I love it when people other than myself notice small trends in language. Mentalfloss.com has done a good job here with four subtle changes in English. There aren't things the average language user would pick up on but definitely something language practitioners should keep an eye on.
Read the full story: Four changes to English so subtle we hardly notice they're happening
Friday, 28 June 2013
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
English spellings
One of my favourite things about language is etymology. I love finding out where words come from and how they came to mean, and be spelled, the way they do today.
My former editor posted this link on Facebook about words that are spelled weirdly and how they got that way. It makes for an interesting read... if you're into that sort of thing.
11 weirdly spelled words and how they got that way
Via mental_floss.com
My former editor posted this link on Facebook about words that are spelled weirdly and how they got that way. It makes for an interesting read... if you're into that sort of thing.
11 weirdly spelled words and how they got that way
Via mental_floss.com
Monday, 24 June 2013
Monday Pun-day
Here are a couple of puns to get you through Monday. Enjoy!
_____________________________________________________
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, UCLA.
The batteries were given out free of charge.
A will is: a dead giveaway.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you can get repossessed.
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I'll show you a-flat miner.
You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.
When you've seen one shopping centre, you've seen a mall.
Police were called to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
Did you hear about the fellow whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.
A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
In a democracy, it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your count that votes.
When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds
The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
He had a photographic memory, which was never developed.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
When she saw her first strands of grey hair, she thought she'd dye.
Acupuncture: a jab well done.
_____________________________________________________
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, UCLA.
A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.
A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.
A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.
The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.
The batteries were given out free of charge.
A will is: a dead giveaway.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you can get repossessed.
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
Show me a piano falling down a mineshaft and I'll show you a-flat miner.
You are stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.
When you've seen one shopping centre, you've seen a mall.
Police were called to a daycare where a three-year-old was resisting a rest.
Did you hear about the fellow whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.
A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.
In a democracy, it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your count that votes.
When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds
The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
He had a photographic memory, which was never developed.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
When she saw her first strands of grey hair, she thought she'd dye.
Acupuncture: a jab well done.
Friday, 21 June 2013
Top tips for subeditors
There are few things in life that give me as much pleasure as reworking a piece of writing so that it's more succinct. I love making sure that a piece is constructed in such a way that the message is clear, the tone is perfectly suited to the audience and it's both technically and contextually correct.
When I come across a piece - such as the latest post on Grubstreet in which deputy chief sub for City Press, Krash King, is interviewed - that highlights the joys of editing, I'm enthralled. It's been a crazy busy day at the office and taking the time to remember why I do (and love) my job makes a huge difference.
When I come across a piece - such as the latest post on Grubstreet in which deputy chief sub for City Press, Krash King, is interviewed - that highlights the joys of editing, I'm enthralled. It's been a crazy busy day at the office and taking the time to remember why I do (and love) my job makes a huge difference.
Thursday, 20 June 2013
"Tweet" makes it into the Oxford Dictionary
The word "tweet" meaning “to make a posting on the social networking service Twitter” (verb) or “a posting made on the social networking service Twitter” (noun) has officially made it into my go-to dictionary the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), according to GirlGuides.co.za.
"Tweet" makes it into the Oxford English Dictionary
Read the full story and see why this is a unique exception.
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Slashing the status quo
I've accepted that English is dynamic; constantly evolving. Lately, I've noticed a change in certain punctuation practises. There's a great article on chronicle.com about the changing usage of the "slash" - not just as a punctuation mark but also as a word.
My favourite change is the introduction of the term "slashers". It's used for people who may have more than one occupation. For example, chartered accountant / musician (or, if you're one of the kids mentioned in the article, chartered accountant slash musician).
I'm seeing more of this in the media space and especially on Twitter where biographies are almost always a "slash up" (yes, I just made that word up) of what you are to different people: journo slash blogger; marketing executive slash mommy to three; or even daughter slash mom slash sister slash jack-of-all-trades slash household executive. That one's my favourite.
Check out the full article here: Slash, not just a punctuation mark anymore
My favourite change is the introduction of the term "slashers". It's used for people who may have more than one occupation. For example, chartered accountant / musician (or, if you're one of the kids mentioned in the article, chartered accountant slash musician).
I'm seeing more of this in the media space and especially on Twitter where biographies are almost always a "slash up" (yes, I just made that word up) of what you are to different people: journo slash blogger; marketing executive slash mommy to three; or even daughter slash mom slash sister slash jack-of-all-trades slash household executive. That one's my favourite.
Check out the full article here: Slash, not just a punctuation mark anymore
Friday, 14 June 2013
The right to be forgotten
It's a lovely sentiment. In today's world of digital news, it's almost impossible to erase yourself from history. Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn - they all make sure that the one time you posted something silly is forever retained in the archives of the interwebs.
As they say, the internet never forgets.
In South Africa, negotiating the world of social media for journos can be tricky. As far as I know, there aren't any actual laws that regulate online media, although almost all of my breaking news is consumed via my social media networks.
Grubstreet has posted a brilliant piece on what SA journos and media can expect to happen over the next few years in the courts as precedents are set and legislation catches up with the ever-changing world of digital media.
Willem de Klerk sets out five principles to keep in mind when using social media. It's a bit wordy but well worth the read. Just make sure you check out both posts and click through the links to other articles and examples of some social media policies. See below for links to both parts.
Part One
Part Two
As they say, the internet never forgets.
In South Africa, negotiating the world of social media for journos can be tricky. As far as I know, there aren't any actual laws that regulate online media, although almost all of my breaking news is consumed via my social media networks.
Grubstreet has posted a brilliant piece on what SA journos and media can expect to happen over the next few years in the courts as precedents are set and legislation catches up with the ever-changing world of digital media.
Willem de Klerk sets out five principles to keep in mind when using social media. It's a bit wordy but well worth the read. Just make sure you check out both posts and click through the links to other articles and examples of some social media policies. See below for links to both parts.
Part One
Part Two
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