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Several websites and forums researched today suggest that the words among and amongst can be used interchangeably. According to question 117 on Dr Grammar’s frequently asked questions: http://www.drgrammar.org/frequently-asked-questions#117 “both are correct and mean the same, but among is more common”. According to a few other websites, among is used in American English and is also the ‘modern’ way in British English, … Continue reading
For my regular readers, you will know that I have been blogging in My Writing Notebook as part of My Writing Challenge since 1st May 2011. I have now discovered from another fellow blogger that there is a ‘post a day 2011’ challenge which I really want to be part of. I am therefore promising to … Continue reading
Thank you to my work colleague who gave me the idea for today’s writing tip – it’s one of her pet hates when people get this wrong. The rules are that you use between when relating to two things and among when it’s more than two. I’ve created some examples below: There is enough jelly and ice … Continue reading
The noun faux pas (pronounced fo pa) is a French expression, literally translated as ‘false step’. It is commonly used in British English where the actual meaning is “social blunder or indiscretion” (according to The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/faux+pas and the Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus). Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faux_pas also define it as “a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct”. According to Wikipedia the words faux pas … Continue reading
How do use the word ‘presently’ in a sentence? My grandparents used it when I was a child when saying something like “we will be eating the cake presently”. I remember the meaning to be later – sometime in the future. According to The Writer’s Handbook by Martin Mander & Stephen Curtis (Penguin Reference Library), the meaning is dependent on the … Continue reading
Using the words former and latter in a sentence can help you avoid repetition, but should only be used when referring to two previously listed things. Former refers to the first point mentioned and latter refers to the second. The Pocket Writer’s Handbook by Martin Mander & Stephen Curtis explains that these words should be avoided if … Continue reading
“The study of how words change their forms according to use is referred to as morphology” writes John Seely in his book the Oxford A-Z if Grammar & Punctuation. To help explain this, I’ve created a few examples: Example A Please relax when you get home She always relaxes when she gets home. I feel … Continue reading
According to Watts publishing Group http://wattspublishinggroup.com/launching-a-career-in-writing/, in an article called ‘Launching a career in writing’, “fear has no place in the industry of writing”. Don’t worry that people aren’t going to see things the same way as you and certainly don’t stop writing because you have got stung by negative comments/criticism. You may be stopping your natural talent taking you to where … Continue reading
A colloquialsm is an informal word or phrase which is used instead of a more appropriate or formal one. Some examples are below: Informal: Pros and cons Formal: Advantages and disadvantages Informal: You’re skating on thin ice (something I admit to saying to my daughters!) Formal: You’re taking a risk There is a great website called ‘About.com: English as a Second Language’: http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_pairphrases1.htm. … Continue reading
Writing is like exercising – you have to warm up first. ‘Just write something’ is usually the advice given by the experts when you have writer’s block or are struggling to produce something good enough. Today, I read an interesting article called ‘Go with the Flow’ by Helen Yendall (Writing Magazine, October 2011). In her article she suggests that flow writing, also … Continue reading
My Writing Notebook 