Category Archives: Words and Civilisation
Words and Civilisation: You Lucky Thing!
You tell a friend you are going on holiday to New York. This person is most likely to exclaim (at least in England), “You lucky thing! I wish I were going!” You may find this reaction offensive on two fronts. … Continue reading
Posted in Words and Civilisation
Tagged envy, friends, katherine gregor, lucky, musings, scribe doll, scribedoll
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Words and Civilisation: English – the Fast Food Burger of the Language World
English is a democratic language. Vox populi, vox linguae. As soon as 51% of people say something in a particular way, then it becomes correct. Incorrect English usage. Now there is a minefield. Do not even venture there. “Incorrect” implies that … Continue reading
Posted in Words and Civilisation
Tagged burger, english, grammar, katherine gregor, scribe doll, scribedoll, tarzan, words
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Words and Civilisation: Really. Really! Really?
Really is a word we really use really a lot. Really. In fact, every few sentences, really. I am not really sure why. Now, really! There is no need to get uppity about this. It’s really just a case of … Continue reading
Posted in Words and Civilisation
Tagged english language, katherine gregor, really, scribe doll, scribedoll
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Words and Civilisation: Sales Assistants’ Language
You wear a brand new purple T-shirt and notice, and the end of the day, that the colour has run over your white underwear and even rubbed off on your skin. The following day, you take it back to the … Continue reading
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Words and Civilisation: Being Realistic
When I first started writing this blog, and announced it to just about everyone I knew, one of my acquaintances declared – point blank – that she would not be reading it. “Nobody reads blogs, anymore,” she said. “There’s too many … Continue reading
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Words and Civilisation: Yes and No
Rule Number One to be truly English. Banish at once the following two words from your vocabulary: ‘yes’ and ‘no’. They are unsightly, un-English, and compromising. They state an absolute, and that is bad-mannered. After all, who gives you the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Words and Civilisation
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Words and Civilisation: I Tried To Call You
“I tried to call you.” How many times have you heard that one? It is annoying enough when friends say it but when I hear it in a professional context, I have to repress my instinct to pounce and tear … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Words and Civilisation
3 Comments
Words and Civilisation: How Are You?
I would love to hear comments on this, particularly from my non-British subscribers. I met a Russian friend, last week. After the initial greeting and ambicheek kiss, I asked, “How are you?” She told me about the state of her … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Words and Civilisation
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Words and Civilisation: The Truth About Honesty
Can I be honest? Why are you suddenly looking worried? There, you see, just because I said, “Can I be honest?” you automatically assume I’m about to say something negative; or at least something you think I think you won’t … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Words and Civilisation
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Words and Civilisation: Coffee
All I wanted, this morning, was coffee. I sleepwalked towards the nearest authorised dealer and staggered into Starbucks. “Flat latte”, I mumbled through my somnolent haze. The trademark cheerful foreign language student in the green apron didn’t react. I had … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Words and Civilisation
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Scribe Doll 