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Thoughts, tips and updates on editorial matters – from business comms to the business of commas.
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What makes good writing?
It’s no surprise to anyone when I say I love words… which obviously means I also love books. And if you’re a fellow book fan,
Never judge a person by their grammar?
I once ditched a boyfriend on account of his poor grammar. (Before you call me shallow there were other reasons, but it was this that finally confirmed to me our general incompatibility.) My present husband doesn’t put his pants in the laundry basket but does at least know how to use an apostrophe. You can’t win them all.
Good grammar matters – but is this really so bad?
You may have heard about the recent Bad Grammar Awards, arranged by the Idler Academy. I wondered what they were going to have a go at – I hoped it wasn’t going to be another attack on market traders’ problems with apostrophes, which have always struck me as rather easy meat (and you try getting up at 4am to fetch the fruit and veg and see how much accurate punctuation matters.
Should good design win over accuracy?
There was a surprise winner of this year’s Design Museum Design of the Year award – GOV.UK, the website which aims to bring together in one place access to most government information and services. (‘CAPPED UP COS WE MEAN BUSINESS’, apparently. There’s a debate for another occasion.)
Hillsborough
Today is the 24th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, marked over the weekend by the unveiling of a new memorial in Liverpool city centre listing the names and ages at the time of the tragedy of those who died.
Skirting around the issue
I’ve always had a problem with the modern use of the word ‘around’ – as in ‘the debate around’, ‘issues around’ and (particularly) ‘research around’. Over the last few years I’ve suggested to various clients that debates are about things, issues concern things, and that you research into things.
Talking the talk, walking the walk
Exciting times at Accuracy Matters. Tomorrow, we’re sponsoring our first event!
