h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The way that "fun" has become an accepted adjective.

I give you, from the cover of the latest Avon catalogue:

"Life's too fun to wear the same shade"

*shrug* I like fun. Fun is fun.

It's not the grammar I'd take exception to in the Avon example, it's the non-sequitur.

PHoD: People or organisations who don't keep hedges/shrubs trimmed when it's their responsibility, making it awkward for pedestrians to use the footpath or pavement. There are two that I encounter regularly that are real bugbears. One is on my way to and from the doctor and dentist. It's a large buddleia, I think, and it overhangs the pavement so much that you have three options to get past it: duck really low, limbo dance or step into the road. The shrub is in a car park behind some shops, so I don't know who has responsibility for it. Possibly it's a matter for the parish council.

The other obstacle is a hedge that borders fields near where I live. I like to go for walks along that road, and there is a footpath for some of the way. The hedge is hawthorn (I think), but there are brambles mixed in. At the moment I can't walk past the hedge without being attacked by brambles. Again, I don't know who takes responsibility for the hedge - the farmer, the parish council or the local district council.

Whoever is responsible for these hedges/shrubs, I wish they'd get their act together and trim the wretched things!

Oh, and I agree that using 'fun' as an adjective seems wrong, but it's just another example of how language changes over time. Having said that, nobody says we have to like it.

PH I: I don't have an iPad. I want an iPad. Now. Anyone wanna buy me one?

PH 2: I refuse to write and submit things to papers if the editor hasn't said yes. Thoughts, please, on this view. Am I right or wrong? Also, editors are difficult people to get hold of. I've been chasing him for three days and he hasn't called back yet. The offensive will begin again on Monday.

PH 3: those who don't get back to you in a timely manner (ie the same day) when it's a time sensitive thing- it has to be done by 25th July. Grrrr.

This is a fun Thread, I really like it. You're all really fun guys.

On the subject of language evolution, what annoys me is the inexplicable vendetta that various editors and publishers and teachers have to the word "alright." I mean, what's wrong with it? It's easy to read, everyone knows what it means, millions of people use it every day in their normal writing and everything! There's no objective reason whatsoever to insist on printing "all right" and, indeed, there's every objective AND subjective reason to replace it with the new word. It's better! Why do they oppose this?!?!?!



~*~PH 2: I refuse to write and submit things to papers if the editor hasn't said yes. Thoughts, please, on this view. Am I right or wrong?~*~

I'd gladly chime in with my two cents, but I don't really know what you mean. Can you clarify, please?

I was stood next to my girlfriend today as she was talking to one of her friends. Her friend constantly kept say “yeh, yeh, yeh” even before my girlfriend had finished her sentence.
How annoying, it verges on being rude, ignorant, and damned right stupid.
Its most probably one of these modernisms that the youth of today have evolved beyond their teenage grunting stage

Another language one. No doubt I and others have said it before.

've is not short for of (should've, could've, would've). The apostrophe indicates missing letters, of is shorter, it's really very clear and simple.

It's even worse when I read it on here, and even worse again when it's written by someone I really thought would know better.

Deb

Oh, and yesterday on the M6 I saw a black limo with thick black lettering across the back window reading "Bloggs Limo's".*

Deb

* It wasn't Bloggs, I can't remember the actual name, I was distracted by the apostrophe

Ah yes, the plague of the greengrocer's apostrophe's hurting our eye's wherev'er we go

Mr X, I mean journalism. Should I write an article, submit it everywhere and wait for people to reject it? I don't work that way (but my mother thinks I should); I will only write, in this instance, if the editor wants it and therefore wishes me to write the damn thing. That make more sense? Why should I waste my time if they don't want it?

Forgive me but writing things (poems, articles on a gig, whatever) and submitting them to newspapers is, where I'm from, what elderly people do when they have too much time on their hands. And I can imagine the ed of my local papers picking up a submission and going, "Ah, not them again-well, we're going to have to run it..." Besides, the more unpaid work I do, the more I devalue myself as a journalist.

PH: if YOU have asked me to edit for you, and I do, then don't dare be condescending to me when I edit your writing. The sun does not shine from either of our arses,and you are not the best writer in the world. Even Neil Gaiman needs an editor!

Never heard of him.

Anyway, I see what you're saying. What if it's a really interesting subject though? One that you just want to write about for your own sake, and then after having done so, well, what harm could be caused by submitting it somewhere?

Or, say, a book..... Not naming any names.....

Also, as a personal question, how would one go about finding an editor job for a publishing company to apply to in the first place? And, if one found such a thing, but didn't technically have a degree in English or whatever, how would one go about marketing one's skills?

Well Anna, speaking for myself, if I write something then I don't know its worth until some editor either accepts it or rejects it.
If I had waited to be asked then one, perhaps two items would have been found suitable and published (some have been rejected).
Note, I said 'suitable' with no pretence at more than that. (Note, too, that most of my stuff has been for h2g2).
[the above isn't meant to be self promotion, just an illustration]

Without a track record (do you have one?) you have no way of knowing your worth to others.
So write something and submit it - to one editor at a time, hope for comments if it's rejected and don't be too sensitive.

Good luck
Rod

If you don't just write articles because, say, you find the subject matter interesting, what are you doing on h2g2? That's kind of the point of this site.

"'ve is not short for of (should've, could've, would've). The apostrophe indicates missing letters, of is shorter, it's really very clear and simple."

You're looking at it backwards... it's not that people see the word and somehow manage to get it wrong, it's that people hear the word and make a logical (if incorrect) assumption about how it is written. Say 'should've' out loud a few times and tell me you cannot imagine anyone, even someone quite intelligent, thinking it's 'should of'.



I'm afraid Anna that unless your name is already known and respected in journalism circles that's how it works. It's the same for all published writing. Why should they stick their neck out and guarantee to print something that might actually be rubbish? I'm afraid that deciding you don't want to do it the same way that pretty much every other freelance writer ever has done it is a bit arrogant. So to go back to your original question on the matter, you are wrong. Sorry, I don't like bursting bubbles like this but sometimes it's necessary.

Really you either need to submit your writing to *everywhere* or you have to start at the bottom, doing sidebar pieces on unusual cabbages for the local paper.

Sorry to derail, but Mr X - have you really never heard of Neil Gaiman! We need to remedy that!

Anna - Mr D is right on this one. At the risk of insulting you, if your work is being knocked back on a regular basis, could it be that the briefs are being misinterpreted? If an editor asks for an article on X and is given an article on X/Y/Z, they will reject it or ask the writer to change it. They have their own strict guidelines to adhere to so any submissions from freelancers has to be exactly what they are looking for.

Mr X, Neil Gaiman is considered a god in some circles. Even Austen needed an editor. I gave in today and sent a message to the person I was editing for, apologising if I’d caused offence. I am going soft, I think. RE journalism, well, yes, if I write my blog and then decide to rework [whatever it is] and submit it to a paper, I’m doing that cos I want to, not because someone reckons I should. In reality, I would like a job where I have an editor and deadlines, but this is hard to come by.

I write most of the interesting stuff up anyway, but that’s for myself. As for the book... ugh. I think I know which one you mean...
Regarding your question, please PM me and I’ll see if I can help you [your mate, mother, whatever]. Having a degree in English would be advisable, but one can get into journalism, for example, without it (see: Fearne Cotton).

Rod: I have a track record. Not too extensive, but I have it. I ask, write and then see. I can’t wait to be asked, if you know what I mean. I feel that I would be too assuming by sending in stuff without asking. Perhaps in some ways I can be too sensitive. EG, I did write and was published on one particular site but now the editor who published me seems to have moved on. The new one, I would assume, doesn’t know me- I have called and called, he’s got my details but has not phoned back. Should I give it up? (Pity if I did, I think, because Colm was so good to all the journalism students; we got our breaks with him.)

Mala, I wrote for here for a bit, but everything’s covered. I haven’t written for h2g2 for ages. I mainly hang here now for this thread and whatever comes up on the front page. I should have a look and see what I can do.

Mr D, I can see what you mean RE ‘ve. Still, gets my goat. I’m happy enough to ask and if they say no, I’ll move on. I will admit that I swore a few years back when I did work experience for ‘em, my local paper put me off the whole thing, but I know the editor really well, so guess who’s taking her chances. ... “unusual cabbages”? Who on earth were you writing for? :D

Fords, RE Mr D and his lack of knowledge on Gaiman, I agree. EDUCATE THIS MAN! IMMEDIATELY! Yes, if a certain thing is what the ed wants, I’ll stick to that. If they want it changed, I’ll give them the changes. I’ll give them what they want. I’ve not been writing long but I’ve not had anything rejected yet; edited for length, yes but not rejected. Perhaps Colm was too soft on us? Never worry, that’s not an insult!

PH: headaches. Please, please go away. Also far too much paperwork.

Hello Anna,
It seems I picked up a wrong feeling from your posts. I offer half an apology.
The other half is disguised by a continuing feeling that (perhaps) you could send in your stuff anyway - that editor is a new one to you so give him something to measure... I suggest that it's not 'too assuming' to do so. His job is, after all, to be on the lookout for quality stuff but he might be too busy finding his own way...

(Here's me, offering advice from such a secure standpoint... ha!)


PH: those tiny itches that sneak in around nose mouth & chin when sinking slowly into interesting dreams.

Hi Rod. Yes, I see what you mean and I’ve decided once I write up this article, then that’s what I’ll do.

PH: writing up said article. It’s taking ages, because I know I don’t have a deadline for it, so I know I can take my time. I have no motivation. This is not a good thing. (I’m not sure of the ed’s name. This isn’t a good thing either...)

PH 2: the “music” of Primus. What is Les Claypool on half the time? Not my bag.

PH 3: I have a new cash card. Tried to buy something earlier and it asked for details; I gave them. It told me the expiry date was wrong. I gave up and tried with my credit card. I don’t think the [payment went through. ARGH. And this stupid secure code thing where you used to have to type in a password to verify yourself/the card/your info, but now it only makes you type in the 3rd, 5th and 8th letters? Unnecessary, ridiculous, and frustrating- a bit like my ex’s music taste and whatever he’s listening to now. It’s not even music!