New-word watch
LBJ took the IRT
Remember those lyrics? “LBJ took the IRT”? They begin the “Initials” song in Hair.
I have recently learned two new abbreviations that also make me sing.
David, a member of the Philadelphia Writers Group, mentioned TLA. In Philadelphia, TLA stands for the Theater of the Living Arts. In the larger world, David says, it means a 3-letter abbreviation, such as USA, FBI and CIA (all of which appear in “Initials”).
So I was thrilled when Helen, whom I am coaching to improve her writing, offered me a four-letter abbrev that is new to me: HBCU. It stands for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. I Googled it and found hbcu.com. Wish I could work it into “Initials.”
What new or new-to-you abbrevs have you learned recently? Please send them here.
Client mandatories
I am coaching a young man at an advertising/public relations firm. We’re working on his writing. He writes memos referring to client mandatories, which I gently suggest is not a word. He is astonished. The firm uses the word so often, everyone on staff believes it exists. To them it describes the products the client has mandated that they supply.
What word have you — or has your organization — created?
Just ask
The director of a nonprofit agency, frustrated with the lack of charitable donations, asked previous donors to shell out even more bucks. Since her request was so high — and the economy so dim — she received far less than she anticipated. “The ask was too big,” she told a reporter.
The word ask is a verb. A good verb. Use it as a verb. Do not turn it into a noun, as in “We went for the ask.”
If you yearn to create a new word, and you’ve checked all existing words, turn a noun into a verb. Examples: To Google, which means to search online. To diagnose, a verb that emerged from the noun diagnosis. To plate, restaurant-speak for putting foods on a plate before serving them to guests.
If you want money, just ask.
New-word watch
Greenwash. Verb. To pretend that everything you do, make or sell is good for the environment.
- The housing development company greenwashes its new homes, even though it orients most of its picture windows to the north, where it’s cold and dark.
- The paper store greenwashes its merchandise, claiming its papers are recyclable — even though the packages are not, and even though e-mail and phone calls never need to enter recycling centers.
Avoid this usage as you would avoid throwing soda cans into the regular trash can.
