[Editors] talking the walk?

[Brody, Herbert]

"Walking the talk" is a pithy expression that I've heard for a few years and is probably close to being an annoying biz-speak cliché now ( if it's not there already).  It's meaning is pretty self -evident, i.e., that you practice what  you preach. It's a short hand for the more cumbersome construction about not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.

--Herb



------ Forwarded Message
From: David Chandler <dlc1 at mit.edu>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:22:11 -0400
To: Eve Sullivan <annals at mit.edu>
Cc: <editors at mit.edu>
Conversation: [Editors] talking the walk?
Subject: Re: [Editors] talking the walk?

"Walk the walk" is common usage, I think, but MIT has been using the "walk the talk" slogan for at least a couple of years, and I think it certainly works. I guess it's a sort of play on the more conventional version.
So it depends who the listener is. On campus, I think walk the talk is well accepted. For the outside world, it might be confusing.

David

-------------------------------
David L. Chandler
science writer
MIT News Office
room 11-400
(617) 253-2704


On Jul 31, 2008, at 9:05 AM, Eve Sullivan wrote:

hello fellow editors and editorial assistants,

reading the spotlight on our homepage this morning

http://web.mit.edu

. . . In addition to the new commuting options, MIT is hiring a
commuting coordinator who will develop, implement and maintain a
top-tier commuter services program in keeping with the Institute's
stated goal of "walking the talk" on energy and the environment.
Working closely with community members, the coordinator will set up a
feedback channel for new ideas and suggestions. . . .

i wondered about the phrase 'walking the talk.'  i thought
that the correct phrase is 'walking the walk' ...as in 'all he
does is talk the talk: he doesn't walk the walk.'

what do you hear, say, read and/or write, esteemed colleagues?

eve sullivan
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