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# A word or 2

Language blog

## Sitemaps

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## Posts

- [Blog](https://awordor2.co.za/blog/)
- [Cornucopia: origin of words](https://awordor2.co.za/word-origin-2/) - English adopted ‘cornucopia’ in the early 1500s, and it has maintained its air of elegance. It is one of those words that sounds as rich as the meaning it conveys.
- [When History Shrank an Emperor: The Napoleon Complex](https://awordor2.co.za/napoloencomplex/) - A myth in headlines: Napoleon’s height, propaganda, and how modern research treats the so-called Napoleon complex. The short man syndrome has history.
- [Chewing over an old expression: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/bitingoffmorethanchew/) - #post_excerptphrase draws on vivid visuals
- [It takes balls to beard the lion: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/idiom-beard-the-lion/) - In modern usage, the phrase appears in political commentary, journalism, and everyday conversation. A whistleblower who exposes corruption in corps
- [Writing on the wall: innocuous or ominous? Depends how you read it.](https://awordor2.co.za/idiom-writing-on-the-wall/) - Learn why 'the writing on the wall' is more than just a dramatic phrase—it's a centuries-old warning that still makes us chuckle in the face of disaster.
- [Helen of Troy: More than just a pretty face](https://awordor2.co.za/helonoftroy/) - Today, the expression is still widely used, often humorously or hyperbolically, to describe someone exceptionally attractive or charismatic.
- [Dionysus: Where Order Unravels and Instinct Takes Over](https://awordor2.co.za/greek-mythology/) - His followers — the Maenads — were known for their ecstatic rituals, abandoning social norms in favour of dance, music, and intoxication. This wasn’t hedonism for the sake of it; it was release. A shedding of the rigid structures that defined everyday Greek life. In a society obsessed with order and reason, Dionysus represented the necessary counterweight: instinct, emotion, and the irrational. His followers shed rigid structures of Greek life.
- [How to alternate the alternative: word usage](https://awordor2.co.za/alternate-vs-alternative/) - In practice, the rule is simple enough to remember: if you’re talking about switching back and forth, use “alternate.” If you’re talking about choosing between options, use “alternative. the rule is simple to remember: if you’re talking about switching back and forth, use “alternate.” If you’re talking about choosing options, use “alternative.
- [Tell the truth with veracity: word clarity](https://awordor2.co.za/tell-the-truth-with-veracity-word-clarity/) - Easy to get confused with words that almost sound the same. Veracity and Verocity are such an example. Language practitioners are trained to spot the difference.
- [Cat in the bag rewrites idiom: usage and origin](https://awordor2.co.za/cat-out-of-the-bag/) - cat out of the bag is letting the sectret out despite good intentions to keep the secret. It slips out when you least expect it to and theres no going back.
- [Schmoozing for Business: Yiddish influence](https://awordor2.co.za/schmooze/) - Learn about the evolution of Yiddish words like 'schmooze' and how they add character to English conversations and cultural expressions.
- [Local municipality tightens the noose around my neck: idiom origin](https://awordor2.co.za/noosearoundneck/) - Iza Grek: In novels, films and everyday speech, it signals pressure tightening to the point of collapse, a strong visual component in the idiom adds impacft.
- [‘Répondez s’il vous plaît’: French influence on English](https://awordor2.co.za/rsvp-its-polite-and-helps-with-planning-the-phrase-is-a-contraction-of-respndez-sil-vous-plait-in-french/) - Most people who use RSVP today don’t speak French, many not realising it’s French at all allowing it to blend into the language. The letters have effectively become a universal shorthand for, ‘Let us know if you’re coming.’ RSVP became standard on invitations, requesting a reply.
- [Labour of love comes at a life-threatening cost](https://awordor2.co.za/labouroflove/) - Writers are still told to do it “for the love of it,” as if affection for the craft can pay the electricity bill or justify the hours spent on rewrite after rewrite. Passion is powerful, but it has limits. When the industry begins to rely on passion as a substitute for fair compensation, the phrase “labour of love” stops sounding Writers are still told to do it “for the love of it,” as if affection for the craft can pay the electricity bill or justify the hours spent on rewrites.
- [Promethean: Firing changes that shift reality: origin of words](https://awordor2.co.za/word-origin/) - What I love about the English language is its collaborative flair. It borrows from Germanic and many other linguistic arrangements, some of which add to the richness of my mother tongue. And when I learn a new word, I rejoice that the potential for vocabulary is endless. Today’s word is Promethean. It has its roots
- [I was just six years old: The die was cast: idiom origin and usage](https://awordor2.co.za/i-was-six-years-old/) - Today, we use the idiom for any moment of irreversible action. You resign from a stable job to start your own business. You press “send” on an email that might change everything. You sign the contract, make the announcement, book the one-way ticket, say "I do". The die is cast. Its a moment of irreversible action.
- [A Red Letter Day is cause for celebration: idiom](https://awordor2.co.za/a-red-letter-day-to-celebrate/) - Idiomatic use is everywhere, even in the lyrics of famous rock groups, especially Queen and the like. Many of the lyrics cite idioms, also noted is another one bites the dust. Blog discusses idiom usage.
- [Champing at the bit for the year to normalise. Not so.](https://awordor2.co.za/champingatthebit/) - An illustration of the correct usage of the idiom Champing at the bit. It provides history and commentary.
- [Tail ’em, Nail ’em, Jail ’em - not so fast in our (cry) beloved country](https://awordor2.co.za/nail-em-tail-em-jail-em/) - The phrase features in academic papers, policy memos and newspapers from the 1990s onward — usually as shorthand for a surveillance-first approach to community supervision. Probation and parole officers used it (sometimes ironically, sometimes proudly) to describe a mindset: monitor closely (“tail”), document non-compliance (“nail”), and respond with incarceration (“jail”)
- [How a productivity slump led to a boost in vocabulary](https://awordor2.co.za/how-a-productivity-slump-led-to-a-boost-in-vocabulary/) - With the year winding down and the productivity cycle beginning to slow, I feel myself slipping into brainrot (fixation on mindless digital content). But hey, at least I’m up on Gen-Z speak to some extent. To help you get with it, here’s a list of the hip and happening new generation – or should I
- [****Madlanga Commission is the idiomatic cat among the pigeons***](https://awordor2.co.za/cat-among-the-pigeons/) - A discussion of the idiom cat among the pigeons
- [How a productivity slump led to a boost in vocabulary](https://awordor2.co.za/how-a-productivity-slump-led-to-a-boost-in-vocabulary-2/) - Gen Z and Alpha have added new words to the language. These words are now in the regular English dictionary. This means the words are here to stay and now common in daily conversations.
- [How a random search led me to International Mole Day](https://awordor2.co.za/international-mole/) - A discussion on International Mole Day and how words are used to explain everything.
- [Where have all the newspapers gone?](https://awordor2.co.za/segments/) - 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 is where we got our fix of content and advertising. Today, there are categories and different platforms. Gen - Z (ages 10-24) You may find Market segment
- [Nothing but a Damp Squib: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/a-damp-squib/) - In the past week, I have attended two events that were ‘damper’ than a damp squib. Really! I could not be less impressed with my experience of these. The first was a ‘market’ with about one short line of stalls. The other was a business show with an overwhelming number of people. So thick was In the 16th century, ‘squibs’ were also short, sharp literary satires. Both meanings were first used in print in the 1520s. Squid are a marine animal of the mollusc variety, their closest relative, likely the octopus. In their natural environment, squid are usually damp, so calling an event a ‘damp squid’ is really saying you got what you came for.
- [Platitudes and punchlines: the writer’s tightrope](https://awordor2.co.za/both-cliches-and-idioms-reflect-the-human-desire-for-expression/) - 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. Idioms add richness to language and tell a comparative story. It makes for delightful responses from your readers.
- [Now you too can prevent using avoid incorrectly](https://awordor2.co.za/now-you-too-can-prevent-using-avoid-incorrectly/) - lesson on the usage of prevent and avoid.
- [How breaking bread is a social act that's lasted through time](https://awordor2.co.za/breaking-bread-idiom/) - 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 us. It must have been because they were the rabble rousers, and we were the A-students – and never the twain shall meet. Nonetheless… Breaking 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 us. It must have been because they were the rabble rousers, and we were the A-students – and never the twain shall meet. Nonetheless… Breaking
- [Cutting your coat may lead to cold knees and fewer cups of coffee: Idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/cut-the-cloth/) - Let’s face it: no one wants to be told to scale down. Whether it’s ambitions, appetites, or accessories, we tend to dream in technicolour. But the age-old idiom “cut your coat according to your cloth” offers a neat little stitch of wisdom about living within your means – and it’s as relevant today as it
- [How cold weather makes all tasks Herculean](https://awordor2.co.za/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 blanket and watch Netflix. Alas, there is work to be done, and one must out the bed – eventually! From Muscle to Metaphor Like most
- ['Sailing close to the wind' may leave me out of pocket: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/salingclodetothewind/) - 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 is loaded with caution, from souls, wiser and older. When the popular opinion is ‘sounds like a scam’ I should run for the hills, not
- [SA President is set to dodge the dangling Sword of Damocles in his Trump duel](https://awordor2.co.za/swordofdamocles/) - Some South Africans may think that our President Cyril Ramaphosa has the Sword of Damocles swaying threateningly over his head as he touches down on US soil. He has a massive task to balance a relationship hanging by all intents and purpose on tenterhooks. We are holding our collective breath to see what he walks
- [How speaking with a forked tongue led prospective content manager astray: Origin of idiom](https://awordor2.co.za/forked-tongue-idiom/) - I am disappointed to learn that I am so naïve and take people at face value. If someone in an interview situation says ‘let’s try you for a month’ I believe I have the job, or the project or the assignment – call it what you will – at least for the term of a
- [Thunderstorms keeping it lush and green: word usage](https://awordor2.co.za/word-usage/) - I love the Johannesburg afternoon thunder showers. Yesterday I was caught in one crossing from an open parking lot into a shopping centre. I sprinted as much as I could in slopping along wet paving, to get to some kind of cover. Being literally soaked wasn’t such fun. But this morning with the gleam of
- [A word that warms the cockles of your hearth](https://awordor2.co.za/inglenook/) - Let’s go back in time. Just two days really. Because I did not like today’s word of the day. Browsing back to Tuesday I found the word ‘inglenook’ – and what can I say - I fell in love. So inglenook it is. Nook hints at the meaning but let’s explore further: If you have
- [Ferment and foment confuse the best of us: word usage](https://awordor2.co.za/fomenting/) - Foment means "to incite or rouse." The words have some overlap in use, as they can both be used to express agitation and situations that can cause change or unrest.’
- [”Shrinkflation: Pay More, Get Less” Now showing at a supermarket near you.](https://awordor2.co.za/shrinkflation-word-usage/) - Remember when Cadbury’s 200g was that big slab you could enjoy with big pieces of chocolatey goodness. You really felt you were getting double the value of the 100g bar. Today, neither are the size they used to be and while we get less chocolate we pay more money for the ‘same’ item. Cadbury’s is
- [Now you can have your cake and eat it too: Idioms are a piece of cake](https://awordor2.co.za/cake-idioms/) - In recent months I ‘ve heard many sitcoms and dramedies use the phrase cakewalk. As someone who is familiar with the term ‘piece of cake’ I wondered how the word ‘cake’ found its allegiance with a ‘walk’. After some extensive research, I now know why. The phrase "piece of cake" is an idiom that means
- [From Superheroes to Greek Gods: Unpacking the Meaning of Weakness](https://awordor2.co.za/from-superheroes-to-greek-gods-unpacking-the-meaning-of-weakness/) - Is your love of chocolate your Achilles' heel or is it just Kryptonite? If you want to know the difference and talk about it correctly, read on. Kryptonite: A Modern Mythological Weakness Kryptonite. The very word conjures images of a weakened Superman, collapsing under the eerie green glow of a fragment from his destroyed
- [Words follow fashion and lifestyle trends: 690 new ones](https://awordor2.co.za/new-words-in-english-language/) - Have you ever felt like making up your own words? Don't be shy, the English language is always growing and changing. You may just find your creation in the dictionary if its usage becomes popular. Think athleisure, contactless, deepfake - these are all words you use in your daily conversations. Have another look at them
- [Fewer words, but less data: Know the difference between fewer and less](https://awordor2.co.za/know-difference-fewer-less-language-skills/) - English is a complex language and there is often confusion between words that seemingly have the same meaning but are particular in their usage. Such is the case with the words fewer and less. It’s tempting to be lazy about these words. You might be happy to say, ‘There are less clouds in the sky
- [Joe Soap comes clean on why his name is popular in idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/joe-soap-comes-clean/) - The English language is full of idioms across many genres and categories. There are several names used in literature such as Jane Doe, Sam Hill and Typhoid Mary all lending their ‘characterisation’ to idiomatic expressions. Today though, it’s all about Joe. The name "Joe" is about as common as they come. It's a friendly, unassuming
- [It’s Knot what you know but Who in this Gordian mystery of ANC Billionaires](https://awordor2.co.za/its-knot-what-you-know-but-who-in-this-gordian-mystery-of-anc-billionaires/) - Unravelling the Gordian Knot:history and usage This is not the first time I have seen the term ‘Gordian Knot’ but reading Pieter du Toit’s The ANC Billionaires, I saw it again. So I decided it was time to explore. The Gordian Knot, like many phrases that add to the richness of the English language, has
- [A scam that came in two chickens short](https://awordor2.co.za/a-scam-that-came-in-two-chickens-short/) - Put up your hands, everyone who's fallen for a scam in the past 12 months? They’re everywhere and if you’re not on your toes all the time it's easy to get yourself caught. That’s what happened to me early this year when a ‘known’ individual affirmed that the deal was genuine. And what was the
- [The myth of Sisyphus: origin and meaning](https://awordor2.co.za/origin-of-words/) - Sisyphean: Perhaps the most direct linguistic legacy of the myth, "Sisyphean" describes any task that is endless and ineffective, mirroring Sisyphus's eternal struggle. Whether it's tackling a never-ending workload or battling an insurmountable challenge, calling something Sisyphean immediately conveys the exhausting and futile nature of the endeavor. (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
- [World Literacy Day: A time to reflect](https://awordor2.co.za/world-literacy-day-a-time-to-reflect/) - September 8th marked the annual celebration of World Literacy Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the importance of literacy as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for individual and societal development. Established by UNESCO in 1967, this day serves as a reminder of the power of literacy to transform lives and communities. Making a
- [People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones: Idiom](https://awordor2.co.za/peopleinglasshouses/) - In a recent radio talk show, a caller commented that "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". He was referring to the Teflon nature of EFF leader Julius Malema who saw fit to comment on theft, while the trail of his looting of VBS Bank hangs in the balance. While hypocrisy is a well-used tool
- [The scary truth about "Would They Love A Lion?"](https://awordor2.co.za/scary-truth-about-childrens-tales/) - I am seldom stirred by stories, be they children’s, Essop’s or fireside tales. But yesterday I was more than a little disturbed while reading a book with the title, “Would They Love A Lion?” to a six-year-old child. With beautiful illustrations and several awards trailing its title, the story is about Anna, who attempts many
- [Non-English! How did we get here?](https://awordor2.co.za/non-english/) - “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 by what I assume is non-new-to-journalism staff members. What strikes me in this statement is the use of the adjective ‘non-small’ and my question is
- [Nose out of joint?: Idiom explained](https://awordor2.co.za/nose-out-of-joint/) - Today it's all about the nose. Nose-based idiom on the English Club ‘idiom of the day’ post and a ‘The nose knows’ video that popped into my email. The latter went on to explain the correlation between the physical nose and its spiritual knowing. Naturally, it was through breathing exercises (through the nose of course)
- [Apprise or appraise: use the right word](https://awordor2.co.za/apprise-or-appraise/) - 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 don’t have the exact example – it was a while ago. However, it bothered me enough to write this blog. (And it’s not the first
- [What's in a name? Inventors credit their work](https://awordor2.co.za/whats-in-a-name/) - From brushes to magnets and this is where we find Madame Magnolia Attraction. Magnolia became enamoured with magnets and their captivating forces. Her groundbreaking research paved the way for countless applications, from MRI machines to magnetic levitation trains.
- [The peas have it - the peanuts definitely do not](https://awordor2.co.za/the-peas-have-it-the-peanuts-definitely-do-not/) - Last month I was in the unfortunate state of suffering debilitating shoulder pain. Apparently, my neck was the cause – C5 and C6 to be exact. Popular advice is heat treatment or the alternative, icing it. The precise icing method is a packet of frozen peas. I have always wondered why peas? Does this mean
- [The quality of English writing is going down hill: proofreading for excellence](https://awordor2.co.za/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 have meant to say informal settlements. Whoever wrote this was asleep, did not know any better or just made an innocent mistake. Possibly, predictive text
- [So, what's a lexophile?](https://awordor2.co.za/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.
- [Allude vs elude](https://awordor2.co.za/dalai-lama-illusion/) - The people of Tibet who bestow this honour upon him have witnessed his ability to elude (evade or escape from a danger, enemy, or pursuer, typically in a skillful or cunning way) censure for his prior misogynistic statements which he has escaped with a mere slap on the wrists.
- [Shine. It's your right](https://awordor2.co.za/shine-its-for-everyone/) - We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
- [Half-nelson: origin of words](https://awordor2.co.za/nelson/) - Horatio Nelson was first to be ascribed naming rights, himself a contender in war. He found this strategic use of the movement effective in the Battle of the Nile and the Battle of Trafalgar both of which he won.
- [Gotta love Shakespeare: origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/food-of-love-idiom/) - An idiom as colour to language. If music be the food of love was coined by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night. Here we discuss usage
- [10 things I bet you didn’t know about the English language](https://awordor2.co.za/10-things-you-didnt-know/) - English is arguably the most confusing language in the world. That’s why we love it (perhaps I speak for myself – that’s why I have a language blog.) Nonetheless, I’m sure you will find the following language trivia interesting. 5 billion – that’s the number of words in the Oxford English Corpus The Oxford English
- [Don't dis my dogs: origin of words](https://awordor2.co.za/origin-of-doggerel/) - With ‘must love dogs’ embedded in my LinkedIn profile, you might guess that I am rather distressed to learn that the origin of the word ‘doggerel’ originates from a time when people thought dogs were less than honorary human beings. Can you just imagine living in such a heartless age, with “mean, contemptible” associations of
- [Zeitgeist: origin of words](https://awordor2.co.za/zeitgeist/) - “The general moral, intellectual, and cultural climate of an era; For example, the Zeitgeist of England in the Victorian period included a belief in industrial progress, and the Zeitgeist of the 1980s in the United States was a belief in the power of money and the many ways in which to spend it.”
- [Can you count to 10? - idiom](https://awordor2.co.za/idiom/) - Can you count to 10? Good then you can help with the untelling of the decuplets saga. In the Financial Mail today, a staff writer says Iqual Survé, the owner of the newspaper, that shared the story, would reveal all.
- [Grammar: Prevent or avoid](https://awordor2.co.za/grammar-prevent-avoid/) - For instance, I can say, to avoid the morning rush hour traffic, I usually leave my house an hour early. In this context, prevent is a misfit. However, if I say “to prevent heat stroke on hot summer days, drink plenty of water and stay out of the sun”.
- [Papering over the potholes: idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/papering-over-the-potholes-idioms/) - I smile as I take my morning walk through Parkmore. The smile is an ironic one. The road workers are very busy painting the street markings and the L-outline at the intersection holding the word ‘STOP’ is newly painted. It’s bright and white and it glints into the sunlight. Hmm. Pretty roads. Meanwhile, the roads
- [Why I find both bothersome](https://awordor2.co.za/why-i-find-both-bothersome/) - Both is often unnecessary in a sentence. When it is used to stress the joining of two nouns it really is a waste of a word. Grammar. Please.
- [Let the trend be your friend](https://awordor2.co.za/let-the-trend-be-your-friend/) - One of the hot trends of the moment is interactive content. You have to excite and engage with your audience. Give them something tactile to experience. In content, you can do this in several ways. Polls are great ways to get people engaged. People love their own opinions, so why not invite them to poll it. Quizzes have the same response. No one wants to be outshone by not being the smartest in the room. Everyone loves to challenge their own intelligence.
- [Lazy with language: preposition usage](https://awordor2.co.za/language-changes/) - language changes for good reasons and this can be from people migrating, from new industries emerging, from mispronunciations, from transposing letters incorrectly, and from mistakes.
- [Blogs, vlogs and virtual reality](https://awordor2.co.za/content-trends-in-2022/) - Podcasting is not new to content but if you don’t take that next step at least, your web presence is going to suffer. Next up is video. Moving pictures are the next basic requirement for a 2022 rendition of consumed content. Video too is not all that new, but pay attention to quality. You’re not going to get away with just anything so invest some time in this.
- [In with authority, out with SEO?](https://awordor2.co.za/authority-in-seo/) - Google has recently updated its algorithm. Authority has replaced SEO according to some content sources.
- [10 reasons to include story-telling in content](https://awordor2.co.za/story-telling/) - 10 reasons to include story-telling in content
- [Basic English: Four of the most common mistakes](https://awordor2.co.za/basic-english-four-common-mistakes/) - As a purist of the English language I frequently tear my hair out when I hear or see basic grammar mistakes, particular from those in the profession of news casting or writing. The language is just not what it used to be - you can hear my sad lament - and because mistakes have made
- [Authors share thoughts on self-publishing](https://awordor2.co.za/authors-share-thoughts-on-self-publishing/) - So you’ve put the final full stop on the last sentence of your first novel. What a mammoth task that was. Now you are ready to get that masterpiece published so that your reading market can experience your well-crafted creativity. Two questions confront you: “Should I self publish or go the traditional publishing route?” As
- [A quiver full of arrows](https://awordor2.co.za/quiver-full-of-arrows/) - Thanks to prolific author Jeffrey Archer the idiom ‘a quiver full of arrows’ penetrated our language to a great extent after 1980 when he published a book with this title. A quiver full of arrows means to have more than one option available to utilise. In Archer’s Quiver Full of Arrows he gives his fans
- [5 Reasons to write under a pseudonym](https://awordor2.co.za/writing-under-pseudonym/) - Writing under a pseudonym (pen name) or a nom de plume as the French like to call it, is as old as time itself. Disguising your true self may come with some good reasons. You may choose to write under a pseudonym simply to change things up or to give yourself a fresh view of things. African writers may opt for a more simple-sounding name to fit in with popular writers/genres.
- [What’s wrong with you, man?  ](https://awordor2.co.za/whats-wrong-with-you-man/) - Recently I was asked to chair a weekly meeting. There was some sensitivity around the term ‘chairman’ and points made that due to a gender sensitive environment, the group would prefer to call me chairperson. At the time, I agreed, to appease any potential offence. Then I thought about it. Although I am female
- [I offer my singular condolence: Grammar](https://awordor2.co.za/offer-singular-condolence-grammar/) - English demands that its users know more than just the meaning of a word. They also must know how it’s used. It’s not okay to slap just any words together. Some have special ‘partners’. While subbing an article yesterday, I happened upon the phrase ‘pay their condolences’. I knew instinctively that condolences were not paid.
- [My take on 'Moving Cheese'](https://awordor2.co.za/my-take-on-moving-cheese/) - Having read Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese for the fourth time, I decided to put together my own take on things. In 2021, I can't help seeing the parallels between the global wisdom: 'businesses have to pivot'. Here goes.... There lived in a land faraway Scurry and Sniff and Hem and Haw. Like many
- [Relative and relevant: word usage](https://awordor2.co.za/add-an-arrow-to-your-quiver/) - Relevant, according to the Oxford English Dictionary means “closely connected to or appropriate to the current matter”. Relational; compare Relative, in the same source is explained as “considered in relation or in proportion to something else; existing only in comparison to something else: months of relative calm ended in April.
- [Five of the most common mistakes in the English language](https://awordor2.co.za/five-of-the-most-common-mistakes-in-the-english-language/) - Five of the most common language mistakes get a simple explanation. Each sentence explains the difference to better illustrate the usage.
- [Verity Price brings home authenticity](https://awordor2.co.za/authentic/) - Idioms add colourful expressions to the language. This post looks at the origin and usage to better understand English and use phrases correctly. This one is about 'dog and pony show'
- [I never knew children came in blue](https://awordor2.co.za/i-didnt-know-children-came-in-blue/) - Inspired by Sue de Groot’s column in the Sunday Times, I am writing about my own grammar gremlin findings of the past few days. In this period I read a lot of articles looking for answers to explain the looting, as I am sure many of you did. Sub-editor needed In one, I read about
- [Don't let Covid kill! (your sense of humour)](https://awordor2.co.za/dont-let-covid-kill-your-sense-of-humour/) - With Covid infection numbers showing no signs of decline and the heartfelt losses that many of us have suffered, you may find that your mental agility is severely challenged. This may look like: Apathy Low level depression Inertia Distractibility (my personal favourite) Hours of Netflix replace hours of productivity A general sense of lethargy With
- [Is said dead? How to use attributions correctly and creatively](https://awordor2.co.za/said-dead-use-attributions-correctly-creatively/) - In my work as a sub-editor, the only word allowed for an attribution is 'said'. No, 'revealed', no 'pointed out', no 'suggested', no 'argued' - just plain 'said'. But for fiction writers the use of the word 'said' can become tedious if used over and over again. Eager writers will look for ways to substitute
- [Write better English: the difference between license and licence](https://awordor2.co.za/write-better-english-difference-license-licence/) - Writing good English requires a depth of knowledge of the language. English is full of tricks: words that sound the same and are spelled differently and words that are spelled the same and have different meanings – and that’s just two. There are many areas of confusion in the English language so let’s just clear
- [Diving in to the truth about 'dove'](https://awordor2.co.za/diving-truth-dove/) - To me the word ‘dove’ brings to mind the soap brand and the birds referred to in one of Prince’s better known songs, When Doves Cry. So I was a little taken aback when, reading a book by an American writer, he used the word dove to indicate the past tense of dove. This is
- [Take out the rubbish: When nouns become verbs](https://awordor2.co.za/when-verbs-become-nouns/) - I am the first to admit, I am not always original but I do try to be topical and even then, perhaps decades out of touch. Bear with me. The word rubbish used as a verb, first struck me about a decade ago when used by a most unsuitable boyfriend who said I had rubbished
- [The incidence of incidents](https://awordor2.co.za/the-incidence-of-incidents/) - There’s not much to say about incidence and incident except that temptation (also read auto brain) to misuse the two words is quite common. It’s one of those cases in the English language where words sound the same with different spelling. I find these the most challenging in the language and tend to make the
- [Tintinnabulation: Origin of words and #belltolls4JZ](https://awordor2.co.za/tintinnabulation-origin-words-belltolls4jz/) - Tintinnabulation. This delightful six-syllable tongue-twister made its debut in 1831 according to some sources, even earlier according to others. Online Etymology Dictionary states its origin in usage as "the ringing of bells," 1823, from the Latin tintinnabulum "bell," from tintinnare "to ring, jingle". Its other near relatives in earlier forms of English were as an adjective
- [How words are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/how-words-are-formed/) - The English language owes much to many. From the outset it borrowed from Germanic, French, Latin and Dutch influences, to name just a few. Overtime the language has seen words come and go. Word styles and forms change continuously. Suffice to say the language lives among its users. Word formation is a vast topic. Today’s
- [Theft and larceny: correct usage](https://awordor2.co.za/theft-larceny-correct-usage/) - With so much exposure to people’s dirty legal laundry and equal amounts of televised fictional dramas – Law and Order my personal favourite – I often heard the charge of larceny and never understood what it meant. So today I delved into it. In its simplest definition, larceny is theft. But falling into the legal
- [Five word pairs to increase your word power](https://awordor2.co.za/five-word-pairs-increase-word-power/) - Today I’d like to share these word pairs that always confuse new writers. Not to sound arrogant there are plenty words in the English language that I need to check on for correct usage, despite considering myself an English language professional. I have selected these five word pairs so that you can easily increase your
- [A deadly blutterance: How words are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/deadly-blutterance-words-formed/) - Blasted, blithering and blooming. All lovely descriptive words with a possible to probable note of irritation in how they are expressed, depending on context of course. These words remind me that the art of conversation could be in jeopardy what with SMS, Twitter and Google-speak. As the age of digitisation overwhelms us tweeny and teeny
- [English idioms: how they get distorted](https://awordor2.co.za/english-idioms-get-distorted/) - The other day, a friend asked, “How do you spell towing the line as in the sense of complying? Is it toing or towing? This is just one of many examples of how idioms become distorted over time. The correct spelling, to answer my friend, is toeing. The original idiom stems from a literal situation.
- [How important is email accuracy?](https://awordor2.co.za/important-email-accuracy/) - Is email an art or science? If we consider science as accurately written text and art as anything slapped down on the page, then I would be persuaded to think that email leans towards the latter. I had a very hard learning experience working at a daily newspaper. With the prestigious title of deputy chief
- [No comma sense: Three common uses for this little grammar tool](https://awordor2.co.za/no-comma-sense-three-common-uses-little-grammar-tool/) - I once punned in a headline “No comma sense”. This referred to a number quoted by a government department which did not know where to put the comma between noughts so it had created an astronomical number, millions more than what was accurate. With numbers commas and their placing are critical. With words, commas are
- [How to develop your writing style](https://awordor2.co.za/316-2/) - Usually I write about grammar, but what about style? Grammar, if you know the rules, can with effort and dedication be learnt. Style, however, is unique to the individual. Writing in your own voice almost as you speak, is how you will develop your style. When you build your unique style, you readers will begin
- [What's missing from the language?](https://awordor2.co.za/whats-missing-language/) - Have you ever paid attention to the ampersand? Did you know that it and similarly formed words are called mondegreens? Newspaper style prefers the use of a full “and” only permitting the use of this mondegreen (oh how titillating is the English language?) in a name such as Fick & Sons or Johnson & Johnson.
- [Words and Phrases: Of Mondegreens and Mishearings](https://awordor2.co.za/words-phrases-mondegreens-mishearings/) - Blame the mishearing, blame the accent, blame the frame of reference – these give rise to mondegreens. “According to the word watcher William Safire of The New York Times, the term mondegreen dates from a 1954 magazine article by Sylvia Wright in which she said she had misheard the folk lyric ''and laid him on
- [Very, very, completely: Keep language crisp and clean](https://awordor2.co.za/completely-keep-language-crisp-clean/) - I was alerted to my default descriptive style about two weeks ago. It happened when I ran my own document through spell check prior to a more serious edit and it stopped me at ‘really, really’. I realised these words were redundant and creating unnecessary hyperbole. Recently I finished reading a book where the author's
- [Why is surgery an operation?](https://awordor2.co.za/why-is-surgery-an-operation/) - Why is surgery an operation? When asking this question, it brings to mind a scenario in a sitcom. For example, in The Nanny, Fran could be devastated when she learns that Mr Sheffield has to go for surgery. “Oh, an operation,” she might exclaim, explaining to herself that her boss will be going under the
- [Conniption over court appearance: A modern day hissy fit](https://awordor2.co.za/conniption-court-appearance-modern-day-hissy-fit/) - Last month I received a self-sealing letter in the post. These are usually some or other form of traffic infringement notice. Indeed, it was. But it was red. This was the first time in my life that I had received a fine in red. Reading further, I found the fine showed a photograph of a
- [Why is spelling a bee?](https://awordor2.co.za/why-is-spelling-a-bee/) - This is a question that has been on my mind ever since my encounter with the movie Akeelah and the Bee in 2006, and I was again reminded of it when I saw the term in a recent article. Like many historians and students of language my assumption was that it had to do with
- [How big is your appetite for words?](https://awordor2.co.za/big-appetite-words/) - Browsing through the Huffington Post, I happened upon a blog about strange and wonderful words. When I reached the end of the text, I realised with horror that I have been known to groke on several occasions. Having not packed myself sufficient lunch for a day on site, away from my home office, I’ve been
- [Can writers be replaced by Artificial Intelligence?](https://awordor2.co.za/can-writers-replaced-artificial-intelligence/) - Be afraid. Be very afraid. Stand aside fellow writer as a machine does your work. This is highly possible, and as early as 2018, if writings on the power and glory of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is anything to go by. Machines, I learn, are exceptionally good at writing articles or producing a variety of written
- [The joy of serendipity](https://awordor2.co.za/the-joy-of-serendipity/) - No work today. I read the SMS on Monday with surprise, delight and near disbelief. Then I realised the universe had conspired to serve my needs. With less than three hours of sleep on Sunday night, I was thinking, with severely reduced brain capacity, how to get out of taking the long drive to the
- [Say it all in the essay](https://awordor2.co.za/say-it-all-in-the-essay/) - In my school days, I loved writing essays and sometimes the result was so impressive that my teachers rewarded me with the highest marks in the class. Such was the honour that I was called upon to read my composition to my lesser scoring classmates. It seemed that those early years of classroom essay writing,
- [Why is the world your oyster?](https://awordor2.co.za/why-is-the-world-your-oyster/) - An erudite scholar presented a speech in which he used the phrase, “the world is your oyster”. At first it hit me as the millionth use of a tried and tested and tired cliché, and I silently cringed. Later, on deeper thinking, I wondered why indeed the world was my oyster, or anyone else’s and
- [How do you like them apples?](https://awordor2.co.za/how-do-like-them-apples/) - The apple: On first appearance, there’s nothing special about it at all. It’s typically green or red on the outside with a crunchy white interior (if it’s a quality mid-season apple). This seemingly common or garden apple has been installed with the most amazing qualities, least of all for its medicinal properties although ‘an apple
- [Six ways to take the stress out of writing a book](https://awordor2.co.za/six-ways-take-stress-writing-book/) - For all the aspirant writers out there who want to get a book out of your system, start with an e-book. Here's how: Getting down to writing: Write that e-book. Just like that. It is almost that simple if you set your mind to it. I never had aspirations to write a book of any
- [Less is more in the writing discipline](https://awordor2.co.za/less-writing-discipline/) - I am reading a book in which the author has swamped the pages with an oversupply of adjectives. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I find the need to qualify every verb and every noun in the sentence an overreach and, worst of all, a punishment to the text. And the reader. It
- [Sucking the hind tit : related idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/sucking-hind-tit-related-idioms/) - Last Sunday, our six-year-old female Staffordshire Bull Terrier gave birth to six beautiful and healthy puppies. One was distinctly smaller than his four black brothers and sister and I feared he would be left to feed off the ‘hind tit’. Among animals that birth multiple young in a litter such as dogs and pigs there
- [Through the eye of the needle: biblical  idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/eye-needle-biblical-idioms/) - The English language is so rich and diverse that one lifetime is just not enough to master all of it. But I have discovered that as much as English owes many of its idioms to the writings of the great Shakespeare, the bible has made a significant contribution of its own. I hasten to add
- [Do horses eat loose fern? A statement on reporting standards](https://awordor2.co.za/horses-eat-loose-fern-statement-reporting-standards/) - This week, I was subbing a story about horses that had been rescued from dire circumstances. If not for the language educated among us, the situation could have given rise to an inadvertent mondegreen (when a phrase is repeated incorrectly over time and eventually replaces the original phrase). The reporter had stated that the poor
- [Five top reasons to hire an editor](https://awordor2.co.za/five-top-reasons-hire-editor/) - You’ve given a massive amount of blood, sweat and tears to your work. Whether it’s your novel, biography, article or academic writing, it still needs that extra polish. It looks fine to you, but your eyes have been over it for the umpteenth time. Even if there are mistakes, tiny as they may be, odds
- [No damn synchronicity: Synonyms and antonyms](https://awordor2.co.za/no-damn-synchronicity/) - Ever had such a day where things start out great and then you’re confronted with the unexpected and things just unravel? Such was my day. I arrived for a press function 20 minutes before the scheduled start time feeling very impressed with myself - enjoying a mini accolade that was short-lived. By the time my
- [Somnolent: Word use and origin](https://awordor2.co.za/somnolent-word-use-origin/) - Last night when I got home after a long day’s work I felt particularly somnolent. This was hardly surprising as I woke up at 4.30am fought with myself to get back to sleep without success, and started work at 10am. I then proceeded with nine hours of intensive sub-editing at what is arguable the world’s
- [How to keep your powder dry in the 21st century. Idioms from the military](https://awordor2.co.za/keep-powder-dry-21st-century-idioms-military/) - Keeping one’s options open, is an overused phrase in today’s demanding lifestyle. But its non-committal tone, sounds like its primary use would be by people suffering from FOMO - Fear of Missing Out. I was staggered then, when my husband referred to his military training while discussing our travel plans. He said, “I’m trying to
- [Veracity and verocity: why these words get confused](https://awordor2.co.za/veracity-verocity-words-get-confused/) - Today we are going to have some fun exploring the difference between veracity and voracity. These words if not heard correctly can be interchanged to disastrous effect. The one has to do with truth, the other appetite. Or you could say, veracity concerns one’s appetite for truth, while voracity has to do with a desire
- [Deliciously sedulous : increase your word power](https://awordor2.co.za/deliciously-sedulous/) - I am catching up with the past, voraciously reading through the pages of William Styron’s Sophie’s Choice with a copyright date of 1979. A literary marvel, the author provides delightful entertainment from the first page to the last. Styron provides a feast of vocabulary fit for kings and other high-level royalty. His writing is such
- [How calendar days differ from others](https://awordor2.co.za/calendar-days-differ-others/) - I have always wondered about the difference between a calendar day and just a regular day. The same applies to a calendar month. What I learnt is that a calendar day must feature on the calendar. That may sound silly. Let me explain. The distinction is used when it concerns a work day or a
- [Top 10 gender / age appropriate words of 2017](https://awordor2.co.za/top-10-gender-age-appropriate-words-2017/) - Have you noticed how your language changes to fit trends that begin to invade your life? Twitterati is a word in use since the advent of Twitter, Google is a frequently practised verb since the search engine came to dominate our lives. And since men have shown a fondness for women’s wear and women have
- [7 Reasons to Connect with Influencers](https://awordor2.co.za/7-reasons-to-connect-with-influencers/) - Now, more than ever, influencer market is part of strategy. It's all virtual but everybody is doing it and you need to know how to tap in. “It’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know,” that takes you to places you could not get to without them. That’s why its important to network in
- [Five fast stats about social media](https://awordor2.co.za/five-fast-stats-social-media/) - Video killed the radio star, it was alleged in 1981 by pop group The Buggles in the song of the same name. But has social media caused the death of newspapers, magazines, and television advertising? When online advertising first became a thing, many approached it with hesitancy fearing change and not having a deep understanding
- [How good is your spelling? Take this quick test](https://awordor2.co.za/good-spelling-take-quick-test/) - When there is so much stress in the world, I like to keep things light. That's why I've chosen this quick quiz to take your mind off world disasters for a few minutes. As this is a language blog, you probably guessed, this is about spelling. Go ahead, see how good your spelling is? Enjoy!
- [Take the log out of your eye and other idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/take-log-eye-idioms/) - I was recently at an Editing for Inclusivity workshop which aimed to address racial, gender and all other kinds of stereotyping that fills our communication to an embarrassing extent. This applies in both written and verbal exchanges, only easier to forget and forgive when stated verbally. In an effort to make workshop attendants better editors,
- [Of acronyms and shortened words: abbreviations explained](https://awordor2.co.za/acronyms-shortened-words-abbreviations-explained/) - This week a client asked me, “Is it okay to write CEO?” I was a bit taken aback because CEO is one of those ‘words’ that is better known by its shortened version than its elongated other – Chief Executive Officer. Copy required for newspapers must maximise efficiency as space is premium and no editor
- [Relative or relevant? How to use words correctly](https://awordor2.co.za/relative-relevant-use-words-correctly/) - On Monday, I was at a conference which was full of interesting content presented by a number of excellent speakers. One woman, a lawyer, delivered a long and very detailed explanation of the POPI (Protection of Personal Information) Act, undeniable proof that her grasp of the act was sound. Not so the English language. She
- [Fartlek, among the funniest words in the English language](https://awordor2.co.za/fartlek-among-funniest-words-english-language/) - Yesterday as I was cursing the spinning instructor for insisting I use muscles I didn’t know I had to save energy, I thought she had lost the plot. Saving energy seemed the most unlikely outcome for all the effort it took to apply these untrained muscles to a cycling routine. Raised heart rate and an
- [Rats in the language](https://awordor2.co.za/rats-in-the-language/) - Rats! If you’ve ever had the problem of rats in your home, you may identify with strongly negative feelings about the small annoying creatures. Thanks to my compulsive TV watching habits, I learnt that the collective noun for rats is mischief – a mischief of rats. Collective nouns for animals, such as a congress of
- [No ticking time bomb: why words are redundant](https://awordor2.co.za/no-ticking-time-bomb-why-words-are-redundant/) - In recent weeks I became curious about the metaphor ‘a ticking time bomb’. There’s something about it that does not ring true. Not true, in that sense but not grammatically correct. There are too many words in the phrase. The offending word here is ‘ticking’. To say, ‘a ticking time bomb’, is the same as
- [Zeitgeist: how words originate](https://awordor2.co.za/zeitgeist-words-originate/) - Zeitgeist is a lovely word to get your teeth into, literally and figuratively. And both syllables require a firm grit. Derived from the German language, the word is surrounded by controversy and misuse. For a time it seemed that the word zeitgeist would be dropped into every high profile conversation, said with a clenched fist,
- [Red herring: A technique for arguing](https://awordor2.co.za/red-herring-technique-arguing/) - I love a red herring. And no, I don’t mean because it’s an ideal protein in a low-carb high-protein diet. It’s also great for breakfast. At school I had a maths teacher who was fond of colouring her teaching with idioms. A red herring was one of her favourite idioms. She would use the phrase
- [Take care with English: How expressions get distorted](https://awordor2.co.za/take-care-english-expressions-get-distorted/) - Would you say English is a careless language? I think the opposite is true. English is a careful language in that its most practiced users choose words with specific intent, to ensure their purpose of meaning is clear. However, sometimes the users of the English language are careless and use words incorrectly or worse, inappropriately.
- [No-cry zones with sunions: How words are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/no-cry-zones-sunions-words-formed/) - You’ve heard of a no-fly zone. Now, there’s a no-cry zone. That’s when it comes to onions. Or rather sunions. English is not the only discipline to combine two elements to from a new one. Agriculture too is well known for its hybridisation and has brought us many delicious fruits and vegetables that add variety
- [No leg to stand on: How idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/no-leg-stand-idioms-formed/) - Having suffered a leg injury in December I could not walk and could not drive. I was practically immobile. In my static state I had plenty of time to think. I was reminded that everything that happens in the body is a result of what is happening in the mind. I couldn’t put my finger
- [New word from a six year old: Palindromes and portmanteus: how words are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/new-word-from-a-six-year-old-how-words-are-formed/) - Almost every word in English has a definition and almost every word composition has a description for why it came to be called that. Until that is, the word that you want to know more about is not in the dictionary (try Google) or worse the composition is unexplained. Such was the dilemma for Levi
- [Green Eggs and Ham: A great contribution to literature](https://awordor2.co.za/green-eggs-ham-great-contribution-literature/) - Today I celebrate Dr.Seuss for all the entertainment he provided in my childhood. I loved his books and would sleep with them under my pillow so that the stories would fill my dreams and occupy my earliest waking hours. I fondly look back on stories such as the 'Cat in the Hat' and 'Green Eggs
- [Gig economy the smart choice](https://awordor2.co.za/gig-it/) - As a gigger (someone who works in the ‘gig economy’ – my own definition) for the past three and a half years I have formed my own views as to its success and relevance in the global work structure. Gig Economy While definitions of the ‘gig economy’ remain loose, its understood as a system of
- [New author launches poetry anthology at Love Books, Melville](https://awordor2.co.za/new-author-launches-poetry-anthology-love-books-melville/) - Fans filled up the spaces of the buzzing bookshop last night at the launch of Happy Birthday Raashi, a poetry anthology by Raashida Khan, the author’s first published work. Khan’s journey as a writer for the past 20 years has been a start-stop affair. She first tried her craft in short stories in the back
- [Flout or flaunt? Word confusion](https://awordor2.co.za/flout-flaunt-word-confusion/) - One of the most common mistakes I found as a sub-editor was around the confusion of the use of the words flaunt and flout. The result was often hilarious. It seems it is an age-old problem common to the news reporting discipline and these partners in language crime have an interesting history. You may want
- [Three key notes to persuasive copy](https://awordor2.co.za/the-three-key-notes-to-persuasive-copy/) - Slapping down anything that comes to mind may work for the Earnest Hemingways of the world, but its unlikely to produce persuasive copy for your website. Even Hemingway was not one to settle for the first draft. Very few writers do. So why would you put text on the most public forum – your website
- [The importance of grey marketing](https://awordor2.co.za/the-importance-of-gray-marketing/) - Grey marketing is a lesser known added value marketing tool.
- [Top 10 tips to get user interaction](https://awordor2.co.za/top-10-tips-to-get-user-interaction/) - As the world obsesses about millennials, there is a constant flurry among marketers to get their attention. We know that they are all mobile savvy, and we know that they read – a few words at least!. If the message is not quick and snappy, you’ll lose them in the blink of an eye. Basically,
- [Breakthrough to excellence in June](https://awordor2.co.za/breakthrough-to-excellence-in-june/) - A wise friend once told me after a long struggle with an MBA assignment – ‘Perfection is the enemy of the good’. This small gem of wisdom has stuck with me ever since. And that does not mean you cannot be excellent. What is excellence? Excellent is how you are every day, every hour, every
- [Shocking stats make youth vulnerable to targeted advertising](https://awordor2.co.za/shocking-stats-make-youth-vulnerable-to-targeted-advertising/) - Following the much-publicised alleged breach of Facebook user privacy, and recent reports of social media absorption by the youth it is no surprise that parents worry about the time their children spend online. An article in The Guardian, May 2017, reported “Facebook showed advertisers how it has the capacity to identify when teenagers feel ‘insecure’,
- [5 tips to get your brand going](https://awordor2.co.za/5-tips-to-get-your-brand-going/) - There is no shortage of literature on ‘personal brand’ and it was one of the topics at the recent National Small Business Convention (NSBC) www.nsbc.org.za So while there’s a lot said, like money and free time, you can never have too much of it. The key piece about your personal brand is the individual, the
- [Nothing new about disruption innovation](https://awordor2.co.za/business-innovation/) - Last night, I attended a local investment ‘Shark Tank’ event where keen start-up entrepreneurs pitched their ideas to a panel of judges. There was no holding back among the business enthusiasts and the group witnessed a range of ideas from township food carts to smart-phone-assisted diagnostic tools, online car shopping, to programmes for temporary gym
- [Know how to use rain, rein and reign](https://awordor2.co.za/know-how-to-use-rain-rein-and-reign/) - It’s spring in South Africa and in the season’s first flush, we had a smattering of rain. That’s the stuff of celebration. What’s not to celebrate is the state of our country’s newspapers. But in the last half hour I was reminded that South Africa is not the only country suffering from a sub-standard education,
- [Seasonal snag for armpit advertising](https://awordor2.co.za/seasonal-snag-for-armpit-advertising/) - I was intrigued and a little disgusted to read that Japan is using women’s armpits as an advertising medium. In disbelief, I asked Google and got more than 8 million responses confirming this phenomenon. A cosmetics company has elected to place advertising in the armpits of commuters. This must mean that in Japan space is
- [No such thing as a free webinar](https://awordor2.co.za/no-such-thing-as-a-free-webinar/) - Last night I tuned into a webinar and it might just be my last. I have done many, maintaining my naivety and unfailing hope to find the magic, the million, the answer to life’s deepest questions, and the fastest way to make a fortune, always ending with the same promise. You can. Just part with your
- [Know your whopping from your whooping: word usage](https://awordor2.co.za/know-your-whopping-from-your-whooping-word-usage/) - In my days as a sub-editor, on seeing the word ‘whopping’ I would strike it out immediately. This was for two reasons: it was usually placed before an amount; adjectives at the best of times, in press writing are not required, particularly when the noun is a tell-all. For example, $500 billion, does not need
- [A pig in a poke](https://awordor2.co.za/a-pig-in-a-poke/) - Should you be interested in investments to the point that you start reading books about them, don’t be surprised to find the term ‘a pig in a poke’. When you see this idiom, you could think that the author is referring to something that occurred that was not quite to his liking or something that
- [Of Sackcloth and Ashes: How idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/of-sackcloth-and-ashes-how-idioms-originate/) - This week I discovered a ‘delightful’ idiom in the novel Sophie’s Bakery for the Broken Hearted by New York Times Best Selling Author, Lolly Winston – sackcloth and ashes. I’ve read too far ahead to give you the context, but I made a mental note to make it the subject of my blog. All the
- [Dual opinions come to blows: how words are misused](https://awordor2.co.za/dual-opinions-come-to-blows-how-words-are-misused/) - Working as a writer and copy editor, I have noticed how the brain tricks you, or me. If the word sounds right in the mind it's easy for it to be mistaken as the right word. For example, earlier this week, in the final proofread of my book review I wrote about a ‘smaller waste’
- [Chinese Wall is moral dilemma: How idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/chinese-wall-is-moral-dilemma-how-idioms-originate/) - As I contemplate my next travel destination, my enthusiasm starts with a trip to Russia, then Egypt and Morocco and finally India, again. Then it occurs to me, having just finished reading Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin, why not China? (Li’s tale is an inspiring insight into the Chinese work ethic and determination to
- [Making mountains out of molehills: idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/making-mountains-out-of-molehills-idioms/) - If you’re from a family who tends to exaggerate, you will be familiar with the term making a mountain out of a molehill. This may come about in a number of ways. If you forget to bring a cake to a tea party, your host might show a great deal of distress over your forgetfulness.
- [Of Smoke and Mirrors and other idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/of-smoke-and-mirrors-and-other-idioms/) - A good friend told me this week – her ship had come in. This means a change in luck, a sudden shower of good fortune or a great success. When I heard this news, I was delighted for my friend, but also sceptical. So, I kept my distance and held off on the back-slapping and
- [Money in my salad: slang in language](https://awordor2.co.za/money-in-my-salad/) - This week while working on a copy assignment for a bank, I looked up other words that mean money. I was surprised by what Google returned. In addition to a few formal words, five or so, there were a large number of slang words – probably more than 80. As I a scrolled through the
- [Last roll of the dice: how idioms are used](https://awordor2.co.za/last-roll-of-the-dice-how-idioms-are-used/) - It’s all fair in love and war and friendship too. I felt I was losing ground with a friend and that we would soon be going our own separate ways, so I asked her to do something for me which would require her to commit to making an effort in a very specific way. I
- [Talking the hind legs off a donkey: How idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/talking-the-hind-legs-off-a-donkey-how-idioms-originate/) - Last night while watching an excellent wildlife programme, I saw an antelope give birth, apparently a two-hour stint, to get the eager youngster out. While I was engrossed in the final minutes, a friend called and took away my attention. She was complaining about her friend who talks the hind legs off a donkey. While
- [Doggerel: How words originate](https://awordor2.co.za/doggerel-how-words-originate/) - With no less than eight beautiful loving dogs at home, and witnessing the birth of three perfect puppies, I am rather distressed to learn that the origin of the word ‘doggerel’ originates from a time when people thought dogs were less than honorary human beings. Can you just image living in such a heartless age?
- [Robo dog delivers in driverless car: AI is in our world](https://awordor2.co.za/robo-dog-delivers-in-driverless-car-ai-is-in-our-world/) - By all accounts the gig economy takes off, but fears of AI replace the good ol' human remain. And here's a dog to help things along. “This robot delivery dog will hitch a ride in a driverless car to deliver your packages.” Two things struck me: The reality of AI and the number of jobs
- [Flying too close to the sun: how idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/flying-too-close-to-the-sun-how-idioms-originate/) - This week while sipping on a warm Coke Zero at lunch with a friend, we began to discuss the wonders of Greece. She reminded me of the fable of Icarus. Icarus had wings fashioned out of feathers and wax to assist his escape from the prison where he and his father were captive. The part-bull,
- [From six yards to nine: how idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/from-six-yards-to-nine-how-idioms-originate/) - In mid-January I asked my bookkeeper for an updated statement of my account. I wanted to look at my Dec/Jan financial affairs to prepare myself for 2020. What he sent was a massive 13-page dossier going back to January 2019. You might think of this as overly efficient. I see this as lazy and inefficient
- [Magnate or magnet: Use the right word](https://awordor2.co.za/magnate-or-magnet-use-the-right-word/) - This week South Africans bade farewell to our stalwart entrepreneur Richard Maponya. Mayponya, who died at the age of 99, brought to the country, the first shopping mall in a township. Until that day, the two were a contradiction in terms. The newsreader said that we had lost a business magnate and I smiled in
- [Waiting for the cows to come home: Origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/idiom-origin/) - It seems that I have to wait for the cows to come home to get paid by some of my clients. In one instance, I have been waiting for more than four months for an invoice to be paid. Each time I phone to enquire about the status of the payment I am fobbed off
- [Let them eat cake: How idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/let-them-eat-cake-how-idioms-originate/) - At a United Nations gender equality conference last week, one of the speakers who was trying to break through the gender disparity in our society used the phrase “bread and circuses” quite a lot. I’m not sure if her usage was correct, but there it was. As the phrase was new to me I had
- [How to tackle intelligence: word meanings](https://awordor2.co.za/how-to-tackle-intelligence-word-meanings/) - At university our syndicate was referred to as 'The Brains Trust' and in other groups I was touted as 'Brainiac'. Thus, I thought I had intelligence – quite a bit of it if you don’t mind my arrogance for a moment. I thought it meant the ability to learn, acquire information, store knowledge and so on.
- [Why are squibs damp? How idioms are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/why-are-squibs-damp-how-idioms-are-formed/) - Last week, I set out to take part in a cyclethon which had all the promise of a thunderous event complete with disco lights, the hippest of DJs and an ongoing supply of energy drinks. When I arrived, all I saw were a lot of empty bikes, women and men in tights waiting to mount,
- [Keep the ball rolling with these idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/keep-the-ball-rolling-with-these-idioms/) - This week I received a rather disturbing SMS from my bank. In fact, this was the second time the bank was sending this alarming message. The first time, I checked my various banking accounts and could find nothing irregular. I assumed the bank was sending this message to the wrong customer. However, when I received
- [Idioms in the workplace](https://awordor2.co.za/idioms-in-the-workplace/) - With the latest unemployment figures in South Africa at 29%, here’s a quick run down of some of the work-related idioms and how to use them. Learn the Ropes Meaning: Become more familiar with a job or field; be trained Example: John takes about three months to learn the ropes and then finds that he
- [Wise up to words on your web in 2020](https://awordor2.co.za/words-for-your-website/) - It’s often said that owning a website is like having your own piece of online real estate. Who wouldn’t want that? A no-brainer. But statistics show that many small business owners are not there yet or have little or no intention of getting there. And that’s not wise. If you’re in business at all you
- [Three sheets to the wind: How idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/three-sheets-to-the-wind-how-idioms-originate/) - Last week I had mentioned to my sister that I saw my aunt at a function and she was three sheets to the wind. This meant I could not give her the important message. My sister looked at me in despair and said she did not know what that meant. So, knowing my aunt and
- [Take the log out of your eye and other idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/take-the-log-out-of-your-eye-and-other-idioms/) - Last night while watching Come Dine With Me, I latched on to satirist David Lamb’s shortening of an idiom. He simply used the two words of comparison and said, pot/ kettle Terence, to suggest he had a blind spot. Then it occurred to me that there are other idioms which could be referred to in
- [My top 10 in how to use capital letters](https://awordor2.co.za/a-quick-lesson-in-how-to-use-capital-letters/) - There’s nothing worse than being tripped up by capital letters. This means having to wade through a long piece of text crippled by incorrectly used capital letters, and not knowing the rules for how to use capital letters. It came to the fore again this week, when clients insisted that every job title was written
- [You're never too young to write a book](https://awordor2.co.za/youre-never-too-young-to-write-a-book/) - There’s a book in everyone, so the saying goes. And in some there are more than one – think of all the Jodi Picoult and Nora Roberts, John Grisham and Cathy Kelly novels out there, for example. Whether you have one or many, the point here is that you’re never too young to write a
- [Black Friday and bargain idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/black-friday-bargain-bust/) - When Game of Thrones captured the imagination of millions of fans to an obsessive degree, I used to say, “You get two kinds of people – those who watch Game of Thrones and those who do not.” I was in the ‘do not’ camp. Similarly, today, as Black Friday hits South African shoppers the support
- [Best thing since sliced bread: how idioms are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/best-thing-since-sliced-bread-how-idioms-are-formed/) - Last week, I decided I was tired of egg and toast for breakfast, so I ate muesli for five days. This week I ran out of bread and it would be a while until I could get to the shops. By the end of the week I was really missing my bread. It got me
- [SA not in a good moody - despite new year joy](https://awordor2.co.za/sa-not-in-a-good-moody-despite-new-year-joy/) - As South Africans settle into the swing of 2020 economic uncertainty still dogs day to day discussions. So despite the freshness of a new year, you might be feeling a little grey and this is the perfect time to flex your marketing muscle. Take all the grey and apply it to some cerebral activity. Consider
- [Limelight or spotlight? Use the right phrase.](https://awordor2.co.za/limelight-or-spotlight-use-the-right-phrase/) - The English language is full of tricks and words of similar meaning that are confusing to second language speakers. One of these is limelight and spotlight. While some believe that to be in the limelight and under the spotlight are much the same, I think they are quite different. Although they both originate from stage
- [Valentine's chip on shoulder: how idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/valentines-chip-on-shoulder-how-idioms-originate/) - As it’s Valentine’s Day, I was remembering one of the less romantic dates of my early dating life. I think it was the second date and Charles had asked to “see my etchings”. The unromantic prelude to this great event was the sharing of a plate of chips. Two remained on the plate, and I
- [How sticking to your knitting will get you stuck: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/idioms-2/) - There was not enough wool to buy for all the crochet hours I would need to fill during the slumpy ‘non-work’ hours of lockdown. For one thing, I only bought enough for three weeks. The other thing is that I did not expect my speed of crocheting to accelerate in the way that it did.
- [Tintinnabulation: Words - old and new](https://awordor2.co.za/tintinnabulation-words-old-and-new/) - Finally, I’ve found a word to rhyme with it . Constipation. Not just the physical kind. The emotional, psychological and social constipation that lockdown has forced upon us. But back to the word. Try to say tintinnabulation when you are sober – that is prior to a binge as lockdown opens up to sales of
- [Oh, for the life of Rilely: origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/oh-for-the-life-of-rilely-origin-of-idioms/) - I guess it’s no co-incidence that my blog today is about living the life of Riley. As I have been feeling restless and vigorously browsing travel sites (Coronavirus notwithstanding – SA has just confirmed its first case) it should come as no surprise as the universe has a way of putting universal synergy in your
- [Best is best! Language quirks](https://awordor2.co.za/best-is-best-language-quirks/) - I am constantly amazed at the number of authors who label their books ‘No 1. Bestseller’. Last weekend, I shared a platform with a new writer who did just that. A Google search reveals 2.2 billion responses for the term ‘No.1 bestseller’, but by the strict definition of the term there should be only one.
- [How a rabbit shows us that AI is way off](https://awordor2.co.za/how-a-rabbit-shows-us-that-ai-is-way-off/) - The other day when I tried to help my friend set up her blog, a bunny thing happened. She wants her blog to be about faith-based principles from a Jewish perspective. When we searched for images on some of the free image sites we found our choices under ‘inspiration’ rather disappointing. We did not do
- [How thinking ‘outside of the bottle’ can save us from coronavirus](https://awordor2.co.za/how-thinking-outside-of-the-bottle-can-save-us-from-coronavirus/) - The world has gone mad with the outbreak of Coronavirus. And we have had some interesting reactions. One of the church ministers said in response to gatherings of no more than 100 and social distancing, “We cannot rely on faith alone, we must think out of the bottle." The spirit of the church I found
- [I fell on my sword: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/i-fell-on-my-sword-idiom-usage/) - Earlier today, I interviewed for a job teaching English in Spain. Wow. Sounds ama…zing right? But I messed up royally. I fell on my sword. Everything that could go wrong did. I was lucky to get the interview at all because I miscalculated the time difference between Spain and South Africa. I just happened to
- [On the horns of a dilemma: origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/on-the-horns-of-a-dilemma-origin-of-idioms/) - Idioms add to the language. And idiom is a cultural expression that gives descriptions to situations.
- [Five tips to retain customers](https://awordor2.co.za/five-tips-to-retain-customers/) - Retaining customers is always important, never more so than during lockdown when we all face a big don’t know in future months. The only thing you can do is work on a retention plan to hold your customers’ attention, interest and account. The main focus for any business, is often to win over new customers;
- [How years and ears distort the English language: origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/how-years-and-ears-distort-the-english-language-origin-of-idioms/) - Shakespeare was the theme of our Toastmasters meeting last week. We learnt about how much The Bard contributed to the English language – from general words and phrases to idiomatic expressions and even people’s names. We all contributed our favourite Shakespearian quotes and Richard III came up as one of the most-read plays. Distortion Among
- [17 Strategic Business Pivots to Make in the Time of COVID-19](https://awordor2.co.za/17-strategic-business-pivots-to-make-in-the-time-of-covid-19/) - Last week, we spoke about the word 'pivot' and how it has become significant in the language. It's not just a word, it's an action point and here are 17 ways to go about it. Worry and fear Just like that we woke up in a different world! The coronavirus epidemic has completely changed our
- [Say it simply with said. Correct attribution in writing](https://awordor2.co.za/say-it-simply-with-said-correct-attribution-in-writing/) - In my work as a sub-editor, the only word allowed for an attribution is 'said'. No, 'revealed', no 'pointed out', no 'suggested', no 'argued' - just plain 'said'. As I have been reviewing my entry for a short story competition I need to brush up on some creative temptations that hamper style rather than improve
- [See the scissors of the sub-editor](https://awordor2.co.za/content-is-king/) - Where cash was once king, no-one wants to transact with hard currency, banks charge a fortune for handling the dirty lucre and it’s certainly not safe to be walking around with a stash in your back pocket. Have no fear – CONTENT is the new king. Content is the king of the ‘interverse’. Everybody wants
- [Cat got your tongue? Origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/cat-got-your-tongue-origin-of-idioms/) - Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, my mouth feels like a snake has slept in it and left its blanket behind. My mouth gets that uncomfortable woolly feeling that only a good cup of tea can resolve. Now, just imagine that the cat’s got your tongue. It’s climbed into your
- [Veracity and voracity: use these words correctly](https://awordor2.co.za/veracity-and-voracity-use-these-words-correctly/) - In the spell of untruths around COVID-19, today, we are going to have some fun exploring the difference between veracity and voracity. These words if not heard correctly can be interchanged to disastrous effect. The one has to do with truth, the other appetite. Or you could say, veracity concerns one’s appetite for truth, while
- [Is there a smoking gun in the Zondo Commission? idiom origin](https://awordor2.co.za/smoking-gun-origins-idiom/) - While the Zondo Commission takes a deep dive into state capture, many South Africans may hope it finds the "smoking gun". And if you are South African you will know exactly what I am talking about. If not, you probably have your own corporate/political scandal to apply it to. Let's look at how "smoking gun"
- [Kicking the can down the road: idiom usage and origin](https://awordor2.co.za/kicking-the-can-down-the-road-idiom-usage-and-origin/) - When I take my evening walk after about six blocks I reach the park and I walk around it. I can’t help noticing that the streets are strewn with litter. From KFC boxes to disposable face masks, singular socks, uneaten slap chips and a few empty Coke tins, there is just a big mess. As
- [Letting the cat out of the bag: idiom origin](https://awordor2.co.za/letting-the-cat-out-of-the-bag-idiom-origin/) - Yesterday on my walk as I approached the park I saw a massive canvas bag, filled to the brim with litter. I hoped that it was a sign that the debris and been collected and responsibly discarded. However, this was not the case as the trail of rubbish still surrounded the park. As I got
- [Smoke and mirrors: usage and origin](https://awordor2.co.za/smoke-and-mirrors-usage-and-origin/) - Last Friday, I attended a virtual networking event which was held over a hugely impressive digital platform. This included tables of six, different floors and a plenary area. Wow. It was truly a landmark in cyberspace – if you’ll excuse the irony. Introducing us to the event, the host said, “There will be no smokes
- [On the shoulders of giants: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/on-the-shoulders-of-giants-idiom-usage/) - Although English is widely spoken, it’s seldom spoken well. And nowhere is this more true than in the use of idioms. People who speak English as a first language are often tripped up by the idiomatic turn of phrase. For example, the other day at a meeting, I heard some speaking about “standing on the
- [Black swan, a label for COVID-19](https://awordor2.co.za/black-swan-a-label-for-covid/) - In much of my research for clients in the past couple of months I have often seen the term black swan. As I know swans to be white in most cases, I was intrigued by this phrase suddenly popping up all over the place. The term black swan has come to be associated with COVID-19
- [Not my circus, not my monkeys. Idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/not-my-circus-not-my-monkeys-idiom-usage/) - Not my circus. Not my monkeys. I did a double take. I was having coffee with my Irish friend Paul and he was throwing this phrase around throughout our conversation. He was clearly trying to make a point. Real meaning While I pressed on with my most concerning issues he would respond with, “Not my
- [A new take on money laundering](https://awordor2.co.za/a-new-take-on-money-laundering/) - Last week while editing an academic text, my hawkish eyes fell upon the phrase money laundry. The esteemed professor had made a typographical error. I smiled quietly to myself as images of ‘money laundry’ flooded my imagination. I could see $100 notes hanging over the drying rack and piles of the green stuff floating in
- [Content marketing needs to be part of your marketing strategy](https://awordor2.co.za/content-marketing-needs-to-be-part-of-your-marketing-strategy/) - Content marketing needs to be part of your marketing strategy. Here’s why. It’s all about the traffic Content marketing helps businesses prepare and plan for reliable and cost-effective sources of website traffic and new leads. If you can create just one blog post that gets a steady amount of organic traffic, an embedded link to
- [Groundhog Day: origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/groundhog-day-origin-of-idioms/) - From Ricky Gervais’ production of “Afterlife” (Netflix) to a number of recent articles in the press, the term groundhog day, seems to be popping up everywhere. Not sure what it meant, I set out to investigate. My research suggests that sectors of northern America determine weather patterns based on the behaviour of this particular rodent.
- [A stonking good word](https://awordor2.co.za/stonking-good-word/) - Every now and then, a word comes a long that makes me prick up my ears and say, 'that's a good one'. Stonking is such a word. There’s so much to say about stonking. For starters dictionaries across the web from Cambridge to Oxford and Encarta broadly agree on its adjectival usage to mean “large,
- [Trends for 2021 and beyond](https://awordor2.co.za/trends-for-2021-and-beyond/) - With the year, two and a bit months underway, there’s been enough time to reflect on trends that will shape the decade ahead. I’ve put my thoughts together and come up with these six. Moocs A search for Moocs returns almost 35 billion responses in under seven seconds on Google. That many. There are possibly
- [Debug your grammar gremlin](https://awordor2.co.za/de-bug-grammar-gremlin/) - In my job, as sub-editor at a community newspaper, I had to reprimand a reporter for shoddy work. His report was submitted for subbing with several repeated paragraphs. When I pointed this out to him, he swore it was a systems error. This was highly unlikely and even if it was, he should have made
- [Let them eat cake: How idioms originate](https://awordor2.co.za/let-them-eat-cake-how-idioms-originate-2/) - With Women's Month well under way, gender equality is still a hot topic. At a gender equality webinar last week, one of the speakers who was trying to break through the gender disparity in our society, used the phrase “bread and circuses” quite a lot. I’m not sure if her usage was correct, but there
- [Hard to call someone a horse’s ass: idiom usage](https://awordor2.co.za/horses-ass-idiom-usage/) - Having said good-bye to the last of the Easter holiday makers in Durban, a coastal town in South Africa, we started to make our way home on Monday. On the way back we stopped at Van Reenen just off the N3 that runs between Johannesburg and the province, KwaZulu Natal. Named after the original farmer
- [6 Essentials of a Thought Leadership Article](https://awordor2.co.za/6-essentials-of-thought-leadership-article/) - Thought leadership is a relatively young term in the business environment, according to my sources, just 19 years old. Yet, it is one that is well-supported if Google’s 948 million return on search is anything to go by. The thought leaders of our time include Arianna Huffington, Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin, among many, and my
- [Love what you do?](https://awordor2.co.za/love-what-you-do/) - Loving what you do so that your never ‘work’ a day in your life is a luxury for the wealthy few. For the rest of us, it’s about learning a skill that we can apply to a craft – and that is still no guarantee of a livelihood. For writers, job opportunities have thinned down
- [Email accuracy is a must](https://awordor2.co.za/email-accuracy-is-a-must/) - Is email an art or science? If we consider science as accurately written text and art as anything slapped down on the page, then I would be persuaded to think that email leans towards the latter. I had a very hard learning experience working at a daily newspaper. With the prestigious title of deputy chief

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- [Testimonials](https://awordor2.co.za/testimonials/) - Words that make senseOne of Iza’s many strengths is her ability to come to grips very quickly with complex concepts and put them into words and documents that make sense and that people can understand. She is also very good with editing documents and reducing the word count to create succinct documents – without taking away
- [Clients](https://awordor2.co.za/clients/) - The Media Online A marketing magazine that deals with all media, marketing and advertising. themediaonline.co.za Women Connect An elite membership programme of women connecting women. www.facebook.com/WomenConnectingWomen/ Blue Unicorn Marketing http://www.bluenunicorn.co.za/ Myebook Provides a range of services for authors who want to self-publish. myebook.online The Golden Goose Institute Creating, unearthing and sharing stories that matter. thegoldengooseinstitute.com
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- [Conference reporting](https://awordor2.co.za/services/conference-reporting/) - You have put months into preparing your conference, booking venues, the tiresome negotiation of rates and the hair-raising challenge of booking speakers. And it's all over in a matter of days or hours? All that knowledge just evaporates... Why not extend the value of your conference beyond the parameters of your event? In the past
- [Editing](https://awordor2.co.za/services/editing/) - Even the greatest writers use editors. No matter what you write, or how well, you should have someone else look over your piece before you send it on for publication. An editor polishes and refines, directs the focus of the story or article along a particular course. She cuts out what doesn’t fit, removing all
- [Email marketing](https://awordor2.co.za/services/email-marketing/) - Email marketing is very much in vogue. In fact it is proven as the most powerful form of marketing in the current age. Like all communication, there is an art to writing emails that invite, engage and inform. When they achieve in all these areas, you start to build a community. This is the community
- [Copywriting](https://awordor2.co.za/services/copywriting/) - Long or short, copywriting is a skill that requires creativity, conceptual grasp, and a bald sense of humour, the latter to have your work and creative spirit, repeatedly critiqued and at times crushed. No longer exclusive to the domain of advertising, copywriting is a much-in-demand skill. A good copywriter: Will be up to speed with
- [Content strategy](https://awordor2.co.za/services/content-strategy/) - Your clients can benefit from a full content audit. A word or 2 will prepare a comprehensive content strategy. Companies want to put out content that is meaty and also meaningful. This is the job of the content strategist.
- [About us](https://awordor2.co.za/about-us/) - Welcome to A word or 2 In our professional service at A word or 2 we aim to: help individuals and companies distill the message of the product/brand offering or service. create clear meaningful messages with carefully chosen words to convey bottom-line benefits to the target audience. add value by delivering clarity and precision.
- [Blogging](https://awordor2.co.za/services/blogging/) - Why blog? When the concept first broke through as a social media entity all of its own, it sounded like a language glitch that would soon be dismissed. Yet the construction from web and log – hence blog – has become a platform for all manner of things. There are two types of blogs: Personal
- [Services](https://awordor2.co.za/services/) - Editing Blogging Copywriting Research articles Conference reporting Content strategy Email marketing Writing coach

## My Templates

- [Default Kit](https://awordor2.co.za/?elementor_library=default-kit)

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://awordor2.co.za/language/uncategorized/)
- [Common English mistakes](https://awordor2.co.za/language/common-english-mistakes/)
- [Common errors](https://awordor2.co.za/language/common-errors/)
- [Customer retention](https://awordor2.co.za/language/customer-retention/)
- [e-Books](https://awordor2.co.za/language/e-books/)
- [Editing](https://awordor2.co.za/language/editing/)
- [Email accuracy](https://awordor2.co.za/language/email-accuracy/)
- [How important is email accuracy?](https://awordor2.co.za/language/how-important-is-email-accuracy/)
- [How words are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/language/how-words-are-formed/)
- [Idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/language/idioms/)
- [Is email an art or a science?](https://awordor2.co.za/language/is-email-an-art-or-a-science/)
- [Origin of idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/language/origin-of-idioms/)
- [Origin of words](https://awordor2.co.za/language/origin-of-words/)
- [Professional writing services](https://awordor2.co.za/language/professional-writing-services/)
- [Use of comma](https://awordor2.co.za/language/use-of-comma/)
- [Word shortening](https://awordor2.co.za/language/word-shortening/)
- [Write better English](https://awordor2.co.za/language/write-better-english/)
- [Content Marketing](https://awordor2.co.za/language/content-marketing/)
- [politics](https://awordor2.co.za/language/politics/)

## Tags

- [2021 trends](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/2021-trends/)
- [Abbreviation](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/abbreviation/)
- [academic](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/academic/)
- [advertising](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/advertising/)
- [Africa](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/africa/)
- [Africa rising](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/africa-rising/)
- [Amazon](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/amazon/)
- [animals](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/animals/)
- [Artificial intelligence](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/artificial-intelligence/)
- [Authors](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/authors/)
- [Business success](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/business-success/)
- [camel](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/camel/)
- [Communication](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/communication/)
- [consumer retention](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/consumer-retention/)
- [Content is king](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/content-is-king/)
- [Coronavirus](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/coronavirus/)
- [Correct usage](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/correct-usage/)
- [Correct use](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/correct-use/)
- [Covid-19](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/covid-19/)
- [Crochet](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/crochet/)
- [Date](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/date/)
- [develop style](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/develop-style/)
- [Dictionary](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/dictionary/)
- [Djokovik](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/djokovik/)
- [driverless cars](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/driverless-cars/)
- [drones](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/drones/)
- [Editing](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/editing/)
- [Email accuracy](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/email-accuracy/)
- [English basics](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/english-basics/)
- [English grammar](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/english-grammar/)
- [English language discussion points](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/english-language-discussion-points/)
- [Enlish back to basics](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/enlish-back-to-basics/)
- [Excellence](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/excellence/)
- [Expressions](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/expressions/)
- [Facebook](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/facebook/)
- [Fewer and less](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/fewer-and-less/)
- [finger](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/finger/)
- [gender](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/gender/)
- [Gig economy](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/gig-economy/)
- [Grammar](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/grammar/)
- [Grey literature](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/grey-literature/)
- [Groundhog Day](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/groundhog-day/)
- [How do you say?](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/how-do-you-say/)
- [How words are formed](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/how-words-are-formed/)
- [Idioms](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/idioms/)
- [idioms. champing at the bit](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/idioms-champing-at-the-bit/)
- [Influencer marketing](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/influencer-marketing/)
- [Influencers](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/influencers/)
- [Is email art or science](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/is-email-art-or-science/)
- [Knitting](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/knitting/)
- [Language](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/language/)
- [Legal terms](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/legal-terms/)
- [legs](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/legs/)
- [License and licence](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/license-and-licence/)
- [Lockdown](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/lockdown/)
- [Looking up words](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/looking-up-words/)
- [Lotto](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/lotto/)
- [Marketing](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/marketing/)
- [Marketing in 2018](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/marketing-in-2018/)
- [Marketing material](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/marketing-material/)
- [Metaphor](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/metaphor/)
- [mobile](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/mobile/)
- [mondegreens](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/mondegreens/)
- [money](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/money/)
- [needle](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/needle/)
- [Original words](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/original-words/)
- [Professional editor](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/professional-editor/)
- [Professional writing](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/professional-writing/)
- [Professional writing services](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/professional-writing-services/)
- [Public relations](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/public-relations/)
- [puppies](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/puppies/)
- [Retaining customers](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/retaining-customers/)
- [Richard Maponya](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/richard-maponya/)
- [Ricky Gervais](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/ricky-gervais/)
- [Serendipity](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/serendipity/)
- [Slang](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/slang/)
- [Smoking gun](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/smoking-gun/)
- [Social media](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/social-media/)
- [Social media advertising](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/social-media-advertising/)
- [Spelling](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/spelling/)
- [Style](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/style/)
- [Sub-editor](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/sub-editor/)
- [Tata ma chance](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/tata-ma-chance/)
- [trends](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/trends/)
- [TV](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/tv/)
- [Use of both in a sentence](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/use-of-both-in-a-sentence/)
- [Use words](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/use-words/)
- [Use words correctly](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/use-words-correctly/)
- [Valentine's Day](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/valentines-day/)
- [Vocabulary](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/vocabulary/)
- [Word history](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/word-history/)
- [word meanings](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/word-meanings/)
- [Word origins](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/word-origins/)
- [word power](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/word-power/)
- [Word usage](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/word-usage/)
- [Words](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/words/)
- [Words and expressions](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/words-and-expressions/)
- [Words and phrases](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/words-and-phrases/)
- [Write a book](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/write-a-book/)
- [Write better English](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/write-better-english/)
- [Writing](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/writing/)
- [Writing style](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/writing-style/)
- [youth](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/youth/)
- [Zeitgeist movie](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/zeitgeist-movie/)
- [British Lions](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/british-lions/)
- [SA rugby team](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/sa-rugby-team/)
- [South African English](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/south-african-english/)
- [World Champion of Public Speaking](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/world-champion-of-public-speaking/)
- [Toastmasters International](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/toastmasters-international/)
- [Verity Price](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/verity-price/)
- [mistakes in English](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/mistakes-in-english/)
- [POPI Act](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/popi-act/)
- [Lawyer](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/lawyer/)
- [English expertise](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/english-expertise/)
- [Who Moved My Cheese?](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/who-moved-my-cheese/)
- [Pivot](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/pivot/)
- [idiom](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/idiom/)
- [lamb](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/lamb/)
- [sheep](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/sheep/)
- [pseudonym](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/pseudonym/)
- [pen name](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/pen-name/)
- [JK Rowling](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/jk-rowling/)
- [Harry Potter](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/harry-potter/)
- [Jeffrey Archer](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/jeffrey-archer/)
- [arrows](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/arrows/)
- [quiver](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/quiver/)
- [self-publishing](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/self-publishing/)
- [editor](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/editor/)
- [e-book](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/e-book/)
- [blogs](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/blogs/)
- [content](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/content/)
- [prepositions](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/prepositions/)
- [Dalai Lama](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/dalai-lama/)
- [boy's tongue](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/boys-tongue/)
- [Tibetan spiritual leader](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/tibetan-spiritual-leader/)
- [new words](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/new-words/)
- [hire me](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/hire-me/)
- [blogger](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/blogger/)
- [speech writer](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/speech-writer/)
- [copywriter](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/copywriter/)
- [Zuma](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/zuma/)
- [women's day](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/womens-day/)
- [GBV](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/gbv/)
- [women's rights](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/womens-rights/)
- [abuse](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/abuse/)
- [abusive relationships](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/abusive-relationships/)
- [Youtube](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/youtube/)
- [better English](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/better-english/)
- [Julius Malema](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/julius-malema/)
- [Politics](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/politics/)
- [GNU South Africa](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/gnu-south-africa/)
- [World Literacy Day](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/world-literacy-day/)
- [scams. toes](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/scams-toes/)
- [alert](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/alert/)
- [hire now](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/hire-now/)
- [professional writer](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/professional-writer/)
- [hire a writer](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/hire-a-writer/)
- [editing book edit](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/editing-book-edit/)
- [7%off for July quotes](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/7off-for-july-quotes/)
- [professional edit](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/professional-edit/)
- [Hire me now](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/hire-me-now/)
- [Editing best rates](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/editing-best-rates/)
- [Hire me to edit](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/hire-me-to-edit/)
- [Hire an editor](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/hire-an-editor/)
- [Madlanga Commission](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/madlanga-commission/)
- [awesome content](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/awesome-content/)
- [Queen rock](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/queen-rock/)
- [get your book edited by a professional](https://awordor2.co.za/tag/get-your-book-edited-by-a-professional/)