeak for “break down the data” or “look more closely at the data.” Why can’t we just say that?Let’s take a poll… and then NOT disaggregate the results!

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:27:19 +0000

In reply to Lori L. Jacobwith.

“Try” is a fence-sitter of a term–you’re either doing it or you’re not! Your comment about the language of scarcity is important. Deficit-based language outpaces asset-based. Such a bummer. Thanks for helping to turn that ship, Lori!

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:24:58 +0000

In reply to Tony Martignetti. Great before/after example, Tony! Thanks for sharing your word and some of your replacements.

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:23:56 +0000

In reply to Karyn McKelvey. They really are interwoven for you, aren't they? Wow, I'm going to be really interested to hear/see how you change it up, Karyn. Will look forward to your report!