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Grabbing ahold of language
Why is “ahold” not like “akin”? Simple really. The prefix “a-” in English has a couple of major uses. One is that it is a negativising prefix, borrowed…
4 min read
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How not to write badly (4): Do not sprawl
I’m cheating a bit because this is more of a “how to write” than how not to but I think it just about fits. I’m going to share…
4 min read
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How not to write badly (3)
3. Write tight Most of what I have to tell you is covered by this commandment. Be concise and avoid redundancy. As a writer, your task is to…
4 min read
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How not to write badly (2)
2. Write sentences the right way round I remember editing a book on Asian history in which the author insisted on writing sentences something like this: As the…
4 min read
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The case of the Del Inspiro
Sir I am writing to you because I have often read that you are a fighter for justice, and there has been no justice done in my case.…
4 min read
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How not to write badly (1)
Writing well is a skill that can only be acquired by working hard at it. You cannot overnight become a good writer. But you can quite easily avoid…
4 min read
