So, how do you start the first blog post of the New Year? I thought I’d try an irritating speech habit and a few surplus capitals.
I’ve noticed on quiz programmes that many people, when asked to say a few words about themselves, seem to be starting with the word “So…”. It’s taken the place of “Well…’ and, my personal favourite “Er…”.
At least “Er…” is an understandable reaction. The other two are just irritating. And, to be honest, as you should be expecting to be asked about yourself, you should be ready. Keen-eyed readers will have noticed “To be honest”, which I admit is an irritating habit of mine. I’ve tried to stamp it out, but so far I haven’t managed to eradicate it. Maybe 2021 is the year I will sucvceed.
As for the Unnecessary Capitalisation, this is likely to get worse as I am going to read more Dickens this year and I suspect that my prose will become more Victorian. I have read very little Dickens and have decided to address this lack. I’m also going to re-read Evelyn Waugh, as I’ve mot read any for 15 or 20 years and I feel that my supplies of waspishness need refilling.
I am currently thinking of how to arrange my writing in 2021, and what I’m going to do on the blog. The first thing I’m going to do is wish everyone a Happy New Year, because I’m feeling cheerful. The second thing I’m going to do is panic as it’s 11.55 and I need to get a photo and some tags loaded.
See you tomorrow!
So…happy new year to you Simon. To be honest, I may have already wished a happy new year….so…I am sorry if I have.
What is currently driving me mad is “world beating”.
Is that our world beating vaccine or our world beating track and trace (ho, ho, ho)? I admit it has been a very irritating feature of press conferences over the last nine months.
If I haven’t already done so, may I wish you and your family a happy new year and a headful of interesting thoughts.
I will do my best to have an occasional thought in 2021 or at least one that is printable.
I suspect the unprintable ones would be more fun. 🙂
Good luck with your writing this year 😊
I use “So….” and “To be honest…” way more than I should. I have noticed that is a common dialect among my younger readers/followers. The initial use was more to try and connect on their level, I guess? Plus, I actually SAY “So….” in work meetings as a way to identify that I understand the question but am giving myself a moment to put my thoughts in order. I do need to tone down the usage . Thanks for the post!!
No problem, glad I’m not the only one. A good delaying tactic is “There’s a lot in what you say…” The trick is not telling them what the lot is. 🙂
Happy New Year. A bit of advice: Don’t replace “To be honest” with “truthfully.” 😉
I will endeavour to eradicate irritating idioms. Though I may start asinine alliteration as an alternative.
“To be honest” is one of my pet hates. I want to ask if people are otherwise dishonest. I honestly hope this helps you drop it
It’s been explained to me like that before, but I just can’t stop it. To tell you the truth, I don’t know what I can do about my cliche addiction…
I am feeling cheerful, all of us here having awakened on the correct side of the ground this morning, again. 🙂 The morning news was not so cheery, though.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-pharmacist-idUSKBN2961YF
Wishing you and Julia all the best this year, and many more successful poetry submissions!
Thank you lavinia. That was a very strange news item – serious for 500 people, but what good does it do the culprit? It’s not as if a few vaccine breaks are going to damage my view of the vaccine’s effectiveness.
For some people, maliciousness is its own reward.
WE have had several nurses who have killed children. The human mind is a strange place.
You got that right!
Nor mine. The fact this pharmacist was in a position of responsibility and willfully did this is very disturbing though, but I suppose a lot of that went on here last year and I shouldn’t be surprised.
It’s actually very difficult to imagine the things people will do. However, let us concentrate on the good things. 🙂 Cats and porridge.