Do you have words that always seem to trip you up?

Join us Wednesday, August 12, on The Freelance Life, where we’ll talk with NAIWE Expert Barbara McNichol about problematic words and her book, Word Trippers: The Ultimate Source for Using the Perfect Word When It Really Matters (see it at http://bit.ly/on4pL). You’ll also learn Barbara’s top ten techniques for improving your writing!

 The Freelance Life

Wednesday, 08/12/2009 03:30 PM EDT

Phone Number: (724) 444-7444
Call ID: 38165

I didn’t know that The Elements of Style was celebrating a 50th anniversary until I came across an interesting pair of posts this week.

Strunk and White’s venerable style guide came under fire by Geoffrey K. Pullam of the The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Chronicle Review. In an article titled “50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice,” Pullam shares a curmudgeonly critique of the authors and their grammar and style suggestions.

Michael Leddy of Orange Crate Art offers a thoughtful point-by-point response in his April 14 post, and shares a few links to other writers who have joined the debate.

The whole argument is an interesting round in the larger debate about language and its evolution and use. If you decide to blog about it, please drop by to leave a link so that others can join the debate.

Daily Writing Tips has a good article on retronyms, which are terms that are generally created by adding a modifier to an existing object or concept to differentiate it from a newer standard. It’s an interesting evolutionary adaptation to the language. Here are just a couple of examples from the article:

diaper–> cloth diaper (”Cloth” was added because disposable diapers are now more common.)

mail–> snail mail (Mail could also be “e-mail.”)

Retronyms are an example of good evolution–additions or subtractions that make meaning more precise. Clarity should be a primary goal for writers and editors, so retronyms are just one more tool to sharpen prose. We all use retronyms, but knowing what they are called means we’ll probably start seeing them everywhere!

According to an opinion column by A. Barton Hinkle of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the world is “heading for an apostrophe catastrophe.” What is the tipping point? It seems to be a recent decision in Birmingham, England, which has “formally done away with the possessive apostrophe on street signs.”

Noting that the U.S. did away with apostrophes in place names long ago (aside from a few notable exceptions), Hinkle offers a look at the possible consequences of creeping grammar laxity.

What do you think?

It’s time once again for Lake Superior State University’s annual List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. While it was tempting to use all the words in this post, they’ve done a nice job in their announcement and cartoon, so you may as well read more at the original site.

If you could delete a few overused or excessively trendy words or phrases, what would you choose?

I think my vote would go to “at the end of the day.” I’m really tired of hearing that metaphorical day dragged out to wrap up virtually every news commentary I’ve heard in the last few months. Why are these silly phrases so contagious? Oh, right. They’re viral.

I came across “Words associated with Christianity and British history taken out of children’s dictionary,” an article in the British newspaper, The Weekly Telegraph. I’ve always preferred Oxford dictionaries over any of the other choices, but it looks as if the new edition of their Junior Dictionary has lost its way.

According to the article by Julie Henry, “Oxford University Press has removed words like “aisle”, “bishop”, “chapel”, “empire” and “monarch” from its Junior Dictionary and replaced them with words like “blog”, “broadband” and “celebrity”. Dozens of words related to the countryside have also been culled.” The trend is disturbing.

Words matter. When pop culture references virtually replace history, nature, and the church in a dictionary intended for children, the results can’t be good. Without a strong vocabulary, cultural literacy becomes a distant mirage. What was Oxford University Press thinking?

If you enjoy word games in your spare time (self-employed writing evaluators do have spare time, don’t they?), visit Etymologic.com, where you’ll find “the toughest word game on the web.” Don’t visit the site if you’re working with a deadline, though, because it’s a wee bit addictive!

The creators of the game are not exaggerating when they say it’s tough. The first time I played, I approached it as casually as I would approach the vocabulary quiz in the Reader’s Digest. I haven’t missed a word in the RD quiz in decades, but I quickly discovered that Etymologic was in a completely different league. I missed five of the ten questions before I realized this and started to concentrate. I salvaged my dignity by missing only one out of ten on the second try, but it took a bit of thought.

Word games are an excellent way to sharpen your vocabulary skills– just beware of letting them infringe on your writing, editing, evaluation, and marketing time. Enjoy!