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Are You Disinterested or Uninterested?

Confusing Word Pairs Revisited

By Noemi Twigg on February 7, 2012. 1 Comment

The English language is such a beautiful thing, isn’t it? That is not to say that it is always simple. In fact, even native speakers make mistakes now and then. Even professional writers have their Waterloo. The good thing is that as long as we are open to correction and learning, we can only become better. Today’s grammar post is all about words that are often used interchangeably, often incorrectly. We already took a look at some word pairs that give people problems some time last year. Remember ingenuous and ingenious? This time around, let us take a look at [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Word Usage Tags: confusing words, Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

You Know It’s Bad

Do You Feel Bad or Badly?

By Noemi Twigg on January 31, 2012. 1 Comment

Pardon me if you already know the proper usage, but it seems to me that “bad” and “badly” are often used interchangeably. I cannot count the number of times I have heard someone say “I feel badly”, but it’s probably as often as I have heard someone else say “I feel bad”. If I were to base things purely on how often these statements are used, it is understandable that the question as to which is correct would arise. So which is the correct word to use? Let’s take a look at “badly” first. This word is an adverb, and [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide Tags: adjectives, adverbs, grammar, Verbs Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Funny English Signs

Courtesy of Typos, "Honest" Mistakes, and Careless Usage

By Noemi Twigg on January 24, 2012. 3 Comments

We all make mistakes. There really is nothing wrong with that as long as we can take constructive feedback. A little sense of humor and the ability to laugh at ourselves make everything better. Understandably, we might find it easier to chuckle when the mistake is not ours! Still, that does not mean that we should not make it a point to be open to admitting our mistakes and making sure they are corrected. All this talk about mistakes stems from the topic of today’s grammar post. I think it’s about time we have a little fun, and take a look [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Humor Tags: funny signs, Grammar Guide, Humor, mistakes Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

2011 Word of the Year

Take Your Pick!

By Noemi Twigg on January 17, 2012. Leave a Comment

In 2010, we were treated to a interesting new word courtesy of Sarah Palin. “Refudiate“, which did not exist prior to Palin’s usage, made it as the New Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year. It was also included in the dictionary as a real word. Halfway into the first month of 2012, we have several words to consider as Word of the Year for 2011. A simple search on Google using that phrase yielded several results, three of which we will take a look at in this week’s grammar post. Merriam-Webster: PRAGMATIC “Pragmatic” is a commonly used word, isn’t [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Word Usage Tags: Word of the Year, Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Lake Superior State University’s 2012 List of Banished Words

Are you going to observe the ban?

By Noemi Twigg on January 10, 2012. 9 Comments

Around this time last year, we took a look at the annual list of banned words published by Lake Superior State University. We saw the likes of “tweet“, “app“, “teachable moment“, “bromance“, and “friend” (as a verb) included in the list. To be honest, while I started out with the intention of observing whether or not I used the words in the list, I totally forgot all about it as the months of 2011 went by. As we enter the second week of 2012, I find myself thinking of the list again. As I said in that post, there was (and [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Word Usage Tags: Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

To OMG or to LOL?

Oxford English Dictionary's New Words

By Noemi Twigg on March 29, 2011. 4 Comments

Dear FWJ Friends, Have you heard about the latest updates to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)? For people in our line of work, this might be old news, but let me share it with you nonetheless. As of March 2011, several new initialisms have been added to the OED, initiliasms being “abbreviations comprised of the initial letters of a name or expression. If you’re thinking “OMG!” then you are hitting the nail right on the head! OMG, otherwise known as “Oh my God” is now included in the March release of OED Online. I suppose my hairdresser was actually correct [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Musings & Style, Word Usage Tags: Oxford English Dictionary, Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

You’ve Got Email, Not E-mail.

Where Is My Hyphen?

By Noemi Twigg on March 22, 2011. 15 Comments

The other day, this creature of habit encountered something that shook her life. I am not talking about the recent quakes that have been – literally – shaking our part of the world, but the entry written by Paul Carr did make me snap out of my lethargy. So what could have been so world-shaking? E-mail. E-mailing. E-mailed. No matter how you use the word or which form of the word you use, according to the Associate Press, the official spelling is now email. On March 18, AP published a press release stating that the style guidelines are being updated [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Spelling Tags: AP Style Book, Spelling Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Non-Errors in the English Language (Part 2)

Beginning Sentences with Conjunctions

By Noemi Twigg on March 15, 2011. 2 Comments

If your high school English teach was anything like my teacher, she/he probably always emphasized the “rule” about NOT using conjunctions to begin your sentence. “You must never begin a sentence with a conjunction” is the mantra of many an English teacher. Just because “everyone” says it is a rule does not necessarily mean it is true, though. In fact, many a grammar “expert” will tell you that this arbitrary rule does not hold much sway. I can go on and on and repeat that I believe that using conjunctions such as “but” and “and” to begin a sentence is [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Grammar Rules, Musings & Style, Punctuation Tags: comma, conjunctions, Grammar Rules, writing style Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

What Writers Can Learn From the Cat in the Hat

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

By Noemi Twigg on March 2, 2011. 8 Comments

Green eggs and ham, the cat in the hat, etc. – many of us grew up reading these words, and many of us learned to love reading because of the genius of one man: Dr. Seuss. Born Theodore Seuss Geisel, the American cartoonist and writer is definitely one of the most loved children’s book writers today. Dr. Seuss was born on March 2, 1904, and in his lifetime, he published 44 children’s books which are all full of wonderfully imaginative characters. Add to these his uniquely creative writing style, and you will not be surprised at how well-loved this writer [Read more…]

Categories: Fun Stuff, Grammar Guide Tags: Dr. Seuss, holidays Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Non-Errors in the English Language (Part 1)

Split Infinitives and Ending Sentences with a Preposition

By Noemi Twigg on February 23, 2011. 2 Comments

There is no denying that we all have our pet peeves when it comes to the English language. There are certain words, phrases, and usages that we simply cannot stand. Sometimes, these pet peeves are valid – when the “mistakes” are really incorrect. There are many instances, however, when certain usages may actually be correct, contrary to popular opinion. These things are what we call “non-errors” – in spite of what many people may say, they are grammatically sound. In this post – and the next few posts – I am going to take a look at some of these [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Grammar Rules Tags: grammar debates, Grammar Rules, non-errors, prepositions Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

15 Most Misspelled Words

Do You Agree?

By Noemi Twigg on February 15, 2011. 17 Comments

We all make mistakes in our writing. We’re human, after all. However, when your livelihood depends on the quality of what you write, the story takes a different turn. I know I don’t need to go on and on about the importance of checking and re-checking our work – that is a given. Instead, I’ll share an image with you that highlights this importance. Here is an interesting and informative infographic of the 15 most misspelled words in the English language. Before you take a look at it, do remember the differences in British and American English as there is [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Spelling Tags: Infographics, most misspelled words, spell check, Spelling Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

A Long Time Ago In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Reduplication in the English Language

By Noemi Twigg on February 8, 2011. 8 Comments

Some of you may recognize the title of this post as the opening line of Star Wars, but have you ever thought about the grammatical accuracy of the “double use” of the word far? To be honest, I never really paid much attention to the practice of repeating adjectives or adverbs as I have always believed it to be correct. While some purists may disagree, I think that there is a reason for this repetition. Last week, the matter was brought to my attention, courtesy of a bunch of guys at Quora. The question posed was: Star Wars opens with [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Grammar Rules, Musings & Style Tags: grammar, palilogy, reduplication Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Book Review: 37 Things to Know About Grammar

Grammar Tips Made Fun

By Noemi Twigg on February 1, 2011. 1 Comment

Readers of the grammar section of FWJ know just how tricky grammar rules and application can be. It is no wonder that a lot of people have developed an aversion to grammar. However, we cannot deny the importance of following grammar rules, especially for those who make a living out of writing. Now what if you had a quick reference guide that you can thumb through for the trickiest grammar points? That’s exactly what I found in Matteson Claus’s gem of a book, 37 Things to Know About Grammar. Matteson is no stranger to Freelance Writing Jobs, as she has [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Reviews & Resources Tags: book review, grammar book review, grammar tips Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

After the Deadline

Spell, Grammar, and Style Check Plugin Review

By Noemi Twigg on January 25, 2011. 3 Comments

I have never been a big fan of Microsoft Word’s grammar checker as it often misses subtle mistakes. When I was made aware of a new service which is supposed to be much better than the existing grammar checkers, I was of course excited. It’s called After the Deadline (ATD), and it is supposed to check spelling, grammar, and style. It makes use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing technology in order to give more accurate results. After the Deadline is an online web service running on a data center service provided by Automattic. There are four ways by [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Reviews & Resources Tags: After the Deadline, plugins, spell check Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

If I Lay Here…

Using Lie and Lay Correctly

By Noemi Twigg on January 17, 2011. 14 Comments

There is a plethora of confusing word pairs in English, and even native English speakers confuse their usage in everyday conversation. Earlier today, for some reason, I kept hearing Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars in my head. I used to listen to this song a lot, so I guess the fact that I felt like lying down for a few minutes more triggered memories. In any case, I was thinking to myself, should it be lay or lie? That simple question resulted in more than a few minutes of lying in bed and mulling the two words over. So what’s the [Read more…]

Categories: Best of FWJ, Grammar Guide, Word Usage Tags: confusing words, Verbs, Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Lake Superior State University’s Lists of Banished Words and Phrases

Guilty as charged

By Noemi Twigg on January 10, 2011. 7 Comments

We all have our pet peeves, and for writers, this is especially true when it comes to word usage. I am sure that all of you will be able to come up with your own list of banished words and phrases, but I wonder how your list will compare to what Lake Superior State University has come up for 2010 and 2011? Last week, the Internet was abuzz with talk about the newly released 35th Annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. It seems that my year has been starting out slowly, [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Word Usage, Words to Avoid Tags: Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

A Quick Look at the Serial Comma

Should There Be a Comma Before the Last Item on a List?

By Noemi Twigg on January 3, 2011. 9 Comments

The comma has always been a bone of contention for many people. We all use it everyday that we may very well be taking it for granted. Over the holidays, I found myself in the middle of a very interesting discussion about the use of the serial comma. The serial comma is also called the Oxford comma or the Harvard comma. Sometimes, it is even referred to as the series comma. Whatever name you call it, the serial comma is used in lists – right before the coordinating conjunction. Let’s take a look at an example for the sake of [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Musings & Style, Punctuation Tags: comma, Punctuation Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Happy Holidays – I’m Just Sayin’

By Noemi Twigg on December 23, 2010. 4 Comments

No, I’m really wishing you all a great Christmas weekend. It’s just that I came across an opinion piece over at NPR which deals with that phrase in the title. I never really paid much attention to it whenever I heard it uttered by friends. Even though I have somehow earned a reputation for correcting other people’s grammar (or flinching at least), I have been trying to be more tolerant in the past year. After all, I also believe that language is so dynamic that changes are unavoidable. Scott Simon, however, simply cannot stand it when he hears “I’m just [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Musings & Style Tags: English expressions, grammar, writing style Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Just Between You and Me

Or Is it Just Between You and I?

By Noemi Twigg on December 13, 2010. 4 Comments

I don’t know if you’ve heard of the group dc Talk, but they do have some pretty cool songs. In my opinion, one of their catchiest songs is Between You and Me, not only because of the tune but also because of the lyrics. Sticklers for grammar (yes, you) will be hearing warnings bells by now. Let me share the song with you first before we get down to business, alright? Just between you and me I’ve got something to say Wanna get it straight Before the sun goes down Just between you and me Confession needs to be made [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Grammar Rules Tags: Grammar Rules, prepositions, pronoun Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Refudiate: 2010 Word of the Year

Sarah Palin Has the Last Laugh

By Noemi Twigg on December 6, 2010. 4 Comments

Sarah Palin may not have succeeded in her quest to become the Vice President of the United States, but her time in the spotlight is not really over. While she did not` seek to be re-elected as the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin has been busy with a host of other activities. Her own TV show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, is attracting some attention, together with her Twitter account: @SarahPalinUSA. Some time this year, Twitterverse was abuzz with Sarah Palin’s tweet using a one-of-a-kind word. Can you spot it below? “Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn’t it stab you in the heart, [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Word Usage Tags: vocabulary, Word of the Year, Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Beggars Can’t Be Choosers

How to Use the Phrase "Begs the Question"

By Noemi Twigg on November 19, 2010. 4 Comments

Don’t you just love it when you learn something new unexpectedly? I was reading the news today when I saw an article titled “To beg or not to beg” and for some reason, I decided to take a look at it. I am glad I did, because it was a very interesting read, which I would like to share with you. How often do you hear the phrase “to beg the question”? How do you use it? In my case, I don’t really hear it that often, but I always understood it in the context of someone making a statement [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Grammar Rules, Word Usage Tags: Grammar Rules, Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

How Consistent Are You?

A Refresher on Verb Tense Consistency

By Noemi Twigg on November 8, 2010. 14 Comments

Running is the thing right now. Everywhere I look, it seems that people are talking about running. My Twitter timeline is flooded with people’s tweets about 5k, 10k, and LSD! (Apparently, that means long slow distance and not what I initially thought.) On Facebook, I see wall posts about runs left and right. It’s the same thing with forums. Here’s one post that caught my eye and gave me an idea for today’s grammar post. i started running because i want to be more active. now i run because i love it and i’m obsessed with it. Let’s get the [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Grammar Rules Tags: Grammar Rules, verb tenses, Verbs Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

And I Quote…

Some Thoughts on the Use of Quotation Marks

By Noemi Twigg on November 1, 2010. 2 Comments

We all have our pet peeves when it comes to writing, and I think that some of you will agree that the prevalent habit of misusing – or overusing – quotations marks is of those things. To be honest, this does not bother me as much as interchanging your and you’re. However, the discovery of a blog focusing on the unnecessary use of quotation marks has led me to write about the issue. Before I bombard you with some rules on the use of quotation marks, let me add a little bit of fun to your Monday by sharing how [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Humor, Punctuation Tags: funny signs, Punctuation, quotation marks Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

When Grammar Goes Bad…So Does Romance?

A Quick Look at Grammatically Incorrect Song Lyrics

By Noemi Twigg on October 25, 2010. 7 Comments

I have a Facebook friend who, I think, is the head of the Grammar Police in our neck of the woods. He always has these posts that set me off on grammar review sprees. Today, this is his status: The first thing I did was to google (yes, I used that as a verb) the lyrics of Bad Romance. So why did my friend write that note to Lady Gaga? Here are some lines from the song: I want your love, and I want your revenge. You and me could write a bad romance. I suppose I can write a [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Grammar Rules, Musings & Style Tags: grammar, grammar mistakes Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Are You Ingenuous or Ingenious?

Some Confusing Word Pairs

By Noemi Twigg on October 18, 2010. 4 Comments

When I was teaching ESL, lessons on confusing word pairs were inevitable. The level of the learner was irrelevant. My students all needed clarification on certain word pairs. Interestingly enough, I have discovered than even native speakers of English have similar issues. The words in question may be of a more advanced level, but the confusion remains. Just take some time to browse blogs, and you’ll find at least one example! For this week’s grammar post, let us take a look at some of words that are used interchangeably, when they shouldn’t be. Ingenuous and Ingenious I’ll be honest here [Read more…]

Categories: Grammar Guide, Word Usage Tags: confusing words, grammar, Grammar Guide, vocabulary, Word Usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

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