In the words of Ernie Wise (younger readers can ask your parents who he was) if you have talent like what I have got then the beautifully crafted interpretation panel is within your reach. It is just a question of avoiding some obvious pitfalls.*
- Steer clear of cliches; if you give them a wide berth then your panel will be the cat's whiskers.
- Brevity is key; do not use more words for the general concept, idea or fact you are trying to express, articulate or explain
- Always avoid, abnegate and abjure annoying and aggravating alliteration
- Facts need to be specific, more or less
- Complete sentences only, please
- It goes without saying all verbs has to agree with subjects
- Parenthetical remarks (however pertinent) are (almost always) superfluous
- The passive voice is to be avoided
- Foreign words are de trop and suck the joie de vivre out of the text
- Delete commas, that, are not, necessary
- One should never generalise
- Avoid ampersands & abbreviations etc.
- Analogies on panels are like track suits on sloths
- Never use big words when diminutive expressions will discharge the meaning more efficaciously
- Never use quotations, as Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "I hate quotations."
- Who needs rhetorical questions?
- Never mix your metaphors, even if your well turned phrase flies like a bird, it should still be given its marching orders
- Exaggeration is a million times worse than understatement
- Finally, proofread carefully to see if you any words out
By following these simple rules will turn you panel into something you will be proud for the general public to ignore.
*My bible for all things factual and grammatical is 'How much poo does an elephant do?" by Mitchell Symons. Thanks to him for his tips and inspiration that I have passed onto you today - all museum professionals must own it.
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