Ok, I just stumbled upon writing advice in a book I was reading. A publisher was advising a writer to dial it done notch saying "Why use a ten dollar word when a ten cent one will do?"
That had me thinking that might apply to me I tend to drift to ten dollar words, using words that make it seem like I know darn well what I am writing about...or does it depend who you are writing for ?
and well I couldnt just take advice from a fictional character even if in a somewhat bestseller novel...
Jimmy, I can see you are a man of firm opinions. I enjoy your blogs. Keep them coming.
I try to write UK English, but I have to admit that my grammar and punctuation are not the best. I make errors when I rush my replies. I struggle with those pesky apostrophes.
Back to the subject of books.
I strongly believe that the best book ever written On-Writing is, The Art and Craft of Novel Writing - Oakley Hall.
Adrian, I thought that I'd made a spelling mistake, writing "balk" where you later wrote "baulk". I got to an on-line dictionary and discovered that the former is the US spelling. I'm ashamed of myself! I try to write UK English. However, this detail has brought me back to Orwell's rule (ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do.
So Orwell would be a fan of US English:
plow instead of plough
color instead of colour
donut instead of doughnut
bar-b-q instead of barbecue
tho instead of though
nite instead of night
Mind you, he would have preferred to travel in a lift rather than in an elevator.
;P ;P ;P
Jimmy, as you baulk at taking advice from E B White, I suggest you buy a later copy of, The elements of style by Strunk Jnr.