Something Went Horribly Wrong!

Looking for something specific on the blog?

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

By Eliot Kleinberg

With Lou Ann Frala

Get our Newsletter!
Watch "Horribly Wrong" Videos

A blog about better writing

Eliot Kleinberg Eliot Kleinberg

From the Grammar Police: UK Edition

In our Oct. 8, 2023, segment, we explained the differences between American and British English. We worked in a visit to the UK. And brought the Grammar Police with us! To our cousins across the pond: You invented the dang language. You have to follow its rules as well. Keep calm and carry on!

Oxford and Edinburgh: And you thought only American’s are misuser’s of apostrophe’s! Also, those gemstones are so good they provide positivity twice!

South Kensington, London: Uh, looks like the “closing” part is over. This checkout is closed!

Oxford: We say “apologizes” and they say “apologises.” Pick one! “Apologies” doesn’t work.

South Florida: Nope. We write Amerikin here!

And we go to the video archives for Segment 54: Your Government at Work. https://youtu.be/chCLmG9egoY?si=SLUrHhvw5jl7cdbt

Readers: "Something Went Horribly Wrong" features samples of bad writing we see nearly every day. You can participate! Be our duly deputized “grammar police.” Your motto: “To protect and correct.” Send in your photos of store signs, street signs, menus, TV news graphics, newspaper headlines, tweets, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a grammatical error. It can be just what we call “cowardly writing.” Include your name and home town so we can credit you properly. You're free to add a comment, although we reserve the right to edit or omit. Now get out there! Send to Eliot@eliotkleinberg.com

Haven’t signed up for our newsletter yet? Do it now! And tell your friends!

NOTE: Eliot and Lou Ann are available for speaking engagements, and can travel. Reach us through the comments section. Just think of all of your employees getting back to work on a Monday, their heads filled with all the ways we’ve shown them to be better communicators!

Read More

Archives