Today I am writing to recommend someone else’s website (something I don’t do often!)
The website in question is called ‘Grammarphobia’ and is run by the husband-and-wife team of Patricia T. O’Connor and Stewart Kellerman.
I am currently reading one of their books: Origins of the Specious (look again carefully—it’s ‘specious’ not ‘species’!).
The book is about the myths and misconceptions of the English language.
I am using it as my current ‘train book.’
I travel to and from Sky News by the Metro, and while everyone else in the carriage is glued to the screens on their little smart phones, I am reading a book.
Of course.
What else would you expect?
Much of what they write about I agree with totally (can you split the infinitive? Yes, you can!).
But not everything.
For instance, take the word ‘niche’ (which means a small recess, or an appropriate place or position).
They write: ‘Traditionally the word “niche’ has been pronounced NITCH.’
Oh, no it hasn’t.
The real authority on pronunciation is not some American supermarket—it’s the Oxford English Dictionary which says we pronounce the word as NEESH.
But this is only a minor blemish.
Patricia and Stewart are [a] right about almost everything (or everything except ‘niche’), and [b] are always interesting to read.
Hence, I am recommending their website ‘Grammarphobia.’
There you’ll find their latest language blog, and an archive full of previous language blogs, a ‘Q and A’ page filled with the most common questions about language.
(In that it differs from my own ‘Q and A’ page which I am regularly updating with the latest questions I have been asked.)
On ‘Grammarphobia’ there is also a page of common language myths, a list of their books, and a bit about the authors.
You can even subscribe to their newsletter (which only comes out occasionally—not every day, as mine does).
For us wordies it is fun site, and I recommend it.
You can find it at grammarphobia.com.
Grammarphobia: Grammar, etymology, linguistics, usage
Tonight I will join John Stanley for 'The Word Clinic' on 2GB, 4BC, 2CC and the Tapt Radio Network -- right after the 10pm news. You can not only listen but also take part -- on the talkback line or by text.
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BOOKS:
* My latest book is called Pray Like This. To look at prayer I do what I do in these Ozword columns: I go through the most famous prayer in the world (The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father) and unpack it word by word—each chapter being a short word-study on a key word in that prayer. There is a total of 21 words studies in all. To find out more, here’s a link to the publisher’s website (where you can buy a copy if you wish): Pray Like This – matthiasmedia.com.au
* My book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link: h Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards
* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here: Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au
* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here -- Flash Jim, The astonis
hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia
* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here -- Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.
* And also here -- Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards
* And you'll find more here -- Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au
* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books -- Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term
BY THE WAY...
If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic
The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.
