A well-known financial professional seemed to be hedging her bets in a recent piece she sent to us for review. Right off the bat, three sentences rubbed me the wrong way (but apparently not her Marcom team):

• It’s a win-win situation where the firm can provide higher-quality services, and the clients achieve better financial outcomes.
• In an age where economic uncertainties are more prevalent, clients seek advisors who can provide more than just compliance services.
• Visual learners find value in well-structured presentations such as PowerPoints or PDFs, where a picture can convey more than a thousand words.

Which sentence above do you think is correct? If you said “None of the above” then you’re right. In each instance, no specific place or location is specified. The author is referring to more abstract terms or concepts. She should have gone with “in which” as in: “It’s a win-win situation in which the firm can provide higher-quality services …..”  The situation is NOT a place you can see or visit.

Again, I’m no grammarian and don’t aspire to be one. I just try to keep things simple when writing or editing. Here’s how I keep “Where” vs. “In Which” straight:

• Use “where” when referring to a specific, physical place. For example: “the city where I was born” or “the building where the conference is being held.”
• Use “in which” when referring to something more abstract or conceptual, rather than to a specific physical location. For example: “the circumstances in which the accident occurred” or “the era in which this style of art thrived.”

So, don’t write about a situation where…, a theory where…, a case where… a legal dispute where. Those are all cases to use “in which.”

But if you think “in which” is too formal or stuffy, you can bend the rules a little and use “Where” to refer to the status of a situation or circumstance. For instance:

• Where do you see this relationship going? Or
• “He took a plane to Morocco, where he met his cousin for the first time.

The above instances are okay to use “Where” and I won’t tell Mrs. McGillicuddy, your 8^th grade English teacher.

Quick quiz: Fill in the blank

“Using a spreadsheet when a data warehouse was required created a situation _______ effective analysis was impossible.”
a. where
b. in which

Correct Answer: b (in which).  The situation is not a physical location, it’s a scenario. You might find it easier to default to “where,” but when reviewing your work, please make sure you flag the “where” and then ask yourself if you’re referring to a physical location or a scenario. See, it’s easy.

Speaking of reviewing your work, I’m all for Grammarly, Spellcheck and AI, but there’s nothing more effective than reading your work back to yourself, preferably aloud. You’re a skilled professional with a personal brand to protect. With a little practice, you ear will usually help you arrive at the correct answer.

Conclusion
I know English is a maddeningly perverse language with more exceptions to the rule than the U.S. tax code. Just keep these simple tips in mind and you’ll be fine. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how well you know the numbers, without a solid command of the English language, you won’t be taken seriously. After all, You’re an Elite Professional; Don’t Sound Like a Jamoke

#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership

A well-known financial advisor recently asked us to update the manuscript for a book she published a few years ago. In the opening acknowledgements, three sentences using the word “which” didn’t seem right to me:

• “There are still a myriad of products which simply must be purchased through traditional selling methods.”
• “We can only sell selected products which will require value added services.”
• “This book offers many insights which can help you.”

How many of the three sentences above are not grammatically correct? If you said “none” then you’re correct.

Not to embarrass anyone on this distribution list, but many people including highly educated financial advisors, use “that” and “which” interchangeably. But, the two words are NOT synonymous and you should really pay attention to the distinction.

• “Which” introduces a non-essential clause.
• “That” introduces an essential clause.

I admit I’m not a great proofreader or grammarian. Here’s how I try to remember the difference between That vs. Which (your spellchecker won’t always get it right):

• If the clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence, you use “”
• If you could drop the clause and leave the meaning of the sentence intact, use “”

For example:

• The building that opened last weekis still unoccupied.
• The building, which opened last week, is next to Starbucks.

In the first sentence, the clause “that opened last week” is essential because it identifies the building that is still unoccupied. Without the clause, we could refer to any building. With an essential clause like the one above, use the word “that.”

In the second sentence, the clause “which opened last week” is non-essential because it’s unnecessary for identifying the building. Without “which opened last week,” the sentence would still make sense. Since it’s a non-essential clause, use the word “which.”

That vs. Which Quiz (commas deleted)

Q1) My calculus assignment__ I handed in yesterday got an A!

Q2) My tuxedo__ I wore last week has a hole in it.

Q3) Jupiter __ is next to Saturn is the largest planet in our solar system.

See end of post for answers*

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter how well you know the numbers, without having a solid command of the English language you won’t be taken seriously. After all, You’re an Elite Professional; Don’t Sound Like a Jamoke

To paraphrase philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

*Quiz answers:  1) which 2) that 3) which

#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership

Not to embarrass anyone on this distribution list, but I came across this in a client’s guest column the other day. He was a big proponent of AI, Grammarly and SpellChecker, by the way:

“In principal, the judge’s decision should not effect the outcome.”


Affect vs. Effect: These homophones confuse many, especially when writing quickly. “Affect” is typically a verb meaning to influence, while “effect” is typically a noun meaning the result or consequence of an action.

Principal vs. Principle: Many financial folks trip over this one because “Principal” refers to an initial amount of money or investment, or to a person with controlling authority. “Principle,” on the other hand, pertains to a fundamental truth or belief.

So, if you’re keeping score at home, the correct version of this sentence should be: “In principle, the judge’s decision should not affect the outcome.”

Speaking of judging, we often see “Judgement” and “judgment” confused. I know it seems logical to use judgement (with an “e”), but in the U.S. we always drop the “e.” In the U.K. and Australia, both are used, judgement (with an “e”) is predominant. Same goes for “judgmental” vs. “judgemental.” Play it smart and drop the “e.”  

Compliment vs. Complement: These words sound alike but have different meanings. “Compliment” refers to a courteous expression of praise or admiration, while “complement” denotes something that completes or enhances another thing.

Examples:
“The color of your outfit complements your eyes.”
“Receive a complimentary cup of coffee with any purchase!”

Login vs. Log in: When spelled as one word, “login” only functions as a noun or an adjective. However, when spelled as two words, “log in” functions as a verb. The word with a hyphen (log-in) has generally faded from use.

Examples:
“You can log in using your password.”
“Don’t forget your login information.”

Site vs. Cite: Not to be confused with someone’s ability to see (i.e., sight), a “site” refers to a place where something is located, such as a jobsite or website. On the other hand, “cite” is used as a verb whenever you reference something as an example or source.

Examples:
“You can find that information on our site’s homepage.”
“Whenever you use data from a report, make sure you cite your sources.”

Their vs. They’re vs. There: These homophones often trip up even seasoned professionals.

Their (pronoun). A form of they that shows possession as in The dog walker feeds their dogs everyday at two o’clock.

They’re (contraction). Joins the words they and are. They’re the sweetest dogs in the neighborhood.

There (adverb). Indicates a particular place. The dogs’ bowls are over there, next to the pantry.

There (pronoun). Indicates the presence of something. There are more treats if the dogs behave.

Further vs. Farther:  Use “Farther” when you’re referring to physical distance, as in someplace that is far away. (Think “A” for actual distance). Use “further” for metaphorical or figurative distance.

Examples:
“The drive to the client’s office was much farther than I anticipated.”
“I didn’t feel I needed to take the conversation any further.”

Ensure vs. Insure:
Ensure: To make sure or safe. The company will ensure that all affected employees receive compensation.
Insure: To obtain insurance. The new office is insured against any damage caused by fire.

Stationary vs. Stationery: One letter makes all the difference. “Stationary” means unmoving or not changing position, while “stationery” refers to writing materials.

Everyday vs. Every day:  When businesses try to communicate the value of their brands, there’s a big difference between “everyday low prices” and “low prices every day.” When spelled as one word, everyday is an adjective used to describe things that are common or occur daily. When spelled as two words, every is an adjective that modifies the noun day, and the phrase functions adverbially.

Examples:
“The corner grocery store is known for its everyday low prices.”
“Bill stays active by going for a walk every day on his lunch break.”

“I Couldn’t Care Less” vs. “I Could Care Less”:
If you say you “couldn’t care less” about something, it means you don’t care about it at all.
Sometimes you will hear people say “I could care less” in the same way such as: “I could care less of that stock drops. I don’t own it anymore.”

Grammarians will say that “could care less” is wrong because it should mean the opposite of “couldn’t care less.” Logically, if you could care less, it means you do care some, so always go with “couldn’t care less” to make your point.

Conclusion

Not to be your high school English teacher, but having a solid command of the English language matters if you want to be taken seriously. After all, You’re an Elite Professional; Don’t Sound Like a Jamoke

#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership