Cockney Rhyming Slang

October 25, 2011

A Cockney is someone born within earshot of the bells of St Mary le Bow church in Cheapside, London. Commonly, this is known as being born within the sound of the Bow Bells. Opinion over why cockney rhyming slang was developed is divided. Some say it enabled thieves to speak among themselves without being understood, [...]

Read the full article →

What Is Creative Writing?

October 24, 2011

The term creative writing is bounded around with the presumption that everyday people, and us writers for that matter, know what it is. However, it isn’t simply about writing something interesting or “outside the box”. The term creative writing is used broadly, but actually refers to the expression of feelings and emotions, often in a [...]

Read the full article →

Redundant Writing – Phrases To Avoid

October 21, 2011

We are all guilty occasionally of redundant writing, and in truth it isn’t easy to avoid all the time. But there are redundant phrases that can make a writer look a little silly at times. Redundant refers to verbosity and duplication, which is fine in everyday speech, but unforgivable in professional writing disciplines. Here are some redundant [...]

Read the full article →

What Is An Oxymoron?

October 10, 2011

 Sounds like a wart removing cream of some description, I know, but actually it’s a figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory terms. Oxymoron is adapted from the 5th century Latin “oxymoron”, which is derived from the Ancient Greek oxus, meaning sharp, and mōros, meaning dull. The plural can be either oxymorons or oxymora. The most common [...]

Read the full article →

How To Become A Better Writer – One Word At A Time

October 7, 2011

How many new words have you learned since you left school or college? I am guessing a handful, perhaps 10-20 at the most. I am guilty, too. It took me ages to get my behind into gear and start leaning new words that would improve my writing. It’s insane when you think about it. You [...]

Read the full article →

How To Cure Writer’s Block In 5 Easy Steps

September 30, 2011

1. Don’t Try Writing Crazy right? My number one tip is not to write. This might rile the purists but it works for me. I do a release on writing; I just let it go. There is no point in forcing yourself to do something you aren’t inspired to do. Writing is about creativity and [...]

Read the full article →

10 Greek Words Used In English Writing

September 27, 2011

The Greek language has had considerable impact on the English dictionary, and while it is normally Latin that gets a favorable mention, today we honor some great Greek words used in everyday English writing. 1. Kudos To give kudos is to offer fame, glory or high recognition of achievement. Note that in American English usage, [...]

Read the full article →

Tenses In English Grammar

September 26, 2011

Past, present and future can be a nightmare for those learning English, and also for native English writers. Below are some basic examples of using tenses to help you master this discipline. Past Tense: I was at the game yesterday. I had a pizza to eat last Saturday. You were once a great player. He [...]

Read the full article →

Using Adjectives – Get It Right!

September 21, 2011

There are quite a few pairs of adjectives that sound, look and almost feel like they mean the same thing, when in fact they don’t and can make you end up looking a bit silly. So, today, I have set out 7 of the most common for you to get to grips with. 1. Alternative [...]

Read the full article →

The 5 Rules To Becoming A Successful Freelance Writer

September 19, 2011

Writers are two a penny these days, or at least so it seems when you look at how many people are advertising their services across the web and on freelancing sites. So how does one get ahead in the game? How does one compete with writers from the likes of the Philippines and Kenya who [...]

Read the full article →