Where have all the newspapers gone?
Looking at the pic, you see yourself (okay, I speak for myself – baby boomers) deliriously swamped by magazines and print media and happy as a pig in sh-t. This…
Platitudes and punchlines: the writer’s tightrope
Both clichés and idioms reflect the human desire for expression that is concise yet evocative. They help us communicate complex ideas quickly and paint mental images without lengthy explanations. They also connect us to generations past, carrying the wisdom, humour, and creativity of countless speakers before us.
Pic by Gul Isik
How breaking bread is a social act that’s lasted through time
The other day I bumped into someone I knew at high school. I remembered her comment that a certain crowd of our peers did not want to break bread with…
How cold weather makes all tasks Herculean
Just getting out of bed in below freezing temperatures feels like a Herculean task – so much easier and more pleasant to snuggle under the duvet, turn up the electric…
‘Sailing close to the wind’ may leave me out of pocket: idiom usage
A little hard-up for productive work, this week, I found myself sailing close to the wind. While I promote the idea of taking a risk, it's different when said risk…
Frustrated writer/techy
Pic by StockCake
Non-English! How did we get here?
“Former YouTube chief and Silicon Valley pioneer Susan Wojcicki died Friday at 56, after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer.” I’ve just read this in a non-frivolous newsletter put together…
Apprise or appraise: use the right word
Working through a government document recently, I noticed the use of the word ‘appraise’. It was used incorrectly, and the writer intended the meaning of the word apprise. Unfortunately I…
Johannesburg, South Africa
The quality of English writing is going down hill: proofreading for excellence
I referred to a report by the Road Traffic Management Corporation for an article I was writing for a client. It referred to information settlements along the freeway. It must…
So, what’s a lexophile?
Two problems here: 1. This statement is not original; 2. It simply does not make sense and would work better if they ‘got too small for their pants’, having them fall right off. If they are “too big for their pants their bellies (boeps) can be covered by a long shirt so no exposure necessary.
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