Bob Bly Direct Response Copywriter Official Banner

More Nitpicking

May 17th, 2007 by Bob Bly

It’s a small thing, but it bugs me.

Continental Airlines, in their commercials in inflight video, talk about how their dedication to service includes “meals at mealtime.”

First of all, it sounds redundant. When else would one serve meals?

Second, it’s odd, old-fashioned phrasing.

At various times of the day, I get hungry, and think it’s time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

But I never mentally say to myself — “It’s mealtime.”

Why does this matter?

Because copy should be written the way people think and speak.

To me, Continental’s wording is oddly jarring, which distracts from the message and makes one aware that one is heading scripted commercial copy.

Do you agree that “meals at mealtime” doesn’t exactly flow off the tongue?

Or am I being too much of a nitpicker on this one?

Share

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 17th, 2007 at 4:48 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

44 responses about “More Nitpicking”

  1. Jim Logan said:

    It sounds folksy to me. Kind of down-home. I’m not sure who their target audience is…you don’t see Continental much in California.

    Does the language fit other parts of their campaign? Maybe a regional campaign where that language is more commonly used?

    No argument there.

  2. Pam said:

    Seems especially strange, considering that an airline – in the travel business, of course – would necessarily cross time zones. Which would make “mealtime” completely arbitrary, wouldn’t it?

  3. Sheri Cyprus said:

    I’m with you on this one, Bob. The redundancy here is not only stupid, but “mealtime” sounds more fitting for a dog food commercial than a commercial targeting human airline passengers!

  4. Dale Butler said:

    I think maybe it’s because they are advertising the fact that they still serve meals at mealtime, while other airlines do not.

  5. Kenneth W. Davis said:

    Bob, I confess I like the folksiness of the line, but it’s a largely irrelevant claim. It seems to me that many, perhaps most, domestic flights deliberately avoid flying at traditional meal times, just to keep us from expecting meals. I often find myself landing somewere just before noon, for a connecting flight at 1:30 or 2.

    And as for international flights, as Pam says, what’s mealtime? (Although I admit that getting breakfast at 7 or 8 a.m. Europe time–even though it’s only 2 or 3 a.m. body time–helps me adjust to the new time zone.)

  6. Michael said:

    “Meals at mealtime.”

    True, it does seem redundant; also a bit queer to my eyes as I’m unaccustomed to the word mealtime. After moving to this new state, I’m still having a time trying to figure out the difference between “supper” and “dinner.”

    I’m guessing what the airline’s trying to get across is that you get meal at times when you’re normally accustomed to getting your meals, i.e., since their flights are scheduled so that breakfast, lunch, or dinner fall around those actual times, it means they don’t serve you breakfast at 3 p.m. nor dinner at 2 a.m.

    That’s my guess. The meaning of that, however, is buried in their assumptions that the average person will make that obscure connection.

    I’m not real fond of the overly casual tone, either. In my mind, airline professionals are highly trained experts at keeping the plane in the air. To have them coming across like the spokesman for Motel 6 seems out of place.

  7. Frank Catalano said:

    Amusingly, this is the exact same phrase that Alaska Airlines used to use when promoting their advantage over competitors: “…and meals at mealtime.”

    Funny how Continental (now an Alaska partner) would appropriate this a handful of years later.

  8. Al Rickert said:

    Sounds to me like Cracker Barrell might own some Continental stock. Maybe they could add a few rockers in first class while serving their meals at mealtime.

  9. Gisele said:

    I agree that it does not flow. The wording says, “Here comes cutsy marketing speak because we don’t have anything intelligent to offer.”

  10. Rob Swanson said:

    Because of the cynicism of most airline travelers (such as myself) it seems an example of “bizzaro speak” implying the opposite of what it says. I read it and think “they mean they don’t serve meals on any flight I’m on.” You hop on a plane and they offer you trailmix and you think, “darn, it must not be mealtime. My mistake.”

  11. gjuyuytqlw said:

    Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! aticoxuczmfm

  12. ufglvkybsg said:

    Thanks for this site!
    qg.asgre.biz
    ke.brth.biz
    yb.brth.biz
    pv.asgre.biz

  13. games for ps2 free download said:

    i just thought that queen latifah is one of the best comedians out there, she is really funny’

  14. my website said:

    Among myself and my partner we’ve owned or operated a lot more MP3 players over time when compared with I could count number, such as Sansas, iRivers, mp3s (vintage & effect), the Ibiza Rhapsody, and many others. But, recent years I’ve been feeling relaxed to one distinct people. Why? Simply because I was thrilled to understand how well-designed along with entertaining to use the particular underappreciated (and commonly mocked) Zunes are.

  15. visit said:

    I need support and concepts to start out a brand new website?

  16. Stefan Aland said:

    Having read this I believed it was rather informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this informative article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  17. Money said:

    Giveaway Giveaway, who want free gift card. I know everybody want free give card. The giveaway start at 2020/5/2 and end at 2021/5/2. This is a 100 dollar hotel gift card. If you want free gift card so please visit this website

    and i will send this gift card to you in gmail. Please visit this website  How to get budget flight – travel tips

  18. moharris said:

    Thanks for this site!
    zeynep aydemir bio
    zeynep aydemir biography
    zeynep aydemir wiki
    zeynep aydemir age

  19. Corwin said:

    A Pug named Pompey is even credited with alerting Holland’s William I, Prince of Orange, to an assassination attempt by Spain. Over time, pugs have been the favored breed or both royals and celebrities—from Napoleon and Queen Victoria to Andy Warhol and Rob Zombie.
    https://pugslandbreeder.company.com

  20. Apartment Services Punta Gorda FL said:

    Your music is amazing. You have some very talented artists. I wish you the best of success.

  21. robert said:

    https://savannahbengal.company.com/

  22. jpdoudottop said:

    Coming up next, we’ll be looking at the reverse Swoosh. Keep in mind, this is the Nike Swoosh that can be found on the exterior side of the shoes.
    https://www.jordankicks.org/fake-travis-scott-jordan.html

  23. John said:

    Thanks for the informative post. I need a help with web development or flutter app development so are there any developers? I’m not so deep into this, so please contact me if you can. Thanks!

  24. Ramu kaka said:

    For me the best movie streaming app is hdo box apk, it has numerous amazing features such as downloading movie, subtitle and lots more

  25. alyssa lauren said:

    Accidentally I have come across this website and am so confused about the topic you https://haloprincesscutdiamond.com have specified here. What about Meals at mealtime? The topic you have discussed here is related to that and I am looking here for more updates on that. Keep sharing more details here.

  26. seran said:

    Seran is offering the best lawn dress design 2022 for women to make their collections fashionable. Seran fabrics are premium quality which make your outfit fancy

  27. Mary J. Clancy said:

    Join Envoy and enjoy the same free unlimited personal travel for you and your family, anywhere on the American Airlines global network. It’s the best employee .

  28. henny123 said:

    Nitpicking is something that everyone does to some degree. It’s the process of finding and removing minute flaws in a heardle person or object, often with the intent of finding fault so as to invalidate something.

  29. OliverEvans said:

    A stupid questions fit and merged for the citizens. The matter of thesqas starter kit
    kit is implied for the space. The matter is filed for theist of the joys for the reforms or the paths in this ambit.

  30. Margaret said:

    Professional writing services https://is.gd/iMX1gL by Copywriting Services. Get high quality, professional and affordable writing services now.

  31. Mitd said:

    We are pleased to bring you a great selection read more

  32. The Citizen said:

    Great
    https://www.citizendailypost.com
    https://www.metrodailyreporter.com

  33. Jadwal said:

    Thank you for the information.

    Useful links to find doctors:
    Dentist
    Dermatologist

  34. BabyBoxShop said:

    Newborn celebrations gifts are tokens of joy and congratulations given to commemorate the birth of a new baby. These thoughtful gifts may include baby keepsakes, personalised items, and practical baby necessities that symbolise the joyous occasion.

  35. iHost VPS said:

    Discover reliable USA VPS Hosting services. Benefit from the high-performance infrastructure, robust network connectivity, and low latency, all tailored to meet your hosting needs within the USA market.

  36. iHost VPS said:

    IhostVPS is a premier VPS hosting provider in the USA. Our cutting-edge infrastructure ensures lightning-fast performance and unparalleled reliability. With our user-friendly control panel and expert support, we empower businesses and individuals to harness the power of USA VPS hosting for their online ventures.

  37. Tiptop-einrichtung said:

    A Nageltisch is simply a nail table or manicure table. It’s a piece of furniture designed for performing various nail care treatments, such as manicures and pedicures. These tables often come equipped with storage drawers and a comfortable work surface.

  38. Tiptop-einrichtung said:

    A Barbershop Bedienplatz is the workspace within a barbershop where haircuts, shaving, and other services for male clients are carried out. This area typically includes a chair, mirror, and tools.The Barbershop Service Station is the heart of every barbershop, where skilled barbers work their magic to create fresh looks and maintain well-groomed appearances. This dedicated area is thoughtfully designed for both the barber’s convenience and the client’s comfort.

  39. We Buy Dead Stocks.. said:

    As a large scrap buyer in UAE , We Buy Dead Stocks possesses the necessary resources and infrastructure to handle substantial quantities of scrap materials. Whether you have surplus metal, plastic, paper, or any other recyclable waste, they have the capacity to accommodate your needs efficiently and effectively. Their well-established network of collection centers, processing facilities, and transportation systems ensures a seamless and streamlined process from start to finish.

  40. John Smith said:

    Saleem’s recent review of assignment writing services is a treasure trove of information for students in 2024. Through thorough research and personal experience, Saleem unveils his top 3 recommendations, providing a clear path through the maze of options available. His insightful evaluations empower students to make informed decisions about their academic support: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/assignment-writing-services-try-2024-our-top-3-review-shahid-saleem-m3h4f/, ensuring they receive high-quality assistance. Whether you’re a seasoned scholar or new to the academic arena, Saleem’s review is an indispensable resource for achieving success in your assignments.

  41. nick gill said:

    Ok

  42. nick gill said:

    Having a backup plan is essential in today’s unpredictable landscape. Studies show that diversifying income sources can mitigate risks—over 40% of workers report having a side hustle to secure their finances. At FBills
    , we provide resources to help individuals manage their electricity finances effectively.

  43. nick gill said:

    Having a backup plan is essential in today’s unpredictable landscape. Studies show that diversifying income sources can mitigate risks—over 40% of workers report having a side hustle to secure their finances. At FESCOe-Bills
    , we provide resources to help individuals manage their electricity finances effectively.

  44. GEPCO said:

    With the convenience provided by GEPCO Bill at https://gepcoonlinebil.pk , staying informed about your electricity consumption has never been easier. Whether you need to monitor peak and off-peak hours to reduce costs or pay bills online without hassle, GEPCO’s system ensures a smooth user experience. This platform is a game-changer for managing household energy consumption, helping customers avoid unnecessary delays and extra charges.

Leave a Reply