A plain language guide to grammar, punctuation and writing well
Real-life examples of grammatical errors, clangers and faux pas.
This is worth sharing. White Debt is a new book by Thomas Harding about a slave uprising on sugar plantations in what was the British territory of Demerara. Harding is a careful writer. This Guardian review of the book highlights his subtle ability to unsettle complacent ways of thinking: He replaces “slave” with “enslaved men… Continue reading Abolitionists not rebels
I don’t often throw things at the radio when BBC journo Nick Robinson is on – but missiles were launched this morning (including a complaint via email) when he described a dead female refugee as ‘beautiful’. What?? Here’s what he said on the BBC’s flagship news programme: “The photograph of a beautiful young woman stares… Continue reading A beautiful dead woman
Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah - it was a long time coming, but late is definitely better than never. Oxford Dictionaries has finally realised that it's a bit ... um ... sexist and is currently making changes to ensure its examples of word use are gender neutral. Find out more in the Guardian. As Gladys, my reader,… Continue reading Oxford Dictionaries finally bans sexist stereotypes
Wordsworth, the butler here at Wordwatch Towers, likes things to be in good order. Including words. So, reader (hope you're OK, Gladys), we have him to thank for this one. Why don't we write: "the blue big boat"? Or: "a square huge table"? Or: the "meal French lovely"? As Mark Forsyth, author of The… Continue reading Word order, wrong words, and old chestnuts
One of my favourite aromas (another being geranium leaves) is the one that rises from dry ground when it starts to rain. How would I describe it? No idea. Until now, that is. Because I've just discovered a word invented for this very purpose: petrichor. Arriving like an interesting latecomer at a party, petrichor wasn't coined until the 1960s. Oxford Dictionaries explains… Continue reading Is there a word for . . . ?
Thinking of having a revamp? Then you're probably not planning a trip to your local shoe repair shop. If you revamp something or vamp it up a little you're making it better or improving it in some way. So why the shoes? I'm glad you asked, because I've just found out. The word 'vamp' has its origins in… Continue reading Revamps, vamps and vampires
Anchors and beech trees. I know, how come I’ve not covered these already? Anyway, the first bit of this will be a confession about how thick I can be, and the second bit is designed to take your mind off the first bit. Until very recently I thought that ‘anchors aweigh’ was spelt ‘anchors away’. Well, in… Continue reading Anchors, beech trees and boks
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