Comments on: The Mercantile’s Guide to Style http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/ This web log may be kept out for 14 days and may not be renewed. Fine for overdue web logs is 10 cents a day. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:29:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: nick http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10337 nick Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:39:59 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10337 nyC4jh hi! hice site! nyC4jh hi! hice site!

]]> By: Ed Scripsi http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10226 Ed Scripsi Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:03:18 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10226 These last couple of comments demonstrate another level of the closing: Closing as Rhetorical Combat. Whenever possible, anticipate their next move, seize the upper hand, parry, thrust and, if necessary, make your opponent--I mean conversant--feel awkward. That'll teach 'em. I never realized just how awkward the word awkward is. Your drawkward correspondent, Check, Fred These last couple of comments demonstrate another level of the closing: Closing as Rhetorical Combat.
Whenever possible, anticipate their next move, seize the upper hand, parry, thrust and, if necessary, make your opponent–I mean conversant–feel awkward. That’ll teach ‘em.
I never realized just how awkward the word awkward is.
Your drawkward correspondent,
Check,
Fred

]]> By: SweetToad http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10224 SweetToad Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:34:13 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10224 I typically sign a letter to close family or friends “Love,” or “Take care,” a letter to a colleague or student “Best regards,” and a business letter with the traditional “Sincerely.” But Mr. Scripsi has a point – our written communications could be so much more interesting! For example, I could end many of my letters to students with: “Your learned instructor, whose meager salary your tuition dollars do pay, but whose dignity cannot be purchased in the form of inflated grades – nay, not even upon much pleading or feigning of adulation,” When signing a cover letter for a job application, I could sign as follows: “Humbly seeking employment with your institution, whereupon I have compiled and here include for your review an application in which I package and sell myself like so much laundry detergent,” (Have I ever mentioned how much I detest applying for jobs?) Ahh, yes, the possibilities are endless... I typically sign a letter to close family or friends “Love,” or “Take care,” a letter to a colleague or student “Best regards,” and a business letter with the traditional “Sincerely.” But Mr. Scripsi has a point – our written communications could be so much more interesting! For example, I could end many of my letters to students with:

“Your learned instructor, whose meager salary your tuition dollars do pay, but whose dignity cannot be purchased in the form of inflated grades – nay, not even upon much pleading or feigning of adulation,”

When signing a cover letter for a job application, I could sign as follows:

“Humbly seeking employment with your institution, whereupon I have compiled and here include for your review an application in which I package and sell myself like so much laundry detergent,”

(Have I ever mentioned how much I detest applying for jobs?)

Ahh, yes, the possibilities are endless…

]]> By: naomi dallob http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10223 naomi dallob Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:31:57 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10223 How about "Thanks in advance, Fred"? It's compact, polite, and avoids the dreaded one-word bounceback. How about “Thanks in advance, Fred”? It’s compact, polite, and avoids the dreaded one-word bounceback.

]]> By: Brian http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10221 Brian Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:22:53 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10221 I've always been partial towards, Yours Till They Drink Canada Dry. However, nowadays, I just adopt a rather bland, "Cya!". Yours most graciously and courteously if not sagaciously, Brian I’ve always been partial towards, Yours Till They Drink Canada Dry. However, nowadays, I just adopt a rather bland, “Cya!”.

Yours most graciously and courteously if not sagaciously,
Brian

]]> By: Kevin LeMaster http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10220 Kevin LeMaster Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:50:30 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10220 Hmm...that could work! Hmm…that could work!

]]> By: Ed Scripsi http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10217 Ed Scripsi Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:41:03 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10217 I think you should use the "Bridging demographics" style of closing: "Chief Executive and Pubah of Building Cincinnati dot com, Kevvy Kev" This hits the hip-hop and the corporate audiences, and many demographics in between. I think you should use the “Bridging demographics” style of closing:
“Chief Executive and Pubah of Building Cincinnati dot com,
Kevvy Kev”
This hits the hip-hop and the corporate audiences, and many demographics in between.

]]> By: Kevin LeMaster http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/2008/05/30/the-mercantiles-guide-to-style/#comment-10216 Kevin LeMaster Sat, 31 May 2008 17:27:39 +0000 http://cincinnatimercantile.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-10216 I always use "Thanks, Kevin". It's weak, I know. What are my other options? Thanks, Kevin I always use “Thanks, Kevin”. It’s weak, I know. What are my other options?

Thanks,
Kevin

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