Shirley's Articles / Personal Effectiveness

Speaking Clearly and Confidently

Article from Heather Hansen

Here are a few funny phrases I pulled from an email I recently received. Can you read these sentences correctly on the first try? Enjoy!

  1. The farm was used to produce produce.
  2. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
  3. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.*
  4. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
  5. I did not object to the object.
  6. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
  7. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

Here are the answers:

  1. The farm was used to produce produce.
  2. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
  3. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
  4. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
  5. I did not object to the object.
  6. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
  7. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

*If you have trouble remembering the difference between spelling desert (n. hot and baren landscape, v. to run away from, leave) and dessert (n. yummy treat, usually including chocolate), my mom taught me a great trick when I was little: “We always want more dessert, so we add an extra s!”

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Shirley is an international bestselling author. She has established herself as a leading authority in email and business writing skills. Her international bestseller Model Business Letters, Emails & Other Business Documents 7th edition sold over half a million copies worldwide and has been translated into 17 languages. Her book Email Essentials reached #2 in the USA for publishers Marshall Cavendish International. Find out more about Shirley at shirleytaylor.com.

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