The text biz blog

  • The text biz
  • The text biz services
  • About the text biz
  • Poetry corner
  • Contact the text biz


Showing Tag: "language" (Show all posts)

Search engine optimization

Posted by Bruce Marsland on Friday, December 17, 2010, In : Editorial 

As a writer, there are three things about the term 'search engine optimization' that I find difficult to accept. We'll start there, and then go on to why I also find the concept of 'search engine optimization' to be linguistically troubling.

First, readability in English is reduced by a heavy concentration of nouns, and the term 'search engine optimization' is three nouns in a row. We'll call it a three-word noun cluster. In science and technology, that isn't too bad compared to many terms,...


Continue reading ...
 

The ethics of editing

Posted by Bruce Marsland on Thursday, June 17, 2010, In : Editorial 
Of course it's ethical to edit a text. Who wouldn't agree?

A writer wants a text to look and feel as good as possible, to capture the reader at every turn, and so they edit it. They edit it themselves. They ask others to read it and make suggestions. And they ask others to edit it. Sometimes they even pay others to edit it. That's what makes editing a business and even a profession.

But are there cases when this shouldn't happen?

Take university essays, for example. Is it right to revise someone...
Continue reading ...
 

For words' sake

Posted by Bruce Marsland on Sunday, March 14, 2010, In : The text muse 
[First published in A bit of Bruce]

you you a the he he his but for as can needs needs give paying know work tools craftsman well

Roll up, roll up! Here they are, ladies and gentlemen! Just what you've been waiting for! Twenty lovingly crafted words that'll fit neatly into a readily preconcepted and grammatical sentence. I'll even throw in the necessary punctuation for free: , . ,
Syntax not provided. Capitalisation negotiated as layout. Extra charges apply.

Yes, you see. Because after (...
Continue reading ...
 
« Back to posts
 

Blog Archive

  • March 2010
  • June 2010
  • December 2010
  • May 2011
  • July 2011
  • September 2011
  • October 2011
Subscribe to this blog   Subscribe to this blog
 

Make a free website with Yola