Just a bit of fun this week... Last month, satirical musician "Weird Al" Yankovic shook up the usually sedate writing community with his song "Word Crimes." Some writers and editors felt the song promoted grammar shaming, while others accepted it as parody—not as a legitimate teaching tool. In fact, a few of the issues "Weird Al" criminalized aren't really grammar offenses … [Read more...] about Gloriously Grammatically Incorrect Song Titles: Classic Rock Edition
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Affordable Holiday Gifts for Beginning Writers and Editors
Is your niece an up-and-coming novelist? Or, is your son an aspiring proofreader? If so, encourage your loved one's passion for words this holiday season with these affordable and practical gift ideas, which are (almost) guaranteed to warm the heart of any beginning writer or editor: 1. Collegiate dictionary. Collegiate (or college) dictionaries are much more comprehensive … [Read more...] about Affordable Holiday Gifts for Beginning Writers and Editors
My Journey into the Cat-centric World of Writing—One Paw at a Time
Please indulge me as we take a brief detour from our normal grammatical discussion.... Take a moment to imagine a solitary writer. What do you see? A bespectacled figure hunched over a laptop? A desk cluttered with teetering stacks of paper, red pens, and coffee cups? Sagging bookshelves groaning under the weight of countless dictionaries and thesauruses? And there … [Read more...] about My Journey into the Cat-centric World of Writing—One Paw at a Time
Top Ten Unsung Songwriters
This week, let's take a musical break from our usual grammatical discourse! The twentieth century gave us some of the most prolific songwriters the world has ever known: John Lennon and Paul McCartney; Bob Dylan; Neil Young; Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; Bruce Springsteen; Elton John and Bernie Taupin---just to name a few! And of course, we can't forget about all of the … [Read more...] about Top Ten Unsung Songwriters
Avoid the Trendy Term “First World Problems”
Lately I've noticed a questionable trend in articles and blog posts: authors describing our daily challenges as First World problems. The intention behind this description is to acknowledge that so-called Second- and Third World countries are dealing with different problems than those found in highly industrialized nations. Many countries certainly do face struggles that … [Read more...] about Avoid the Trendy Term “First World Problems”
V for U: The Latin Imprint on Chicago Architecture
As a resident of downtown Chicago, I occasionally play tour guide for out-of-town family and friends. And I'm no local snob. I am always up for all of the touristy spots: Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain---yes, yes, yes! As we dart into the Art Institute and the Chicago Cultural Center (formerly the Chicago Public Library), my visitors always ask why the … [Read more...] about V for U: The Latin Imprint on Chicago Architecture
Is Google the New Definitive Dictionary?
Move over, Webster. Watch your back, American Heritage. Catch you later, Oxford. There's a new sheriff in town---Google. Like most people, I use Google every day for business and personal searches. I also use it as a spell checker by typing in the word to see if the search engine redlines my attempt. If I am wrong, Google nearly always suggests a correct alternative based on … [Read more...] about Is Google the New Definitive Dictionary?
Word Count versus Efficiency: Graduating from Academic Bloat to Business Brevity
Do you remember those dreaded five-page essays in high school English? If you were anything like me, you'd widen your page margins and switch from the default Times New Roman font to Arial because Arial is just a little bit bigger. Or, if typing wasn't required, your handwriting would suddenly go from tiny scratches to giant bubble letters. Anything to fill those five pages as … [Read more...] about Word Count versus Efficiency: Graduating from Academic Bloat to Business Brevity
Business Blog Communication Styles: From Three-Piece Suits to Jeans
Blogs originated as Internet-based diaries, but they have quickly evolved into podiums for business advancement. In fact, some blogging evangelists say that every business must blog. While I disagree with this blanket assertion, I do believe that blogging is beneficial for the majority of businesses because it is a low-cost, accessible way to connect with current and potential … [Read more...] about Business Blog Communication Styles: From Three-Piece Suits to Jeans
These Songs “Ain’t” Wrong—Thoughts on Grammar in Music
Nearly everyone knows that ain’t is the epitome of irregular grammar. It should never be used in business writing. I argue that this lowly contraction should also be avoided like swine flu in all other forms of communication—whether you are having a face-to-face conversation with coworkers, texting your best friend, or chatting with your grandmother on the phone, just don’t say … [Read more...] about These Songs “Ain’t” Wrong—Thoughts on Grammar in Music