Save the Semicolon

Due to some very silly conversations I’ve had recently, I looked up this post that I had written for another blog a few years ago. Since it relates tangentially to writing, I thought I’d post it here. If you’ve already read it, well, read it again! Chaucer with an American accent Some people seem to [...]

Language is funny. This post doesn’t give any helpful tips about using language, or about writing. But I recently thought of one of many examples of how native speakers use language in a way that might seem inscrutable to new speakers. Think of the difference between asking: Are you cold? And Aren’t you cold? Strangely, [...]

Have you ever worked on a product that has poor UI copy or design? Of course. What about poor UI copy or design that’s been around a long time and is now the standard way of doing things for that product? When do we force the issue and change it? For professional reasons, I can’t [...]

Have you ever said that something “should” happen, in order to avoid being wrong if it doesn’t? I’ve seen lots of documentation explaining how to do a task, then ending by saying something like: When you click End World, the Doomsday Clock should start. My beef today is with the word “should.” I understand the [...]