Author Archives: Paul N

Add this up

By Paul N | Published: December 29, 2010
The Telegraph reports that “two teenage youths and a 16-year-old girl” have been involved in a car accident. Am I missing something – or doesn’t that make three teenage youths? Perhaps the word ‘youth’ now refer exclusively to males in the Telegraph’s world. And youths or teenagers, would suffice, surely?
Posted in Bad writing | Comments closed

The ‘dark matter’ of new words to be uncovered

By Paul N | Published: December 21, 2010
Neglected new words to be captured in Harvard's digital 'fossil record'
Posted in Copywriting and technology | Tagged , | Comments closed

Media training lessons evade army chief

By Paul N | Published: June 25, 2010
Mouthy General can't unsay what's been said. Words came too easily.
Posted in I wish I'd never said that | Comments closed

The Downing Street verb: “To Kofi”

By Paul N | Published: January 30, 2010
You might not have been Tangoed, but have you been Kofied?
Posted in Vacuous verbs | Tagged | Comments closed

Texting slang improves literacy – official (again)

By Paul N | Published: January 20, 2010
The publication today of new research claiming that child text addicts have high levels of literacy may surprise some parents. But not those who read the report last year, or the year before that, or the year before that.
Posted in Lost in Translation | Tagged | Comments closed

Hopes for the Cornish language

By Paul N | Published: January 15, 2010
New language lessons for Cornish toddlers begin this month
Posted in Lost in Translation | Tagged | Comments closed

Bad language in Scotland

By Paul N | Published: January 15, 2010
You almost certainly know three words of the Scots language. But 85 per cent of Scottish people claim to use much more of the language when socialising
Posted in Lost in Translation | Tagged | Comments closed

The end of the church – lost in translation

By Paul N | Published: January 14, 2010
The Times letter that tells why the church gave way to a congregation
Posted in Lost in Translation | Tagged | Comments closed

To alight – right verb, ugly use

By Paul N | Published: January 13, 2010
When did you last say "alight"?
Posted in Vacuous verbs | Tagged | Comments closed

To be platformed – train grammar horror

By Paul N | Published: January 13, 2010
First Great Western create new horror verb
Posted in Vacuous verbs | Tagged | Comments closed