---
title: Word Embezzlement
description: Word Embezzlement
---

[What's UP? | Marketing blog by UP THERE EVERYWHERE ](https://www.upthereeverywhere.com/blog)

# [Word Embezzlement](https://www.upthereeverywhere.com/blog/word-embezzlement)

 Written by [Julian Stubbs | Stockholm](https://www.upthereeverywhere.com/blog/author/julian-stubbs-stockholm) | August 3, 2011

Following on from my last blog approach of ‘*Good Artists Borrow, Great Artists Steal* ‘ this month I happily embezzle a few words from a person I have the great pleasure of knowing well – John Simmons. John is an inspiring creative business writer, who was one of the founders of the[*Dark Angels* writers courses](https://darkangelswriters.com/).

His contention, rightly, is that business writing is far too often *dehumanised* and lacking any emotional content. Businesses struggle to *find their own voice*. This is something we encounter at UP* all too often with corporations. It’s as if they feel threatened by actually saying something in a unique way that could actually make them stand out. So they resort to writing in a way that is similar, if not identical, to the way their competitors write. Safety in numbers I guess.

Anyway, some words from John below.

### *‘Banish any thought that you are writing for a business – either that you are writing on behalf of a business or writing to be read by a business. Ban the phrase ‘business to business’ writing along with that thought. I’m making a simple point: a business does not write to another business. A person writes to another person. Don’t ever think that you’re writing for an amorphous mass, a faceless organisation made up of groups. A business is made up of individuals – you are an individual too. Reach out through your words, make a human connection.’*

Recommended reading is John’s book ‘Twenty-six Ways of Looking at a Blackberry’. 

 

[View full post](https://www.upthereeverywhere.com/blog/word-embezzlement)

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