A plain language guide to grammar, punctuation and writing well
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
Flippant? Oxford Dictionaries? Who said so? Oh, Oxford Dictionaries. Just for the record, here’s Oxford Dictionaries’ definition of ‘flippant’: 'Not showing a serious or respectful attitude' And here’s why (as reported in the Guardian today) Oxford Dictionaries fessed up to such undictionary-like behaviour: A Canadian anthropologist, Michael Oman-Reagan, tweeted Oxford Dictionaries last week to ask… Continue reading Rabid sexism… Oxford Dictionaries says sorry
We shouldn’t feel the need to place people in neatly labelled boxes; their individual identity is not defined by a diagnosis. And it should be noted that Derek’s identity as portrayed by Gervais is anything but vague.
Tellingly, none of the other characters portrayed in the programme have been criticised by TV critics for not having been assigned a label. Even though none of them have one.
Others have expressed the usual ‘this is political correctness gone mad’ argument in response to criticism of Cameron’s remark. A lovely catch-all rebuttal which attracts much vigorous nodding and saves the bother of having to explain why it’s OK to insult someone by comparing them to a person who has an inherited neurogical condition.
Ephraim Hardcastle, writing in the Mail newspaper, displays a rare ability to combine side-splitting Wildean wit with a genuine concern for public safety shared by all right-thinking people:
Meanwhile, security at Friday's royal wedding is being overseen by blonde bombshell Commander Christine Jones. Help!
Female linesman? Shouldn't that just be 'lineswoman'? Or am I getting a tad over-ambitious on the gender accuracy front?
BBC Radio 4's flagship news programme, Today, has just told me that BP boss Tony Hayward faced a day of tough questioning from US congressmen yesterday.
I've just checked, and those congressmen included:
Jan Shakowsky
Betty Sutton
Kathy Castor
Diana DeGette
Marsha Blackburn
Wordwatch Towers 