A paradox of our times is that, although schools no longer insist that students master standard writing conventions in order to graduate, more people are writing for publication than at any previous time in human history. According to one estimate, more than 152 million blogs populate the Internet, with more joining them every day. And … Read more
A reader has asked me to comment on the following uses of the Latin phrase in absentia (“in his/her absence”) in The Harvard Crimson: Headline: FAS Relaxes In Absentia Rules Text: Undergraduates studying abroad in spring 2007 will be able to take their fall exams early—if their instructors approve—rather than having to lug their books … Read more
Since the 9th century, the word that has been one of the most frequently used words in the English language. It functions as pronoun, adjective, adverb, and conjunction. A browser search for “that” brings up 14,490,000,000 hits. Small wonder so many copy editors do their best to stamp out that whenever possible. One editor tells his … Read more
A reader asks, What is the correct usage for each and both? Example: You and I both know what it’s like. or You and I each know what it’s like. Each is singular. In relation to a group, it means “all of any number, considered individually.” Examples of usage: Each child in the school has … Read more
As you probably know, once a year we open the enrollment for the Freelance Writing Course. It’s a 6-week program that aims to give students all the information and tools they need to get started making money writing online. The 2015 edition starts today. Here are the six modules of the course: 1. Writing Productivity: … Read more
in my defense/to my defense Note: defense (US) defence (Br.) When speakers wish to excuse or justify something they have done, they often use the expression “in my defense.” For example, “Yes, I hit the mailbox while parking the car, but in my defense, I haven’t slept for the past 48 hours.” An error I’ve … Read more
A reader asks about the words in a Jane Austen title: You may already have discussed ‘sense’ and ‘sensibility’, but if not, could you program an entry. I am not sure if Jane Austen’s word meant something particular to that time. Is there a distinction to meanings between/among ‘sensibility’, ‘sensitivity’ and ‘sensitiveness’, and add in … Read more