Skip to content

Quick tip: Don’t say “once every xx seconds…”

Woman sitting alone with stat on 1 suicide every 40 seconds

I’ve been researching suicide lately. Don’t worry; I’m not thinking about doing myself in. It’s for a fictional story I’m working on. In my research, I encountered a statistic that always bugs me. Here it is, from no less than the World Health Organization: Suicide: one person dies every 40 seconds1 What a shocker, right?…

Read More

White Paper World 36: February 1, 2024

White Paper World logo Feb-2024

Quick tip: Don’t say “once every xx seconds…” Great book: How to Lie with Statistics February Book Giveaway: Send me a shoddy statistic! Need help with your next white paper? Quick tip: Don’t say “once every xx seconds…” I’ve been researching suicide lately. Don’t worry; I’m not thinking about doing myself in. It’s for a…

Read More

Quick tip: Here’s a great little book on statistics

So far, I’ve posted two quick tips on how to avoid shoddy statistics. Both articles included examples from the real world. You can see those here: Don’t use numbers out of context Don’t say “once every xx seconds…” So how about some positive tips on how to use numbers properly? If you’re interested in how…

Read More

Quick tip: Don’t use numbers out of context

Man cooking up shoddy statistics on laptop

White papers need solid proof to make their case. So please don’t fabricate shoddy statistics out of thin air. If you try to make up a snappy-sounding statistic, you’re taking a huge risk. You’re gambling that: You can get away with deceiving prospects No one will question your sources or analysis No one will say…

Read More

White Paper World 29: September 28, 202

This just in: My latest white paper Quick tip: Check quotes with your sources September Book Giveaway: Spot the goof-ups in my white paper What I’m reading: Percy Jackson! This just in: A new white paper I wrote The Linux Foundation just published a white paper I wrote on the mobile sector, where two Big…

Read More

Quick tip: Check quotes from your sources

business woman checking her quotes

When you quote someone, make sure to get their quote right. This is especially important if they’re an ongoing source you want to go back to again. Remember, most business people are not used to being quoted. They’re not spokespeople. They’re not celebrities. So they’re unsure about the process. To reassure a source, here are…

Read More

4 ways to evaluate white paper sources

raindrops on green tarp

So you’re writing a white paper… And it’s time to cite an expert, define a term, or introduce a proof point. Where do you find a good source? If you’re like most writers, you do a few quick queries with Google and get a list of search results. Then you start scrolling and clicking on…

Read More

White Paper World 27: August 24, 2023

  Quick tip: Build your own list of sources This just in: AI is enshittifying the web! AI survey book giveaway: Another winner! Deadline: Take the AI survey before it closes Don’t miss checklist: 12 ways to humanize your content Quick tip: Build your own list of sources How to save time researching your next…

Read More

Quick tip: Build your own list of sources

construction guy holding a clipboard

Here’s how to save time researching your next white paper. Build your own list of sources you trust, and go to them for insights. I’ve said this before: Don’t start with Google. Now I’m doubling down on that advice. Develop your own list of trusted sources. Don’t rely on Google to find them. This works especially…

Read More

5 reasons why writers should explore rhetoric

rhetoric-5-reasons-to-explore

I never studied rhetoric at school. There were no doubt a few courses on rhetoric in my university syllabus. But I flipped right past them. At the time, I considered the topic old-fashioned, boring, and useless. Oh, the folly of youth! Today, I dearly wish I had taken those courses. I’ve come to see rhetoric…

Read More