What's in a Title?

How can 13 different cities all be rated "the greatest" at the same time?

Simple--be picked by editors at Maxim magazine.

In what can, perhaps, best be described as creative license by the editors of Maxim, 13 different U.S. cities were all named the greatest on the globe. What prompted this feat of linguistic gymnastics?

According to The Detroit Free Press online (3/22/02), the editors intended to select one city in North America for the title but were only able to narrow the choices down to 13. Ultimately, they created separate covers--each naming a different city--for the geographic regions where the magazines would be sold.

While Maxim readers are unlikely to be outraged, communicators need to take care in playing "loose and free" with words. Terms like "greatest" by nature connote one item or concept, not many.

In business documents, even innocently misusing such terms can misrepresent information or suggest that the writer has a limited understanding of the language. Take care to resist the urge to exaggerate claims, especially in sales or fundraising letters, where readers may be especially sensitive to exaggeration.

When in doubt, check the dictionary.