Ever since I came across the Unthank Road in Norwich, I have liked the notion of unthanking people – especially the sort of clients who really have no respect for editorial staff or skills, and who describe plain English as ‘dumbing down’.
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I was delighted to hear David Cameron describe the queen as “half-baked” this week, in a reference to her speech at the state opening of Parliament. Who would have ever expected a Tory leader to insult the monarchy like that? › Continue reading
The sun has begun to set on my time as a public sector B2B editor. I am peering into the dark abyss of unemployment. There’s a lot of ‘restructuring’ going on where I work. Restructuring in this context means paying management consultants a lot of money to advise who to make redundant. But I am undaunted. I shall find a way of editing text – no one can stop me.
Sitting in a high-rise flat staring at a computer screen, it’s easy to believe there was a time when our language was untainted by attempts to make it ugly and incomprehensible. Perhaps in the early part of the last century – when life was innocent and people had more respect (despite the world wars) – people used plain English and editors led simple and carefree lives.