’s competition for the Best Grammar Blog of 2011 is now closed, and Shady Characters managed what I think is a very creditable 8th place. Congratulations to the winners — A Clil To Climb, Grammar Girl and Arrant Pedantry — and of course, thanks to all of you who voted for Shady Characters!
Comment posted by John Cowan on
Not surprising that the winners of a popularity contest are the prescriptive usage blogs. “For he that has, to him shall be given: and he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.”
Comment posted by Keith Houston on
Hi John,
Thanks for the comment. I can’t complain — Shady Characters isn’t really a grammar blog at all, and I’m quietly (or perhaps not so quietly) smug that it did so well regardless!
Comment posted by Jonathon on
Who’re you calling a prescriptivist? Them’s fightin’ words!
Though I do occasionally give usage advice, I’m more interested in examining the motivations behind prescriptivism and debunking bad rules.
And thanks, Keith, for the link and the shout-out.
Comment posted by Keith Houston on
Hi Jonathan — no problem. I’ve just started reading your site, and I’m enjoying it a lot!
Comment posted by Jonathon on
Thanks! I’m enjoying your site too. The topic of the pilcrow came up at work the other day when I found out that none of my coworkers knew what it was called. (They called it “the paragraph symbol thingy”.) I thought about blogging about it, but I think I’ll just send them the link to your posts instead.