The Participation Blog

Wordsmithing

I was talking to ALEXA the other night and we were discussing the fact that the subtlety and effectiveness between almost the right word and exactly the right word can make or break any encounter between two people or between a facilitator (or presenter) and a large group. Are you willing to consider the nuances?

Metaphors and similes are good ways of communicating complex science and policy to normal people, which can sometimes feel like playing darts with cooked spaghetti. But when you find the right comparison and you know you’ve gotten through, you’ll get as excited as that lady from Peru who found a yam shaped like the Virgin Mary!

If you’re interested in a deeper dive into how complexity can best be explained, read on.

Elton John was right; sorry does seem to be the hardest word.