Grammar Girl's Top 3
Every week I see interesting stories about language, grammar, punctuation, and usage. These were my favorites last week.
3. I Feel Like... An interesting linguistic take on why women say "I feel like..." more often than men. I found this particularly interesting because during our website redesign, I found myself writing "I feel like..." a lot (I feel like this font isn't right) and made a conscious effort to be less "feely" and more direct. (h/t @stancarey)
2. A Nose for Words. An engrossing essay by a frog-leg chopper who grew to love words while studying for the SAT. (h/t @jessesheidlower)
1. How to Be a Reasonable Prescriptivist. "Six Steps" from Merriam-Webster lexicographer Kory Stamper, who is quickly becoming my favorite usage writer.
Honorable Mentions
- The 7 Most Common Misconceptions About Science Fiction Publishing. See #7 for a fascinating look at how publishers spend their marketing money. (h/t @colleenlindsay)
- People Who Highlight Minor Grammar Points Are Amazing. A tongue-in-cheek counter to the fake study about Grammar Pedantry Syndrome.
- "Literally" Bothers Me Too, But It's Not Literally Wrong. The "literally" story is a little old now, but this is the best response to the ridiculous kerfuffle I've seen.
- Should I Correct My Date's Grammar? Bitchy or not bitchy? That is the question A.J. Jacobs attempts to answer.
- Updating the Dictionary Doesn't Just Mean Adding New Words. It Also Means Revising Old Ones.
- The Publishing Process in GIF Form. This is from last year, but still really funny (and true).
