JD is on Twitter

Just to let you know I'm currently experimenting with Twitter. Feel free to follow me:

http://twitter.com/engineroomblog

My tweets will probably cover a wider range of topics than my blog posts do, although I'm sure some of them will be related to language use and publishing.

If you're a journalist and already use Twitter, I'd love to hear your experiences with it. Is it helpful? Any tips you'd care to share? Want another follower?

Yes, JD is on LinkedIn

Just a quick one from me today - I wanted to say that I do have a profile on the networking site LinkedIn and if any Engine Room regular wants to add me as a contact, that's fine. Just send me an email at engineroomblog@gmail.com and I'll give you my details.

I'm especially interested in building up a network with fellow subs, copy editors, editors, proofreaders and the like.


(Although my identity obviously isn't a secret, I don't give my full name on this blog or list the publications I work for. That's just to keep some distance between my professional life and my blogging life.)

Verbing: how to social network

Recently I spotted an unusual, if ugly, example of verbing (creating a verb from another part of speech) on the front page of the Independent: "How to social network"

This is interesting because 'network' is already commonly both a noun and a verb; what the Independent has verbed is the entire noun phrase 'social network'. (Compare with 'how to socially network'.)

I suspect the Independent has verbed the noun phrase because of severe space limitations on the cover – otherwise it may have preferred something along the lines of 'guide to social networking' or 'how to use social networks'.

Hmm, I can't find any reference to 'how to social network' on the Independent Online, but here's someone else using the phrase (good article too).