This blog can get off track, but at its core, it’s meant to be a (fun) resource for startups… guidance for writing better stuff, developing a better brand, and ultimately, building a better business. Up to this point, it’s been more big-picture stuff, and that’s good, but I have to cover the smaller stuff too. So, here’s the first ‘technical tips’ installment:
A couple days ago, a good friend asked me how to spell canceled – apparently, the word has two correct possibilities, canceled or cancelled. I gather he was asking for a hard-and-fast rule (like use one in this situation, and the other in this), and for all I know there is one. But I just told him what I use (and what I think startups should use): spell like you dress.
Sure, there are some rules you have to follow for both (never wear white socks with black dress pants for instance, and never spell train as trane for another). But beyond these, it’s about finding the right fit for your situation. This may mean wearing a light blue shirt with darker blue jeans, or tucking a dress shirt into Carharts. It may mean using canceled because it’s better balanced, or it may mean using cancelled because it’s stronger. It even may mean using 100strong because it’s better than 100Strong or 100 Strong (it is).
At the end of the day, it’s not about rules… it’s about finding the right spelling and the right words to communicate your brand. Dress well. Write well.
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