The blog page is where I will explore topics that are important to me as a copywriter – words, grammar, phrases, punctuation etc. They are things I notice every day in spoken and written English and I hope you find the topics I choose interesting and informative.
I notice things…
I can’t help noticing when someone says off, when they mean from. Likewise, when they say due to, when they mean owing to. Or when people shorten words, for example from beautifully to beautiful. In the same vein, when they make up words like flavourful, when they should say full of flavour. I suppose my interest in language, both written and spoken, stems from my curiosity about people and the world around us. My obsession with grammar goes back to a time when we learned grammar in school, not only in English, but in Latin, French and German as well! Although language is ever evolving and changing, I think that grammar still has a role to play, especially in corporate and marketing documents.
On the other hand, some blog posts may be about my life and topics that interest me for example, travel, reading, cooking and salsa (the dance, that is!) From time to time I may also recount incidents or experiences from real life that have made me laugh out loud. I hope these stores amuse you, too!
Is using the correct grammar important?
I thought I would try a slightly different tack in this week’s blog. So, I am asking the question, ‘is using the correct grammar important?’ Texting and social media are taking over. Lock-down does not appear to have had an impact on the frenetic pace…
More homophones!
Judging by the response to my last blog about ‘there, their and they’re’, words that sound the same but have different meanings is a hot topic for everyone and well worth another blog post! So, here are some more homophones, starting with ‘to, too and…
Common errors in grammar (part 2)
In this blog post, the second highlighting common errors in grammar, I am going to address the regular misuse of ‘there, their and they’re’. The confusion here stems from these words being homophones (they sound the same, but have different meanings.) Therefore, I thought that…
Have you managed to stay motivated?
How have you found lock-down? Have you managed to stay motivated throughout? Have you found working from home a cinch, or really difficult? Has it been challenging to keep on top of things? Have you put off doing those jobs you promised you would finish…
Is Coronavirus changing us?
Is Coronavirus changing us? My tribulations seem insignificant when compared to our current situation, so I haven’t written a blog for awhile. Watching the news daily can prove to be distressing and depressing in equal measure. When the virus first came here, bulletins reflected selfish…
Two months in – progress report
Two months into 2020 and how is it for you so far? I hope you are making good progress with your resolutions, whatever they may be. Sometimes it is difficult to stay focused but I am pleased with my progress. I have managed to match…
Common errors in grammar
My business (and passion!), is writing marketing copy. I think it is interesting to note a few common errors that crop up on a regular basis: Your and you’re Of and have I have touched upon a couple of examples in an earlier blog, (I…
Three weeks in – progress report
We are three weeks into 2020 and how is it going for you? Did you decide to change anything this year? What prompted you to make the decision and have you implemented the change or changes successfully? I have had quite good results regarding my…
Post-Christmas Blues!
Does anyone have a cure for the post-Christmas blues? Or, like me are you holiday-browsing? Madly running around filling your life with lots of new hobbies or tasks because you feel bereft? So much focus goes into preparing for Christmas, with days filled with activities…
New Year’s Resolutions?
I added the question mark after New Year’s Resolutions intentionally, because I am not convinced they work. Certainly not for me. I have found through past experience that I try to change too many areas of my life at once. Do you know what I…
My first blog post
Welcome to my first blog post. The blog is where I intend to explore topics that are important to me as a copywriter – words, grammar, phrases, punctuation etc. They are things I notice every day in spoken and written English. I hope you find…
My endless fascination with words
My endless fascination with words started at a young age. Even when I was at nursery school, I was fascinated by the written word. Mum had to take me to the library twice a week because I finished the books so quickly. When I was…
Everyone Needs a Notepad
I believe everyone needs a notepad and pen sometimes. I still love using notepads, even in this technological age of wifi and soon-to-be 5G. We all have smart phones, tablets, laptops and/or desktop computers to help us in everyday life. But to me, there is…