You may have noticed my new widget over to the right: the Grammar Girl Quiz. As a journalist/editor, I’m always looking for ways to improve my writing and I discovered Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, awhile back. She just came out with a new book, Grammar Girl’s Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing, which brought me back to her again. Mignon hosts these fabulous five-minute podcasts (you can find them on iTunes) that study different grammar/language trickeries. Seriously, I’ve learned so much—just what does semiweekly and biweekly mean? I can never remember! Lie or lay? Agh!Her podcasts can also be found on this Web site, which is filled with a bunch of other Quick & Dirty tips about law, finance, technology, travel and more. Seriously, why can’t I think up brilliant ideas like this? Take the quiz (I’m disappointed with my 11 out of 15, so I'll definitely try again - they change EVERY week) or listen to her tips—you’ll love ‘em!
Another Web site I like is one that Mignon actually pointed out in her latest podcast. The Sentence Sleuth posts errors from books, newspapers and what have you, and either asks you how to correct it or tells you herself. Love it! Being an avid reader, as well as an editor, I am always semi-pleased with myself when I find mistakes in the things I read (as long as it’s not my own!).
What about you? Do you find that you catch the gaffes that slip past editor after editor? Does it bother you, or do you feel smug?