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AP Stylebook updates

I’m getting fed up with the AP Stylebook. I thought it was dumb to write “Web site,” but I did it anyway, feeling like I was in the minority. In fact, publications such as Time and Sports Illustrated used “website” instead.

Then the folks behind the AP Stylebook finally relented in 2010 and changed it to “website.” This week, they announced they were converting “e-mail” to “email.”

This reminds me of the late 1990s when the Oxford-English Dictionary added the word “trekker” to describe “Star Trek” fans, even though for years they were known as “trekkies.” Why just make up a new word? In the case of the AP, why force people to write “Web site” and “e-mail” when everyone had previously used “website” and “email”????

The Oxford-English Dictionary eventually dropped “trekker” and added “trekkies.” And now we see the AP Stylebook coming to its senses. Next time, just get it correct the first time.

Restaurant marketing continues to evolve

PopeyesAnyone who works or has worked in the restaurant industry knows that it’s tough and that you need to be proactive on the marketing front to have a chance at success. As the New York Times reported recently, quick-service restaurants (QSR) like Popeye’s and Dairy Queen have new campaigns that may help to stem sales losses caused by an increase in gasoline prices.

If anything, I would think that this is time for this category of restaurant to shine. When the economy made a turn for the worse a few years ago, upscale restaurants saw the biggest decline, and as a result they had to make modifications, such as adding prix-fixe menus. Thus, QSRs need to continue trumpeting value …

… and health.  Yep, that’s right. As reported by AdAge, QSRs are using buzzwords such as “fresh” and “natural” to appeal to the (more-)health-conscious diners. I agree with the article that trying to market to everybody could be a detriment to the restaurant chain’s core offerings. That’s why finding the right balance–though difficult–will be key.

Old news

I did something yesterday I never would have expected that I would do, and that was return a newspaper.

Last week, I did some grocery shopping at Super Walmart and picked up a New York Times. Only when I sat down for breakfast afterward did I notice that the date of the paper was Jan. 1, 2011. That explained why the front page photo was of people partying in Times Square!

When I went to customer service, one employee said others had encountered the same problem. It was only at that point that she went to the newspaper rack and removed all the copies of the New York Times, all dated Jan. 1. Apparently, they stopped getting new copies and forgot to throw away the old ones, despite being two months old.

They happily refunded me my two dollars.