Recently in General Writing Category

The internet has been touted as the greatest ever revolution in information technology. The entire sum of human knowledge may one day be accessed through this portal of wonder. But what actually is ‘knowledge’ and how reliable is it anyway? With the internet using more ‘democratic’ methods to compile information, are we getting the facts we need or misinformation to lead us astray?

Since starting this blog last year, I have regularly been asked about how to become a professional writer. Mary, one of my keener subscribers (see – I didn’t forget you), recently raised the topic again and prompted me to think some more on it. Some of the issues related to this discussion I covered previously in my series on ‘The Professional Writer’, but what I didn’t cover was how to get writing work in the first place.

You knew this was going to happen, right? Hopefully, it won’t mean I come back in a few years with three more posts that grossly disappoint everyone.

The reason for yet another grammar article was – you guessed it – another embarrassing gaff on my part. As before, I believe it illustrates another interesting point in modern grammar; the effect technology is having on grammar and the language and the gradual shift towards fulfilling George Orwell’s prediction of Newspeak.

In Grammar Wars, I looked at how the priorities of grammar can change in different genres or platforms. Then, in Grammar Wars II, I discussed the traps and issues involved in editing and proofreading your own work. This time, I’m looking at those times where proofreading and editing don’t even come into play.

Last week’s ‘Grammar Wars’ post was extremely popular amongst old and new readers. Yet it wasn’t free of problems and revealed a couple of other points worth exploring. Plus, the obvious sequel title was just too tempting.

“Ern” left a comment on the original article pointing out a mistake so basic I was cringing as I read it.