Language
We all talk and write, but our different approaches to language, from weird misspellings to verbal idiosyncrasies, make the topic so interesting!
Discreet vs. discrete
Tiger Woods wishes his adultery had been kept more discrete. Or is it discreet? He's probably too busy apologizing to care about the difference between these particularly tricky homophones, but the rest of us should care. Learn which spelling goes with which meaning, and a couple mnemonics to keep them straight.
Read MoreApostrophes have no place in plural acronyms
Apostrophes, for being such tiny little punctuation marks, sure can cause some big problems. Mastering their proper use with plural and possessive nouns can be tricky for some, but one use shouldn't be confusing: apostrophes have no place in plural acronyms like "FAQs" or numeric constructions like "the 1980s."
Read MoreUtilize vs. use
Language is a beautiful and varied concept, with room enough for all manner of style, voice, and of course, word choice. As one who often edits the writing of others (or wishes he’d had the opportunity to do so), I’ve encountered some word choices that seem to persist despite simpler, more direct options. One of these is the word “utilize,” which in the vast majority of...
Read MoreKurt Cobain novel offers an intricate, genre-bending story
About a year ago, a friend asked if I'd read and edit his brother's manuscript. I was honored sure glad I did, because Darin Rice's "The Redemption of Kurt Cobain" is one story that should see the light of day (and not just due to its excellent first-round editing). So what's the story about? Uh... that's a little tricky. The plot weaves strands of politics, philosophy, sustainability, parenting, a bit of humor, and of course rock and roll into a surprisingly readable fabric. It's not easy to find a single label for this work, other than simply "good."
Read MoreComplext is not a word
I've encountered another denizen of the dictionary of imaginary words. It's much less common than cousins such as "acrost" and "drownd," but it does rear its non-existent head. That (non)word, friends, is "complext."
Read MoreDrownd is not a word
Misery, they say, loves company. Well, so do lexiconical abominations like “acrost,” so I must do my part to expunge the non-word “drownd” from our collective vocabulary. Unlike “acrost,” which never sounds correct, “drownd” sounds like “drowned,” the past tense of drown. Maybe that’s why so many people say and spell this one...
Read MoreNow Reading
Planned books:
None
Current books:
The Player of Games (Culture) by Iain M. Banks
Recent books:
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
- House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds
- The Santaroga Barrier by Frank Herbert
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman