1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,120 From Studio C in the 511 Studios located 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:08,000 in the Brewery District in downtown Columbus, this is a Note To Future Me. 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:10,400 This is Brett Johnson, your host, and I'm 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,560 the owner of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants. 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,120 Chances are more of your podcast listeners 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,320 than you even realize, care a great deal about proper grammar. 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,760 Your podcast represents you and how you speak. 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:25,520 You want your podcast listeners to 9 00:00:25,570 --> 00:00:28,920 understand what you're saying, to think you're bright and competent. 10 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,560 But your weak word choice might be raising 11 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,880 eyebrows and red flags with incorrect word choices. 12 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,240 People might not actually know what you're trying to say. 13 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,600 Grammar rules were created to make communication clear. 14 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,040 Communication is the heart of podcasting. 15 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,840 When you use words incorrectly, you can 16 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,680 sound sloppy and precise and even unprofessional. 17 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:53,840 Here are six words you think you're using 18 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,720 correctly in your podcasts, but you may not be... 19 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,760 The words less and fewer. 20 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:03,800 Contrary to popular belief, these two words are not interchangeable. 21 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,280 Here's a usage trick to keep in mind. 22 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,120 If you can count the number of whatever it 23 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:13,080 is you're referencing, use the word fewer if you can't use less. 24 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,040 Remember, this rule is important enough 25 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,600 that the Game of Thrones TV show had two characters correct? 26 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,360 The misuse of the word less three times. 27 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,040 You may also remember in 2004, for a few 28 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:31,360 years, Clear Channel's Less is More initiative, where the broadcast company 29 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,920 began cutting commercial times from one minute to 30 seconds. 30 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:39,720 You heard the branding on air on other stations with that slogan, Less Is More. 31 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,680 Which, of course is grammatically incorrect. 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,720 But continued the misuse of the word less on a large scale across the country. 33 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,080 I guess viewer is more doesn't really have the ring to it, 34 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,400 literally and figuratively 35 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,800 If what you're referring to is really 36 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,000 happening, or is going to happen then and only then would you use the word 37 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:04,040 literally. If you choose the word literally to describe metaphorical 38 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:09,520 outcomes or to emphasize at present situation beyond what it actually is, 39 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,200 you're potentially coming off as unnecessarily dramatic? 40 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,560 Well, that or like you don't know what the word literally means. 41 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,400 Imply and infer. 42 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:21,800 While both words deal with communicating 43 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,600 and processing information, imply and infer, have different meanings when you 44 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,920 imply you're the speaker and the one providing information and meaning. 45 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,080 For example, I didn't mean to imply that there was anything wrong with the way you 46 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:40,960 dress when you infer you're the listener, you're the one receiving information and 47 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,800 taking a certain meaning from that information or situation. 48 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,360 For example, since you did not show up for 49 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:51,120 the first day of work, we will infer that you are not serious about the job. 50 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,720 Now's a good time to take another listen 51 00:02:53,920 --> 00:02:57,320 to your latest podcast episode and see how you're using your words. 52 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:58,880 Do you have room to improve? 53 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,200 Did you get your point across using the words you chose in that episode? 54 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,600 Did you notice that you had to clarify your point more than one time? 55 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,440 As with anything you create, taking the time to speak grammatically correct as 56 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:15,560 possible, save you time and save your listener time in 57 00:03:15,690 --> 00:03:18,040 understanding the point you're trying to convey. 58 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,120 Want to learn more? Hey, be sure to sign up for my free daily. 59 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:22,720 Open The Mic Newsletter. 60 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:26,680 Each day is a different topic from articles around the web on podcast, 61 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:32,160 monetization, podcast, marketing podcast, audio production, the week's podcast news 62 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,080 and our suggestions for your next seven days. 63 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:36,240 A podcast listening. 64 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,760 The link to that newsletter to sign up for free is in the podcast show notes.