After my son received a Kindle for Christmas, he sang the praises of it. However, I remained a skeptic and continued to revere “real” books. They are like my children. “Don’t worry. I will never betray you!” Spoken like a true bibliophile.

My passion for the Kindle was an accidental discovery. I borrowed my son’s Kindle for a recent commute to New York City. I completely expected that my disdain for this gizmo would be affirmed. I was wrong. Here are my favorite Kindle features:

1)    Adjustable text size as well as the number of words per line. It is much easier on the eyes! Imagine the number of people who have to special-order large print books because of vision issues!

2)    Lightweight and portable. No more page turning. You just click a button for the next page. It’s fast!

3)    Automatic bookmarks. Kindle remembers where you left off reading and brings you right there when you are ready to resume reading.

4)    Free chapter samples from Amazon before you decide to purchase books. Yes, you can download the first two chapters before buying. This is a money saver!

5)    Kindle books are less expensive than the real thing. Hard cover books average $10.

6)    Annotations and highlighting with Kindle are easy.

7)    Space saver! I read multiple books at one time, and I always have little piles of books sitting around as I shift from one to another. No more. I even plan to put many of my books from my shelves on Kindle so I can reduce clutter!

8)    No glare to compromise readability with the Kindle. Read outside — on the beach. The words are perfectly clear!

9)    Adjustable light accessory allows you to read in the dark without disrupting others.

I still have much to explore with Kindle’s possibilities (magazines and blogs). Yet, I don’t believe I will ever go to a bookstore again. That was a favorite pastime for me. Not so much anymore.

How many people hire accountants, mechanics, plumbers, electricians, or lawyers? Do people feel stupid paying for those services? I certainly do not. When it comes to the difficulties I have had with this blog, I asked for help. I suppose I could have hired someone to help me, but my son is quite the computer geek. I’ve been pleading for his help with my blog for quite some time. Unfortunately, he is a full time college (now law) student who also works part-time. He has little time to entertain my blog issues.

Imagine my surprise and pleasure when my son took the time today to help fix what has been holding me back from posting here. I spent hours trying to figure it out on my own via Google search. I even purchased a WordPress For Dummies Book! Neither of which led to a solution. So, I gave up. My fault. I take complete responsibility for the blog lapse.

It took my son approximately 40 minutes to fix the problem. It was a very simple problem to solve. We made some pit stops along the way (how to update my widget and add Facebook). The actual problem required a simple check of a box. I could not believe it. I let this blog dry up for eight months over a checkbox! I looked at my husband, shook my head, and said, “I feel stupid.” That is when the phrase brought me back to my clients using the same negative speak on themselves. I put a stop to it with them. I did the same with myself.

I have an adequate knowledge of computers. I don’t know the languages or codes. They intimidate me as much as algebra and managing expenses. So, I just stay away and leave those to the “professionals.” Thank goodness we have them! Three cheers for Matt for getting me back on track! I am excited to move forward!

What lies ahead for Write Or Wrong? I will create a Facebook page that coincides with the blog. The current Facebook link is to my personal page, and I am sure none of you are interested in what I ate for dinner! As soon as the new page is complete, I will change the link here. I also invite you to submit suggestions for various English issues you would like me to address in my posts. I do not pretend to know everything, but I will do my best to provide clear explanations that will benefit everyone.

Next, I will post about my latest discovery. It is the Kindle! I am impressed, beyond belief, with this gadget. In theory, the prospect of reading books on electronic gadgetry was sacrilege to bibliophiles — far and wide. As an English major, using the Kindle seemed like a betrayal to my medium. However, I am ready to argue against that in the near future.

Along with the wonders of Kindle, I will incorporate book reviews (or a book club) on the blog. After all, reading plays an integral role in the writing process. We’ll talk about your favorite titles and genres. Perhaps some of you would like to be a guest reviewer. After all, it is better to hear from different perspectives.

Be on the lookout for my Kindle post early next week. In the meantime, revisit former posts and pages for helpful English tips. I am THRILLED to be back!

Rose

I apologize for my absence. I’ve been revamping my business and taking more certification tests in hopes I can increase clientele.

I will also be revamping this blog in the near future. Don’t worry, I’ll give you all a heads-up before that happens.

I will try to be more diligent about coming here and checking on my faithful followers. Meanwhile, post your pesky English questions here. I will try to answer them in a timely fashion!

Don’t forget to visit my LivePerson “office” for a consult or any proofreading work you may need!

Thanks for stoppping by!!

Readers concluded that I am judgmental about their writing.  Some said I have no business telling them how to write.  Others said I was a poor teacher because teachers, after all, should just encourage students to write without pointing out their errors.  Otherwise, I am damaging their confidence. 

What was lost in my sharing of my post is my intent to impart information.  My effort was to provide insight into a frustrating aspect of dealing with international communications.  Instead, my readers viewed my input as my smacking their knuckles with a ruler.

I attempted to clarify to my readers that I don’t really care if they spell things wrong in their communications.  Instead, it was about helping them when written communication is important.  For whatever reason, that was neither acknowledged or absorbed.  Readers continued to argue that their clients should get the gist and read between the misspelled lines or typo’s or missing commas.  After all, the age of the internet invites the change of language and spelliing.  I acknowledge that is probably true, but there is a time and a place for everything.

With that, when does “write” matter?  In many instances, it does not matter.  Twitter?  That doesn’t matter.  Facebook?  Also does not matter.  Forum posts?  STILL does not matter.  In email?  It doesn’t matter when it is informal.  IM?  Who cares?  Even in these mediums, I do not subscribe to perfect language because they are all informal.

In dealing with business relationships, it absolutely matters!  You have to put your best (written language) face forward in order to be taken seriously.  I would NEVER, with any given (potential) client, casually toss out a proposal laden with errors.  The same is true when applying for jobs.  It’s not done — unless you don’t want the job.  Employers really look into this and frown upon lazy writing.

Otherwise, go ahead and write sloppily to your heart’s content.  Then come here and share your experiences.

As an American editor I may be too quick to correct recognise in a transcript to read, “recognize.” I know this because spellcheck told me! 

That clears things up – doesn’t it? Thank goodness! However, it’s not that simple.

In some countries, “recognise” is a correct spelling of the word that we spell as “recognize.”  They both mean the same thing.  They are just spelled differently.

There is a branch in applied linguistics that studies global English (also called World English or International English). In a nutshell, this field examines the various forms of English in the world and what influences their individual styles. I tend to look at this through the lens of postcolonialism – since that is a large component of my studies as an English major. In particular, how have territorial acquisitions by western territories such as France, Britain and the United States impact English usage in the non-western world?

Of course, my immediate conclusion (assumed, not researched) is that Great Britain laid the foundation of World English. As it relates to the United States of America, the founding fathers of New England were Brits, who wanted to exercise freedom from religion imposed under the Queen’s rule. That is where British English was transplanted to the United States. Over time, Americans have modified both written and spoken English.

That is my simplest explanation for how International English was born in this country. I won’t venture into other territories that England (as well as France and Spain) colonized in the world. You can read details of those in the global English link here. That is enough background information to move on to the importance of understanding the impact of international English in the age of the internet.

On the worldwide web we communicate with people from all over the world. When we communicate with them (email or as virtual clients), we must be mindful of the different types of international English. These terms encompass differences among Britain, Canada and the United States only. Therefore, review the link on global English, and read about South African English; Indian English; and West Indian English to get a sense of those English styles as well.

Why does any of this matter? In my opinion, too many Americans consider their English as the correct English without recognising (respecting?) acceptable differences in Global English spellings. Print the variation list, and keep it handy for occasions when you are exchanging with people from across the globe. They are not necessarily wrong, and we are not necessarily write!

ChapLynne is correct that “digressive tangent” is redundant. Additionally, the sentence that follows is redundant “soon forgotten” is the same (relatively) as saying “Whatever you were about to say is lost.” In editing, I’m not sure I would remove the former as my intent was to explain what I meant by “lost.” In hindsight, I would have adjusted the sentence to read: “Whatever you were about to say is soon forgotten,” and leave it at that!

For those who voted that digressive tangent is underscored for emphasis – that is not necessarily wrong. In this case, however, I underscored them strictly to draw your attention to those words for the purpose of the quiz.

Digressive tangent is not an oxymoron. An oxymoron is when two, neighboring words contradict one another. A common oxymoron that is frequently joked about is “jumbo shrimp”! Can you think of other, humorous oxymorons? Write about them here. It might be fun!

“How the heck should I know,” is a perfectly valid response that is free from judgment on my part!

“Digressive” and ”tangent” may be considered impressively big words, but that is subjective. In fact, the issue of word selection in various applications will be addressed in a future page on this blog. Sometimes it is better to keep it simple! We shall see!

Finally, I am working on a page that delves into the impact of spelling issues when it comes to writing differences between people from foreign lands. It will focus upon postcolonialism’s role in language rules. Stay tuned. Thanks for stopping by!

chaplynne

Immediately after the ‘digressive tangent’ the writing changes from first person to second person–indeed, a consequence of interruptions.

Digressive tangent have different and similar (redundant) meanings: different in that one is an adjective and the other a noun, similar in their meaning despite the different part of speech. Digressive indicates a sidetracked (adj) idea that is rambling in nature, while tangent suggests a sidetrack (n) that is a straight course. However, the words, while not exactly redundant because they are not the same part of speech, they do convey a similar meaning, i.e. sidetrack(ed). It is repetitive all over again.

Digressive and tangent are underlined for emphasis, since the point about digression and tangents as a result of interruptions is shown by example immediately following the words emphasized.

(I know this, because I so frequently make this mistake when I am interrupted.)

IMHO
ChapLynne

From Rose:  EXCELLENT! You picked up on something I overlooked.  You are a smart one, girl!  I will comment later tonight or tomorrow since I have July 4th festivities to attend.  I look forward to sharing with everyone!

I hate it when I am interrupted in conversations.  It is rude.  I lose my train of thought.  Let’s face it.  I have very important things to say!  Seriously, it is very frustrating for me.  Writing affords a wonderful opportunity to process thoughts.  Verbal interruptions, more often than not, lead to a digressive tangent.  Whatever you were about to say is lost — and soon forgotten.

When you write, however, it affords you all the time you need to express yourself!  Readers cannot stop you in mid-sentence to add their two cents, which often happens in casual conversation.  So, speak write your mind.  Stand up and be heard read.

I underscored “digressive tangent” in this post.  Why? 

[polldaddy poll=1737121]

After you vote, I invite you to explain your answer and/or ask questions about this.  Can you find anything else wrong with this post?  Challenge me in the “Comments” section!  Do not worry.  I will not judge you, and I promise you will not be interrupted!