# Help me name my freelance business. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853 "2007-08-16T20:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/21 "2007-08-20T14:23:31Z")
Lots of nice choices there. Of course, be sure to check that any appealing name isn’t taken already – if you google some of the suggestions you’ll see that the more obvious ones may be registered. My business name - Coherent Text - came from a surprising source: my husband. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a literate guy. But he doesn’t have any particular interest in English, much less linguistics, so was probably unaware of how well that name works not just on the obvious level but on a more academic level as well. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/22 "2007-08-20T15:35:31Z")
I’ve always had a half-baked idea that if I went freelance, I’d call myself Exc_ **ellen** _t Writing & Design Ellen Cherry, prop. But since I’ve never done it, I never did. You’re welcome to it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Incensed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Incensed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incensed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/23 "2007-08-20T16:09:54Z")
**The Translator** _-from inanity to lucidity-_ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/24 "2007-08-20T16:20:45Z")
[QUOTE=Lunar Saltlick] A great name can help, but it’s not everything. [/QUOTE] Oh, believe me, I know. As I said in the OP, I’m still in the research/thinking phase of this whole possible venture, but decided to skip to the “fun part” for a while. 🙂 [QUOTE=CairoCarol] Of course, be sure to check that any appealing name isn’t taken already [/QUOTE] Yep; see post #19. [QUOTE=Ellen Cherry] But since I’ve never done it, I never did. You’re welcome to it. 😉 [/QUOTE] Hmm, I don’t think that “Excjennyt Writing & Design” has _quite_ the same ring to it. 😃 [QUOTE=Incensed] The Translator -from inanity to lucidity- [/QUOTE] Aside from the fact that I’m not trying to insult my clients before they even hire me, I’m not offering translation services. But thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Incensed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Incensed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incensed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/25 "2007-08-20T16:36:16Z")
[QUOTE=Misnomer] Aside from the fact that I’m not trying to insult my clients before they even hire me, I’m not offering translation services. But thanks. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Yeah I knew it was too condescending for anyone to actually use; what can I say–I’m a terminal wise ass. And the part about translating was a reference to the gap between the writing of an average person and a pro. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/26 "2007-08-20T16:48:32Z")
[QUOTE=Incensed] And the part about translating was a reference to the gap between the writing of an average person and a pro. 😉 [/QUOTE] Aaaah, I see. 🙂 Though true (and I frequently refer to my technical writing work as “translating” from software developer to English), if I have that in my business name many people might expect me to offer, say, translation as one of my services. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/27 "2007-08-20T16:58:11Z")
A few ideas: Edited Highlights The Prose (_Why use the amateurs when you can use The Prose?_) Dot the I’s (although you will immediately hit a stumbling block with that apostrophe! It shouldn’t really be there but if you don’t use one it looks like “is”.) Just Your Type I’d avoid any pun on “write/right” – too hackneyed. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/28 "2007-08-20T17:52:34Z")
You can borrow the name from a body-shop in Macon GA that I always thought had a catchy name: THE BODY OF CHRIST COPYWRITING (“if God had used us, there wouldn’t be translation errors”) ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/29 "2007-08-21T03:43:55Z")
I just did some brainstorming, and I _really_ like one of the ideas I came up with. I’m interested in finding out whether y’all agree with me about my favorite. 🙂 Here’s the list:[ul][li]Letter Perfect[/li][li]LetterWorks[/li][li]First Emendment[/li][li]Wolfpack Writing Works[/li][li]Blue Pencil Services[/ul][/li]What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/30 "2007-08-21T11:42:41Z")
I like Blue Pencil Services, so long as you have blue pencils to pass out to customers. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/31 "2007-08-21T11:48:54Z")
Bespoke Robust Dynamic Solutions Ltd. Actually Blue Pencil is a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/32 "2007-08-21T14:29:14Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Dot the I’s (although you will immediately hit a stumbling block with that apostrophe! It shouldn’t really be there but if you don’t use one it looks like “is”.) [/QUOTE] And that “I” isn’t even dotted! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/33 "2007-08-21T14:34:05Z")
My Technical Writing Staff ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/34 "2007-08-21T14:34:21Z")
I was going to suggest Blue Pencil, but… -It has negative connotations (censorship) -It’s already in use by a couple of different companies ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/35 "2007-08-21T14:37:23Z")
How about just calling it _Veridical_ ? -it ties in nicely with your tag line. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/36 "2007-08-21T14:57:09Z")
**Perspicuous Prose** “Say what you mean.” **Scrutable Words** “Mean what you say.” And for _Simpsons_ fans: **Can I Borrow a Meaning?** ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/37 "2007-08-21T14:59:14Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] My Technical Writing Staff [/QUOTE] My Technical Writing Staff, +2 vs. Typoes. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/38 "2007-08-21T15:43:51Z")
Clarity Ink ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/39 "2007-08-21T18:06:35Z")
Aww, man, no one picked my favorite! ☹ 😃 I like “First Emendment” – except when I hear it in my head there’s an “s” at the end, so “First Emendments.” I said it out loud to a co-worker today, though, and it sounds kind of odd … and, she got momentarily confused about which amendment was about guns. _grin_ But I really like the idea of using “emendment(s)” in the name. [QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I like Blue Pencil Services, so long as you have blue pencils to pass out to customers. [/QUOTE] My hope is that I won’t actually _see_ most of my clients, because everything will be done electronically. That said, if someone nearby wanted to meet with me I’d certainly be open to it. No pencils, though. 😉 [QUOTE=Mangetout] How about just calling it Veridical ? [/QUOTE] Because it took me a minute to figure out how to even _say_ that word, and then I had to look up its definition? 😃 No obscure words in the name, please. _grin_ > [@](#): > > -it ties in nicely with your tag line. Technically, it’s better suited to the “mean what you say” concept: “say what you mean” is clarity; “mean what you say” is honesty. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853/40 "2007-08-21T18:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=Misnomer] I like “First Emendment” – except when I hear it in my head there’s an “s” at the end, so “First Emendments.” [/QUOTE] You’ll forever be correcting the spelling (or seeing it misspelled), because people will hear it (or transcribe it in their heads) as “First Amendment.” May be a stumbling block if you get the domain name. Just a caveat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-freelance-business/415853.md?page=3)