Seeing Red in a Different Light
Does that traffic light turning red make you turn red with anger? Perhaps it’s time you look on the bright (red) side and take a moment to stop and think why it might be a good thing.
Academic Writing Should Open the Door Not Close the Gate
By John Hill
Academic writing has for too long been part of the exclusive, fortified club of academics - written by academics for academics. Every time the fortress gate slams shut, we all lose out on what should be a broader “currency of exchange” of ideas and how they are communicated.
Instead of closing the gate, I advocate opening the door.
Why I Write
By John Hill
George Orwell wrote “Why I Write” and Joan Didion followed. In expressing “Why I Write,” imitation by replication ends with the shared title. For “Why I Write” entails all that is uniquely me based on my experiences, knowledge acquired, and an attempt to make sense of it all. The process of understanding and discovery of truths becomes a product that I can share with others in a form that is enduring and boundless. That is . . . why I write.
I Am Doing Fine, Thanks!
By John Hill
Grammar police love to fuss over the “doing well” versus “doing good” distinction. Here, I explain why it does not matter whether you say you are doing well or doing good. Use either and you are doing fine.
Guys. What’s the Big Deal?
By John Hill
The plural form “guys” is shifting meaning toward becoming gender-neutral. The fact that there is pushback means it is not 100% there yet. But should we resist gender inclusivity for this term? I invite ALL you ”guys” to read this week’s post to find out.
One Schoolhouse Rock That Should Be a Fossil
By John Hill
How hypercorrection and the overgeneralization of a grammar rule explains why so many people get the pronoun use of I incorrect.
When Transliteration is a Sin
By John Hill
The South Korean government implemented a language transliteration system that fails to reflect language as it is actual used. Here’s why the result is a sin.