The Have-To Rant
April 29th, 2008 Dina at Wordfeeder.com
I’m going to permit myself the “have-to” rant today. This has been in the back of my mind for a long time, but I’m finally going to let it come bubbling up to the surface. This is going to feel GREAT.
The phrase that I just stumbled across was this one:
“For clients with limited budgets who ‘have’ to have guaranteed results…”
Aggghhh! I despise it when people say “have to” in place of “must.” It’s such a weak and mealy-mouthed substitute for a small but mighty word. And a double whammy offense when you say “have to have.” Eeeyew. (spitting)
(And yet I’d be lying if I said I didn’t occasionally say “have to” in my clients’ copy if the phrase fits their manner of speaking. BUT STILL…)
You can say this so many other ways.
“For clients with limited budgets who ‘must’ have guaranteed results…”
“For clients with limited budgets who ‘insist’ on guaranteed results…”
Do people cock their heads to the side, slacken their jaws and roll their eyes about before telling someone that they “have to” do something?
Why not just spell it “hafta?”
And while we’re being total dorks here, we may as well just add an “OMG.”
“OMG… you HAFTA take a look at what this amazing search engine optimization program offers. It’s like, soooo good.”
Ahh, I feel much better now that I got that one of my chest. Thanks for listening. You didn’t… hafta.
Dina at Wordfeeder.com Copywriting and Marketing
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