----------------------------------------------------------------- THE BETTER WRITING SKILLS NEWSLETTER, December 2012 By Tim North of Scribe Consulting www.scribe.com.au ----------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the Better Writing Skills newsletter. IN THIS ISSUE 1. Can I start a sentence with "and" or "but"? Yes! 2. Two new wonderful fonts -- and they're both free 3. "There were no" versus "there was no" 4. Just for fun Your comments and questions are always welcome. Just send email to: info@scribe.com.au Cheers, Tim North (Perth, Western Australia) ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Can I start a sentence with "and" or "but"? Yes! ----------------------------------------------------------------- My first correspondent this month, Summer, wrote in to say: I know that one of the first rules of writing they teach us in primary school English is that you cannot ever start a sentence with "and" or "but." However, I've found that over time this has become less and less important in my writing, until suddenly, years later, my mother started to get on my case about it. In a piece of creative writing that I was having her edit, she stopped to correct every instance of this incorrect grammar. I'm just wondering when, if ever, it is acceptable to start a sentence with a conjunction. The belief that you must never start a sentence with "and" or "but" is one of those pervasive myths of English grammar put about by well-meaning English teachers, mothers and sundry others. It's just not true. Consider these lines from Shakespeare: And yet I wish but for the thing I have: (Romeo and Juliet II:ii) And when the king comes, offer no violence, (King Henry VI, III:I) But what is your affair in Elsinore? (Hamlet: I:ii) If it was good enough for Shakespeare, who am I to complain? But perhaps you'd like something more modern? (See what I did there?) The Oxford Dictionaries blog says: Grammar myths #2: ... And yet perfectly respectable writers employ this disputed usage, and have done since Anglo-Saxon times. Many grammar and usage experts have also tried to squash this myth, but it seems to be set in stone. -- http://goo.gl/yIdND My favourite style manual, the Australian publication "The Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers" (sixth edition) has this to add: Thus "and" and "but" ... may therefore be used to start sentences (p. 72). Clearly there's plenty of precedent that says it's fine. Of course, so many people buy into the myth that it's wrong that I suggest erring on the side of caution when writing important documents such as a job application. Just because *you* know you're correct, doesn't mean that everyone else will like it. :-) Hope this helps. -- (c) 2012 Tim North: http://www.scribe.com.au ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Two new wonderful fonts -- and they're both free ----------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not fickle. Over the last fifteen years or so, I've only twice changed my mind as to my favourite font. In the mid-to-late nineties, I was in love with Microsoft's lovely Georgia serif: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/font.aspx?FMID=1932 When Word 2007 came out I fell in love with Microsoft's sans- serif Calibri: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fonts/font.aspx?FMID=1914 Now, in 2012, I have a new favourite font: Adobe's free Source Sans Pro. You can find it here: http://goo.gl/ARGP0 [adobe.com] It is simply the most readable font I've ever found for on-screen material. (It's also lovely in print.) I've replaced Calibri with Source Sans Pro in all my teaching materials now and highly recommend that you play with it. * * * Do you ever use fixed-width fonts? These are the relatively rare fonts where an "l" is the same width as a "w". Courier New is perhaps the best-known example. If you're old enough to have used a typewriter, you may know such fonts as "typewriter fonts". If you use fixed-width fonts, you'll be pleased to learn that Adobe has also released a free fixed-width font called Source Code Pro. At the risk of sounding like an Adobe fan boy, it's another home run. This is a wonderfully readable font. Being fixed width, you probably won't have as much use for it as the font above, but I'm using it now to compose this newsletter. I've never seen a more readable fixed-width font. You can read more about it (and download it) from this link: http://goo.gl/r5CsC [adobe.com] Hope this helps. -- (c) 2012 Tim North: http://www.scribe.com.au ----------------------------------------------------------------- Do you know someone who'd like this newsletter? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have a friend or colleague who'd find the Better Writing Skills newsletter interesting? If so, please feel free to send a copy of this issue to them. Alternatively, please tell them they can browse back issues here: http://www.scribe.com.au/newsletter.html Thanks for helping to make this newsletter so successful! ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3. "There were no" versus "there was no" ----------------------------------------------------------------- My next correspondent, Tracy, wrote in to say: I have a big confusion on the use of "There were no ..." versus "There was no ...". When I went to school, I was taught to use "There was no ...", since "no" implies singular. However at work, I was corrected that I have to use "There were no ...". So I would like to ask when should I use "There were no ..." over "There was no ..." They each have different uses. Use "there were no" when the subject (shown here in uppercase) is plural. For example: There were no REASONS to go. There were no WORDS to describe my feelings. If there were no PROBLEMS, why did she complain? Use "there was no" if the subject is singular. For example: There was no REASON to go. There was no WAY to describe my feelings. If there was no PROBLEM, why did she complain? Hope this helps. -- (c) 2012 Tim North: http://www.scribe.com.au ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Just for fun ---------------------------------------------------------------- This month Denise, a regular contributor, sent in these wonderful puns: I start a new job in Seoul next week. It's a good Korea move. A mate of mine admitted to being addicted to brake fluid, but he reckons he can stop any time. The Grim Reaper came for me last night, and I beat him off with a vacuum cleaner. Talk about Dyson with death. I went to the cemetery yesterday, and I noticed four grave diggers walking about with a coffin. Three hours later they're still walking about with it. I thought to myself, "they've lost the plot". My daughter asked me for a pet spider for her birthday, so I went to our local pet shop and they were $70. Blow this, I thought, I can get one cheaper off the web. I was driving this morning when I saw an RAC van parked by the side of the road. The driver was sobbing uncontrollably. I thought to myself that guy's heading for a breakdown. Enjoy. There's no newsletter in January, so your next issue will arrive in early February. Have a great holiday season! Cheers, Tim. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Would you like more help with your writing? ----------------------------------------------------------------- On my web site, you'll find my range of jargon-free, downloadable e-books that will help you to become a better writer. These e-books will help you with business proposals, report writing, term papers, technical writing, grant writing, creative writing and more. I also run in-house writing-training courses for government and industry. http://www.scribe.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------- REPRODUCING THIS MATERIAL You're welcome to reproduce the articles from this newsletter that are copyrighted by Tim North, but please don't modify or sell them. Also, please provide a clickable link back to my web site. FUTURE MAILINGS You can prevent (or receive) future mailings by visiting this page: http://www.scribe.com.au/newsletter.html This is a GENUINE service, and you will not receive any unsolicited email as a result. You have my word on it. -----------------------------------------------------------------