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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,
Is the IWM rebrand a triumph or a mistake?
I’ve always enjoyed, if that’s the right word, visits to London’s Imperial War Museum, and not just because it’s free, though that helps.
King’s Cross – the major challenge
I’m quite excited about the redevelopment of London’s King’s Cross station, and to judge from the number of fellow travellers visiting the Network Rail exhibition stand over the last few days I’m not the only one.
Homophones – when puns become dangerous
Yesterday was Pi Day but Oxford Dictionaries were concerned that some people might be tucking into their pi, rather than getting their calculators out.
It’s incredible!
Lewis Moody, the ex-England rugby union captain, previewing this weekend’s finale to the Six Nations thinks that, if Wales win against France and thereby claim their third Grand Slam in eight years, ‘by any token it would be an incredible feat’. Let’s examine that claim.
Begging the question
Guy Keleny wrote in Saturday’s Independent about the misuse of the phrase ‘beg the question’. His advice was simple – don’t use it because the meaning you’re after will almost certainly be ‘raise the question’, and begging the question isn’t the same thing at all.
Abbreviations – easy as ABC?
Acronyms and abbreviations are useful weapons in any writer’s armoury, but, as with any weapon, they should be handled with care. I thought it might be useful to examine some of the ways in which they can be misused, and if you can avoid these then you can get your licence.
