Comments for Writing, Clear and Simple

Comment on Spot the Error: Pundit Edition by Roy Jacobsen

Roy Jacobsen — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:32:51 +0000

I have to admit that, at first, I was so bothered by the misuse of auger instead of augur that I didn't notice what a mess the rest of the sentence was. But a mess it is. Granted, this was on a blog, and blog posts are frequently dashed off and posted with no editor's oversight, or even a single write/review/revise cycle. And one can cipher out the author's likely intended meaning. But readers should not have to work at ciphering out what a sentence means. So all of you win 500 points.

Comment on Spot the Error: Pundit Edition by Becky Rider

Becky Rider — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:49:13 +0000

I see three dependent clauses
If . . .
Failing . . .
That . . .
but no independent clause. I would also include as additional problems everything Ray Ward mentioned.
And the paragraph rambles, obfuscating any actual point the author tried to make.

Comment on Spot the Error: Pundit Edition by Kathy Baugh

Kathy Baugh — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:48:54 +0000

Their, they, and their should be its, it, and its because the subject of the sentence, team, is singular, not plural, and requires a singular pronoun.

Comment on Spot the Error: Pundit Edition by michelle

michelle — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:31:16 +0000

augur, not auger!!

Comment on Spot the Error: Pundit Edition by Cory

Cory — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:29:32 +0000

Team is a singular noun. The team believes its own rhetoric. The members believe their contributions.

I also hate “invest for victory.” And “yesterday” make it ambiguous – was the team to invest yesterday or was the victory to be yesterday?

Comment on Spot the Error: Pundit Edition by Ray Ward

Ray Ward — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:00:24 +0000

First one I spotted is the subjunctive “believed.” From the rest of the passage, looks to me like the writer intended the indicative. Then there’s that “their,” which doesn’t match “team.” (Similar errors throughout the passage.) So I’d rewrite the opening phrase: “If the Romney team believes its own inevitability rhetoric, ….”

That word “auger” is wrong. I think the writer meant “augur.” Finally, I’d reduce “later on” to “later.”

Comment on Need to apologize? Speak plain English. by Elaine Swift

Elaine Swift — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:17:39 +0000

Nice post Roy and I couldn’t agree more. Apart from the hideous management speak language (I loathe the term ‘learnings’ – whatever happened to good old ‘lessons’?) the apology does seem to miss the point whether intentionally or not.

I just wish businesses could find the confidence to be more human and less robotic.

Comment on Spot the Error: Lists Edition by Roy Jacobsen

Roy Jacobsen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:15:11 +0000

Kathy,
While leaving it out is not an error, in this case, the sentence would read better with it in there.

Comment on Spot the Error: Lists Edition by Roy Jacobsen

Roy Jacobsen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:13:56 +0000

You get the “Eagle Eye” award, Emkay! If you’re going to use Oxford commas, be consistent.

Comment on Bad news. Bad form. by Need to apologize? Speak plain English. | Writing, Clear and Simple

Need to apologize? Speak plain English. | Writing, Clear and Simple — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:04:30 +0000

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