It left me wondering what 'protection teeth' were, and why the EU would give some to a shark. Surely a shark could protect itself?
altogether something
6 days ago
EU gives shark protection teeth
I was very briefly confused by the bottom headline in this 'Other top stories' widget on the Science & Environment section of the BBC News website:
It left me wondering what 'protection teeth' were, and why the EU would give some to a shark. Surely a shark could protect itself?
It left me wondering what 'protection teeth' were, and why the EU would give some to a shark. Surely a shark could protect itself?
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?
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?
Fawley, Fawley, Fawley, Fawley
A serendipitous find: the Wikipedia page on the place name 'Fawley'.
There is a Fawley in Berkshire, another in Buckinghamshire, a third in Hampshire and a fourth in Herefordshire. In each instance, the 'Faw' part of the place name has a different origin/etymology.
Well, I thought it was interesting.
There is a Fawley in Berkshire, another in Buckinghamshire, a third in Hampshire and a fourth in Herefordshire. In each instance, the 'Faw' part of the place name has a different origin/etymology.
Well, I thought it was interesting.
Photo special: way out sign (upside down)
Not strictly an example of interesting language use but I thought it was worth sharing:
I took this photo at London Bridge railway station.
The part of the sign with yellow writing constantly rotates, displaying three different messages in turn.
On the day I took the picture, one of the messages - and as I recall, only one of the messages - was appearing upside down, as shown. Brilliant.
The anti-pigeon spikes on the top of the sign confirm which way is up...
I took this photo at London Bridge railway station.
The part of the sign with yellow writing constantly rotates, displaying three different messages in turn.
On the day I took the picture, one of the messages - and as I recall, only one of the messages - was appearing upside down, as shown. Brilliant.
The anti-pigeon spikes on the top of the sign confirm which way is up...
This is now a creative writing blog...
...apparently.
Somewhat to my surprise, The Engine Room has been included in BestCollegesOnline.com's list of the Top 100 Creative Writing Blogs.
The list actually features a dozen 'grammar and editing' blogs, and it's good to see a creative writing resource that pays attention to the nuts and bolts of language use (as Apus might say).
And while I can't vouch for all the other blogs in the list, a few of my favourites do make an appearance – notably GrammarBlog and Headsup. I shall have to check out the others (those in the 'grammar and editing' section, anyway) in due course.
Somewhat to my surprise, The Engine Room has been included in BestCollegesOnline.com's list of the Top 100 Creative Writing Blogs.
The list actually features a dozen 'grammar and editing' blogs, and it's good to see a creative writing resource that pays attention to the nuts and bolts of language use (as Apus might say).
And while I can't vouch for all the other blogs in the list, a few of my favourites do make an appearance – notably GrammarBlog and Headsup. I shall have to check out the others (those in the 'grammar and editing' section, anyway) in due course.
I'm in full agreeance
The hyperactive presenters of Mrs Apus's favourite house programme have been boringly coherent of late but fortunately an inspired contestant on her favourite antiques show came up with two fine malapropisms this morning:
agreeance
and
exteriorally
The spirit of George Dubbya lives on – and daytime TV is rotting my brain.
agreeance
and
exteriorally
The spirit of George Dubbya lives on – and daytime TV is rotting my brain.
Safety [risks]
A great quote in recent raw copy:
So the massive vehicles would be intrusive, but safe?
I try to avoid using [square brackets] to clarify quotes, but in this instance I changed "safety" to "safety [risks]".
The study is flawed – the environmental and economic benefits it identifies are illusory and ignore the safety and intrusion these massive vehicles would bring.
So the massive vehicles would be intrusive, but safe?
I try to avoid using [square brackets] to clarify quotes, but in this instance I changed "safety" to "safety [risks]".
Due to the bad weather
A letter in today's thelondonpaper begins:
I understand the '10 items or less' argument, but what is this letter-writer's problem with 'due to the bad weather'? He doesn't say, and for the life of me I can't work it out.
Can anyone enlighten me?
I am very discouraged to see signs up everywhere, both official and unofficial, starting with "Due to the bad weather..." This is as ungrammatical as "Ten items or less", as seen in supermarkets. It doesn't take much to get it right. We seem to be dumbing-down to a woeful degree in this country so as not to make things too difficult for people who can't cope.
I understand the '10 items or less' argument, but what is this letter-writer's problem with 'due to the bad weather'? He doesn't say, and for the life of me I can't work it out.
Can anyone enlighten me?
Euphemisms: 'entertaining prostitutes'
From one of our news stories:
It makes me wonder how exactly the truck drivers were entertaining the prostitutes. Singing them songs, perhaps, or doing a little bit of juggling?
A Worcester county councillor has called for a new truck park in the town after drivers were reported parking up by the side of the road and entertaining prostitutes in their cabs.
It makes me wonder how exactly the truck drivers were entertaining the prostitutes. Singing them songs, perhaps, or doing a little bit of juggling?
