The inspiration for this page came from BobH, a "marketing professional with too much spare time." BobH recently created Why a Tittle?--a blog "dedicated to documenting the common practice of dotting 'i's incorrectly on signs made up of mostly or all uppercase letters." As you've probably guessed, we're venturing here into the outer limits of language studies, to that point in cyberspace where prescriptive grammar turns into wacky obsession. Enjoy the ride.
Literally, a Web Log
- Since June 2005, this "English language grammar blog" has been faithfully "tracking abuse of the word 'literally.'" Nothing more, nothing less. Creators Patrick Fitzgerald and Amber Rhea say that it all "started as a nit-picking distraction, grew to a frustrating obsession, and finally resulted in the creation of this blog." Examples drawn from around the world include a department store "literally crawling with uniformed cops," a child "literally coughing his head off," and (from the late Jerry Falwell) a "homosexual steamroller" threatening to "literally crush all decent men, women, and children who get in its way."
lowercase L
- Now in its third year, William Levin's good-natured blog focuses on a single orthographic phenomenon: "hand-written signs with letters in all-caps, except for the letter L." Here you'll find images of products "FOR SAlE" and signs directing us to "PlEASE ClOSE THE DOOR!"
The Apostrophe Protection Society
- Though we've mentioned this British site before (most recently in The Campaign to Abolish the Apostrophe), it belongs on this list for the lively, eccentric, and usually off-topic contributions to its message board. While Mr. Richards and son attend to apostrophe abuse, visitors tend to rattle on about mixed metaphors, acute accents, and government euphemisms (such as "access hole" and "inspection chamber" for "manhole"). Even if your impulse is to Kill the Apostrophe, the original Protection Society is a hoot.
Quotation Mark Abuse Pool
- Though strictly speaking not a blog, this Flickr site hosts well over 400 photos of signs that misuse quotation marks, from YOU KEEP YOUR "CAR" to PLEASE "CURB" YOUR DOG.
Celebrity English
- Unlike today's other entries, this blog attends to a wide range of usage issues, from subject-verb disagreements to the correct definition of billingsgate ("foul, abusive language"). Its examples, however, are drawn primarily from the ranks of the glitterati: striking solecisms from the mouths of "actors, television stars, musicians, authors, internet personalities, and famous heiresses." If you have a mind to correct Will Ferrell when he says "between my son and I," this blog is for you.
Recommended Sites for Writers:
Back here on earth, we do have some recommendations for language lovers in general and for those seeking some practical advice on writing:
