If it is such an effort to deny that you’ve done anything wrong, then you must be guilty. Otherwise, it would be easy.
Read MoreReflections on language
language
If it is such an effort to deny that you’ve done anything wrong, then you must be guilty. Otherwise, it would be easy.
Read MoreIntroducing and applying Conway's Law, Gresham's Law and the sunken cost fallacy to the practice of writing.
Read MoreWe writers have a duty to do what we can to preserve the dignity of the language in which we work.
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Terry, thinking
Since when has “discreet” meant “small”?
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Conversing, by Terry Freedman
A girl I taught was highly intelligent, very helpful and had a great sense of humour. Unfortunately, though, whenever she disagreed with somebody she immediately flew into a temper, insulted them and told them to go forth and multiply — though rather more crudely than that. I imagine she has a huge following on Twitter these days, as that seems to be the main way of “communicating” for a lot of people.
Read MoreOne of my ambitions, once this pandemic is over, is to visit New York if I can. In the meantime, this look at the various cultures and dialects in New York is a reasonable substitute for actually being there.
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Not sure, by Terry Freedman
Using words correctly is essential. Why?
Read MoreBuzzsaw screenshot, by Terry Freedman
If you’re tired of people “reaching out” or “circling back” or sending you sales “literature” that bears no relevance to you whatsoever, you will enjoy learning that you’re not alone.
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Cure, by Terry Freedman
Signs in the environment can provide great stimulation for our imagination, and tell us about history in some cases too.
Read MorePerhaps I shouldn’t take things so literally…
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I think this notice about parking illustrates why it’s not a good idea to rely solely on yourself when it comes to proofreading and editing. The notice contains two errors that could, and should, have been avoided.
If, like me, you have a love of language, you should explore the strange world of the cryptic crossword. Unlike the plain crossword, the cryptic variety requires more than providing a synonym for a word or phrase. Rather, it involves working out what the clue is getting at.
That sounds much more difficult than the task facing you in an ordinary crossword, doesn't it? In fact, much of the time it's easier, for one simple reason.
Here are a couple of odd uses of language I came across recently. At least, they made me sit up and take notice, and perhaps that was the point.