How to break with convention, one word at a time
Hello. We may not have been formally introduced but I’m going to start by making some assumptions. Pigeon-holing you, as it were. If you’ve clicked on this article, it’s a fair bet that you have at least a passing interest in language use. That already sets you apart...
What’s the rule? Words that puzzle a proofreader
It’s a proofreader’s job to know the how the nitty-gritty bits of language work. But no-one’s perfect, and some words can cause more head-scratching than others. Compounds, for example. A compound word is made up of other words (usually two) that exist in their own...
Invisible editing – the difference between writing and good writing
What has that chunky-headed fish got to do with the art of good writing? There's only one way to find out... This fish (or one very much like it) appeared in David Attenborough's TV series Blue Planet II. Now, I’d be quite happy to hear David Attenborough talking...
To medal or not to medal? Making jargon work for you
If that headline is bothering you, you won't be alone. This blog post is about language change that is sometimes uncomfortable - specifically, the use of jargon. The aim is to help you become more comfortable with it, or at least more understanding! I wrote the first...
Why spellcheck is not always your friend
We all have different skills. I'm happy to admit right at the start that although I can spell, I'm a useless cook, and I get very little pleasure from it. Others struggle with spelling. If that's you, spellcheck might seem like the handy know-it-all friend who was...
A punctuation sampler
Think of a world where the punctuation goes on strike. What if question marks quit questioning? Can you imagine? Perhaps the commas complain of overwork, and take a break from breaking up lists, clauses, interjections and so on. “Don’t forget us,” say the speech...