How to alternate the alternative: word usage
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.
Platitudes and punchlines: the writer’s tightrope
Both clichés and idioms reflect the human desire for expression that is concise yet evocative. They help us communicate complex ideas quickly and paint mental images without lengthy explanations. They also connect us to generations past, carrying the wisdom, humour, and creativity of countless speakers before us.
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…
What’s in a name? Inventors credit their work
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.
Let them eat cake
Let them eat cake: How idioms originate
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…
Loss is life-changing
I offer my 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.…
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…
Time will get you there
Debug your 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…
Imagine money on the laundry line
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…
