{"id":70218,"date":"2015-08-17T14:53:22","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T13:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.strattoncraig.com\/insight\/five-ways-to-stop-hyperbole-ruining-your-life\/"},"modified":"2015-08-17T14:53:22","modified_gmt":"2015-08-17T13:53:22","slug":"five-ways-to-stop-hyperbole-ruining-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.strattoncraig.com\/us\/insight\/five-ways-to-stop-hyperbole-ruining-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Five ways to stop hyperbole ruining your life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Exaggeration is often harmless; telling a friend they look amazing when ok is more accurate never hurts. In the world of advertising, though, it\u2019s different. Although it might be compelling to inflate your claims a little, amplified statements can raise eyebrows. Will hyperbole actually ruin your life? No. But it can damage your brand\u2019s credibility beyond repair.<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cAn elegant surpassing of the truth\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

Literally derived from the Greek word meaning \u2018excess\u2019, hyperbole is extreme exaggeration used to make a point. It\u2019s designed precisely to draw attention to itself and is a tactic linguist Claudia Claridge calls \u201cemotive persuasion.\u201d Roman rhetorician, Quintilian insisted that it isn\u2019t a deceitful lie, but rather \u201can elegant surpassing of the truth\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n

Finding the best way to describe a feeling, a place or a product is often difficult and words allow you to provide clearly discernible meanings. Exaggeration makes the statement\u2019s intention unmistakable and subtle hyperbole retains the relatability that over-ambitious metaphors and confusing analogies can lose.<\/p>\n\n\n

Literature is where hyperbole is most at home, where it can be pushed to the point of absurdity for artistic effect. Take Paul Bunyan\u2019s opening remarks in the American folktale Babe, the Blue Ox:<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cWell now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and even the snow turned blue. Late at night, it got so frigid that all spoken words froze solid afore they could be heard. People had to wait until sunup to find out what folks were talking about the night before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

When to avoid it…like the plague<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

While hyperbole thrives in literature and speech, there are instances where its use is off-putting. When selling a product or service, there is a temptation for organisations to go too far. If you force readers to navigate through overstated adjectives and impassioned turns of phrase, you might repel them instead of getting them onboard.<\/p>\n\n\n

Yes, you have a product to sell, and yes, it is a competitive market. But if your business is one that you can stand by confidently, exaggeration shouldn\u2019t be necessary to attract customers.<\/p>\n\n\n

Here are a few tips on how to keep a handle on hyperbole:<\/p>\n\n\n

1)  Avoid absolutes, superlatives and clich\u00e9s<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

Avoid words like \u2018never\u2019, \u2018always\u2019 and \u2018best\u2019.  Or \u2018most\u2019, \u2018ultimate\u2019 \u2018undisputed\u2019 and \u2018unsurpassed\u2019. Instead, be honest, unassuming and straightforward. Best-ever claims are difficult to prove and if you set the bar too high, it\u2019s easy to fall short. Hyperbolic clich\u00e9s can also make you feel like a million dollars, but they\u2019re also unreliable and, in some cases, laughable.<\/p>\n\n\n

2)  Use numbers and quantify<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

Expressions such as \u2018numerous\u2019, \u2018several\u2019 \u2018various\u2019 and \u2018few\u2019 are ambiguous and unclear. Quantify whenever you can or provide a relative context.<\/p>\n\n\n

3)  Prove it!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

Be specific, always cite your source and offer up verification for anything you say. If you\u2019re the global leader in your industry, mention how you acquired this illustrious title. If you give specifics, you\u2019ll inspire trust.<\/p>\n\n\n

4)   <\/strong>Let others sing your praises<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

Organise your feedback and ask happy customers to provide glowing endorsements \u2013 here, hyperbole is fine. If your customer wants to say that you really are the best, that\u2019s not propaganda \u2013 it\u2019s a reliable source giving their informed opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n

5)  Trust your services<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

If your products or services are great, let them stand on their own merits and be honest when describing their benefits. Write boldly and with enthusiasm, but carefully construct and craft your arguments guiding the reader to their own compelling conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n

More from Stratton Craig …<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

Content writing is in our DNA. We\u2019re a copywriting company with a team of expert writers, content strategists and project managers. Get in touch for copywriting services that bring your brand and values to life.<\/p>\n\n\n