Pick a Rhyme, Any Rhyme

WE RECENTLY READ a 7,000-word profile in The New Yorker on five-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, whose similarly named father made a small fortune running sex shops in London. “Ron’s the name and porn’s the game,” he would tell anyone he met. That was one of the few details we remember from that long, long story. A recent study from Lafayette College reveals it’s not just us. Rhymes increase “processing fluency.” As a result, people not only remember rhymes better than other clutches of language, but also perceive rhyming statements as both more truthful and more persuasive. “PETS+ is the name, actionable advice is our game …” What could yours be?