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Of acronyms and 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…
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Take the log out of your eye and other 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,…
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Five fast stats about 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…
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How good is your spelling? Take this 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!
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Top 10 gender / age appropriate words of 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…
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How calendar days differ from 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…
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Deliciously sedulous : increase your word power
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…
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Veracity and verocity: why these 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…
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How to keep your powder dry in the 21st century. Idioms from the 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…
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Somnolent: Word use and 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…
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