Reading: Zinsser, Chapter 7: Usage

Zinsser’s suggests that language “usage” should be clear and simple in writing.  Proper usage ensures your audience is kept by your writing.  Below are some examples of words and terms that are often misused in writing.

Why is one word good and another word cheap? - Zinsser

“Saw this today.  Did a double-take.”

imgur.com/gallery2KSMY

This quote was posted to a picture blog.  The subject of his post is a flyer that proclaims a Velociraptor-Free workspace.  An item such as this is worth a second look.

"LOL"

“laugh out loud”, “laughing out loud”, “lots of laughs”

Zinsser states “Language is the fabric that changes from one week to another…” Internet chatting continues to widen the scope of usage and what is considered appropriate English.  LOL made its debut in 1993 as a phrase to describe amusement while chatting on the internet.  The article below is about the addition of the term into the Oxford English Dictionary.

“OMG!  Oxford English Dictionary Adds LOL to Its Pages”

www.wired.com/underwire/2011/03/omg-oxford-english-dictionary/

“between”, “in between”, and “among”

All I really want to do is fall into

The emptiness that is

The space in between us

To break this division

Building 429’s song titled “The Space In Between Us” is about a man who wants to eliminate the space between God and himself.

Between is defined as the empty space between two objects.  In between describes an item that dwells within the space between two objects.  People sometimes make this mistake when describing a thing that is in “between” two objects.

“Parked between adventure park & highway”

flickr.com/photos/ilkka/6946810852

A user at flickr.com blogs about his photo that was taken while parked in between two locations.

“She walked among the trees.”  (many trees)

“She walked in between the trees.”  (suggests two trees)

Among and between can also give readers an account for the range of items in a sentence.

In the end it comes down to what is “correct” usage. - Zinsser

“This is an FYI” or “This is FYI”

In a previous blog I posted comments about the usage of “For Your Information” or FYI.  This term is used in announcements, emails, and during meeting discussions at my office.

This is FYI:  http://kcmooreblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/just-fyi.html