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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

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

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

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

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

I’m Loving It, Are You?

A Quick Look at Prescriptive and Descriptive Grammar

By Noemi Twigg on September 17, 2010. 5 Comments

Are you loving McDonald’s popular slogan? “I’m lovin’ it!” became even more popular when the fast food chain launched its first global advertising campaign in 2003. Suddenly, everywhere you go, you hear people say “I’m lovin’ it.” What used to be considered incorrect is now being used on a daily basis. But isn’t that what language is all about? I will always remember what a friend (English professor) told me: “Language is dynamic. It continuously evolves, and that’s the beauty of it.” While I totally agree with that idea, I sometimes cannot help but flinch when I hear something that [Read more…]

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

When Punctuation and Law Collide

By Noemi Twigg on August 6, 2010. 3 Comments

As freelance writers, we are all very much aware of the importance of grammar and punctuation. We know that all sorts of confusion can arise from improper usage. Sometimes it can be quite hilarious. Check out this incident I read about at The Spokesman-Review: A little punctuation can make a lot of difference. When Bob Strick and Vicki Tomsha had business at the Spokane County Courthouse on June 2, they drove around from parking lot to parking lot, looking for some free public parking. Lot after lot required a permit or some cash. They thought they hit pay dirt in [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style, Punctuation Tags: grammar, Humor, Punctuation Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

If You Will, I Will?

By Noemi Twigg on July 30, 2010. 3 Comments

Marcy Sheiner asked a question about an English expression “if you will” several weeks ago. So Marcy, this post is for you. Here’s Marcy’s comment/question/pet peeve. Marcy Sheiner says: July 14, 2010 at 12:09 pm This is a pet peeve rather than a question, but maybe you can tell me if there is ever a sane reason to use the phrase “if you will.” I’ve noticed it’s beoming most trendy, in speech more than writing, but sill. And what on earth does it mean????? I have been hearing – and reading – this phrase used for as long as I [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: English expressions, English phrases Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Justifying a Comma Splice

By Noemi Twigg on July 23, 2010. 1 Comment

In the last post, I talked about a major error in writing – a comma splice. As I mentioned in that post, there are some cases wherein using a comma splice just might be acceptable. In fact, this is in an ongoing debate. So when is a comma splice acceptable? According to Strunk & White, one can use a comma splice “when the clauses are very short and alike in form.” The most commonly cited example for this case is the popular line: I came, I saw, I conquered. Diana Hacker of A Writer’s Reference also gives some examples: Man [Read more…]

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

More Words to Avoid in Freelance Writing

By Dawn Allcot on April 8, 2010. 8 Comments

If this isn’t a case of attracting what you want to avoid, I don’t know what is. Since I wrote about avoiding the word “And” to begin sentences, I’ve been finding places in my articles where it’s the best transition. And so… at the risk of finding future posts peppered with adverbs, I’m going to address another set of words to avoid (when possible) in your freelance writing. Most times, these words don’t add anything to your work and, if you’re aiming for “tight writing,” your articles will read better without them. While I vehemently defended this class of word [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

I Love You, Literally

By Dawn Allcot on February 21, 2010. 5 Comments

My head will literally explode if I hear one more person use the adverb “literally” incorrectly. It will be quite the mess to clean up. Fortunately, though, my brains will blend right in with the other off-white mushy substances (yogurt, oatmeal, aged banana) my toddler regularly spills on the floor. The tiles could probably use a bit of gray mixed in with the beige foods. I’ll simply clean it up with my Supermop, scrubbing up bits of brain as if heads explode everyday. And the way people use that phrase, you’d think they do! Literally means “in actuality.” Correct usage: [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: Freelance Writing, literally, Love, metaphors, showing and telling for writers Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

3 Simple Rules for Writing Effective Metaphors

By Dawn Allcot on February 12, 2010. 6 Comments

Web writers whose job is to turn out 50 – 100 articles in a few days often forget to have fun with the nuances of language. I’m not condemning those who write for those clients or in that style. Keyword writing is simply another form of the craft. Web writing is straightforward; similes and metaphors don’t make for good SEO. If you’re a full time freelance writer for Web or print it may have been some time since you’ve heard the words simile and metaphor. On the other hand, good copywriters employ this device all the time. When I had [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: ad copy, content writing, metaphor, simile, Web copy Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Showing and Telling for Article Writers

By Dawn Allcot on January 19, 2010. 4 Comments

Warning: I’m getting into realms that can send fiction writers to insane asylums – showing v. telling. Do you need to show rather than tell in non-fiction, as well? The answer, as with so many things in writing, is a definitive, “Sometimes.” (And that’s the case in fiction, as well!) The examples I provide in my posts each week “show” finer grammatical points rather than simply “telling” you about them. I hope I create memorable examples that drive home the lesson. But if I just tossed examples out there with no context, they wouldn’t make much sense either. Showing and [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: article writing, fiction, non-fiction, showing, telling Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

NAGG Has Spoken: “It’s Twenty Ten”

By Dawn Allcot on January 12, 2010. 5 Comments

It may be the burning grammar question of the new decade. Do you call the new year “two thousand ten?” Or “twenty ten?” NAGG, the National Association of Good Grammar, has adopted the year’s proper pronunciation as a pet cause, issuing a press release declaring that it should be pronounced “twenty ten.” Who is NAGG to say so? NAGG, a group founded in 1986 by technical writer and writing teacher Tom Torriglia, is devoted to cleaning up grammar across the country. Torriglia routinely calls publications about grammatically incorrect ads. Torriglia makes a cogent argument for his preferred pronunciation, “twenty ten.” [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: 2010, NAGG, SPOGG, twenty ten Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

My Baby Is Not an It

By Dawn Allcot on January 3, 2010. 10 Comments

Some grammar rules are just plain dumb. I’m the first to admit this. For instance, the use of “he” as the default singular pronoun (i.e., everyone should proofread his own work) is not only sexist, it’s a bit silly. That’s probably why the grammatically incorrect “they” and “their” has fallen into common usage as a gender-neutral singular pronoun. While it still makes many English teachers and grammar purists cringe, it’s a case of common sense overriding stodgy old rules. But I’d like to talk about a less publicized, equally offensive grammatical convention: referring to a baby –or a pet — [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: baby, it, pet, pronoun Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

Funniest Grammar Links of 2009

By Dawn Allcot on January 1, 2010. 1 Comment

It’s the end of a long holiday week. If you’re a writer who needed to reach sources for interviews – hope you had lots of fun with that. Some people actually did work this week, but many did not. It’s 20 degrees outside here in the Northeast, and even North Carolina got a smattering of snow early this week. My expressive cousin described it as “that dandruff you see on the ground.” This makes us work-at-home types extremely happy, because we can sit around in our new “Lambie” slippers (the oh-so-cool successor to the passé bunny slippers – get with [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: Bad Grammer, grammar, Humor, James at War Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

How Many Liberties Can We Take?

By Dawn Allcot on December 1, 2009. 1 Comment

Has the Web changed the way you write? I’m not talking about matters of content and style most of us know–short paragraphs, bullet points, subheads, etc. I’m referring to the finer aspects of punctuation, grammar and style. For instance, which words use hyphens? And what rules can a writer safely break? I think most writers agree that writing for the Web is more casual, and we have greater leeway to split infinitives, end sentences with prepositions, and otherwise do whatever it takes to make our writing more clear and conversational. But that’s a slippery slope. To paraphrase an old adage: [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: Freelance Writing, writing for the web Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

The Thin Line Between Buzzword & Cliche

By Dawn Allcot on October 19, 2009. 2 Comments

Language changes. Words we’d never heard decades (or years!) ago are now part of our lexicon. It’s good when language evolves to keep up with technology, trends, and even our culture and society. But sometimes it goes too far. As writers, we don’t have to adopt every slang or popular phrase we hear. This post, written by a fantastic blogger I stumbled upon (quite literally!) the other day, hammers home the point in a witty way. Sales and marketing types (including copywriters) are most often guilty of letting jargon infiltrate their writing. But all writers should be aware of the [Read more…]

Categories: Musings & Style Tags: buzzwords, cliche, Freelance Writing, guru, jargon, language, usage Writing Jobs Editing Jobs Publishing Jobs Blogger Jobs

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