Notebook

For writers, notebooks are where ideas come to life. This blog is a space for sharing our news and ideas with you.

  • “Clichés and jargon are like spelling mistakes or grammatical errors: they are markers of poor quality.” Good article: http://ind.pn/nc8DsP

    Tweeted on 17.10.11

  • Words in pictures: we’re enjoying these snaps of the Blackpool Comedy Carpet http://bbc.in/pWru1K

    Tweeted on 10.10.11

  • How naval slang has become part of the English language http://bbc.in/qKHuBE >> Reading this has made us want hammy cheesy eggy topsides…

    Tweeted on 28.09.11

  • @stephenfry discusses how #language is ‘totally underestimated’ on the Today programme t.co/mV6JcC1J >> We couldn’t agree more!

    Tweeted on 27.09.11

  • Favourite sign from this weekend: ‘Great beef, great buns, no bull’. gets the direct approach spot on, we think.

    Tweeted on 12.09.11

  • Which words do you think are obsolete? Disappearing words: wittol, drysalter, and alienism - http://tgr.ph/pQUlkv (via @Telegraph)

    Tweeted on 22.08.11

  • Research reveals stripped-down text speak is over 120 years old

    Footnote

    While the form of communication can baffle parents and lead to sniffy claims that standards of English are declining, text speak has been around longer than we might think. Abbreviations like ‘ha’ and ‘hw r u’ were used by the original texters - the people who sent telegrams. via metro.co.uk

  • We love this contronyms word game from @OxfordWords http://t.co/REpALgl How many did you get right?

    Tweeted on 16.08.11

  • Which word gets you all fired up - for better or worse? Tell us about #languageyoulove or #languageyouloathe.

    Tweeted on 06.07.11

  • Writers at Ledbury Poetry Festival nominate worn-out words: http://t.co/5zndiBS.

    Tweeted on 01.07.11