Mystery Words

When you speak and write, avoid using any of these words and phrases, and ones like them, as they are not concrete and only promote confusion:

• “In a timely manner.” Does that mean immediately? Next week? If it’s up for interpretation, it could mean in the next century for all anyone knows.

• “Just now.” In some regions, this means literally “just now”; in others, it could mean recently—any time the past day, week, month.

• “I’ll be there in a minute.” Really? In exactly sixty seconds? Because that’s what a minute is—not fifteen minutes, not an hour.

• “I’ll see you later.” When later? In a few minutes? Next year? How long should this person wait for you?

And if you’re getting too many mystery words from someone trying to tell you something, speak up if you don’t know exactly what’s being asked of you. 

Excerpted from Loud and Clear by Karen Berg. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/wm2tod4