by Don Hauptman | Jul 8, 2011 | Self-Improvement, Skill Development
A contentious issue among language enthusiasts is the use of the split infinitive. Before reviewing the arguments of the two sides, let’s look at a few examples: “It is even possible to legally download textbooks free, thanks to some new sites and...
by Don Hauptman | Jun 24, 2011 | Productivity, Self-Improvement, Skill Development
Can you spot any mistakes in these quotations, all found via online search? “How significant are directory listings in regards to SEO?” “I think we are not that much more evolved than ‘primitive’ man in regards to language use concerning...
by Don Hauptman | Jun 17, 2011 | Self-Improvement, Skill Development
It’s been a while since I wrote about mixed metaphors in this column. So let’s review. A mixed metaphor is a combination of figures of speech that unintentionally results in an incongruous or impossible image. This anecdote supplies a perfect example of...
by Don Hauptman | Jun 10, 2011 | Self-Improvement, Skill Development
In a recent news report, a think-tank executive was quoted as follows: “There is no Obama doctrine because the president is not doctrinaire.” The remark might have been intended as a clever pun, but it’s confusing and misleading. A doctrine is...
by Don Hauptman | Jun 3, 2011 | Articles, Self-Improvement, Skill Development
Consider these comments, found online: “All the kits in this bundle are so fun.” “Why is college so fun? No parents!” “How fun is your workplace?” In these quotations, the word fun, a noun, is used as if it were an adjective....