Hints From Heloise

CHARGING CELLPHONE Dear Heloise: Ugh -- I've heard such contradictory information! Should I leave my cellphone plugged in and charging all the time, including overnight? -- Terry W. in Pennsylvania

Terry, I understand your confusion; let's take a look at it. Your cellphone is an electronic appliance like any other, and its lithium-ion battery does wear out over time.

Experts from the two big manufacturers of cellphones agree: Leaving your cellphone charging all night is not ideal. They each state that keeping your battery charged within the 30% to 70% range during use is best. When you see your phone is fully charged, unplug it. This can help prolong the life of your cellphone battery. Ask a representative at your service location what she recommends. -- Heloise

P.S. Extreme hot and cold temperatures aren't good for your phone either. Never leave your phone outside or in your car. LESS IS MORE

Dear Heloise: I'm an English teacher, and I teach my students, in most cases, it's best to write for business with an eye toward economy. To pack a lot of value into as few words as possible is good. That leads to the elimination of adverbs, including the word "very." Here are a few of many substitutions. Instead of writing:

-- "Very strong," write "unyielding"

-- "Very big," write "immense"

-- "Very clean," write "spotless"

-- "Very valuable," write "beneficial"

-- "Very risky," write "perilous"

It's important to communicate effectively, to paint a picture in the minds of your readers and to get your ideas across, but, particularly in business writing, the adverb may not be your friend. -Jennifer R. in Pennsylvania