Posts Tagged: bad writing

  • Cartoon image of a policeman taking notes in front of a brawl with the caption ALTERCATION a loud argument of disagreement

    Altercation or argument

    Two news stories last week (21 November 2025) that appeared together on my news feed, drew attention to a bit of writing that, on one hand, makes me laugh, but on the other, demonstrates how writers can just ruin our language. The Canberra police were seeking two men “allegedly involved in a Braddon altercation” in […]

  • The difference between drivel and dribble

    The drivel is in the detail

    Today someone accused me of writing dribble. I was horrified, if you are going to criticise me you at least need to be literate—surely you mean drivel? But to be fair, the words are often confused by the hoi polloi, and, to be honest, by this driveller. Dribble and drivel sound similar but have quite […]

  • Weasel with an egg with word cloud in the background with weasel words being prominent

    Weasel words

    Business writing is full of words that sound impressive but say very little. They are known as weasel words. They are at their worst when they are used quite deliberately to avoid meaning and to create the illusion of substance. Politicians, marketers, public servants and corporate executives love them. They can soften bad news, exaggerate […]

  • Do or do not there is no ensure

    Either do or do not, there is no ensure!

    I was working through some text with a client this week and she told me that she was going to replace one of my words with “ensure”. Well, you know how they say the client is always right, well mostly, I am afraid I couldn’t allow it. I launched into one of my professional rants. […]

  • Sam Valadi—FLICKR—The Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. It is not a stadium.

    Stadia versus stadiums

    FIFA corruption I have just updated this post from 2011. In June 2011  FIFA executives were denying corruption charges; the awarding of the 2022 FIFA Soccer World Cup to Qatar (which Australia had tried to bid for) was being questioned; and Sepp Blatter, the man in charge, was re-elected unopposed as FIFA president.  I was […]

  • The Italian Forum in Rome

    Fora or forums?

    I remember the first heard time I heard fora. It was at a conference of senior public servants. I laughed, at first thinking the speaker was being humorous but he was far too earnest. What does it mean? It is a word that replaces, what normal people, and indeed, any editor or writer, would use: forums. […]