Nerds, Snotrils, & Ferroequines - Grammar Myths Exposed

New Book Takes an Axe to Common Grammar Myths

If you ever feel intimidated by the rules of English grammar, relax. Chances are, you already know most, if not all, of what you need.

So says Ken Grace, New Zealand author of Nerds, Snotrils and Ferroequines: A moderately reliable history of interesting words.

A distillation of five years’ blogging on writing and communication, the just-published book traces the origins and changes over time of more than 130 words and phrases – and along the way dismantles many strongly held notions of how some of them ‘should’ be used.

“I’ve been surprised at how much people care about words,” says Grace. “Many people also want reassurance on how to use them. I’ve aimed to do that in a way that’s fun and accessible.

“The good news is that many of the so-called ‘rules’ of grammar and good writing that get shoved down people’s throats are total nonsense. What’s far more interesting to me is the joy that’s available when you’re no longer stressing about screwing up.

“This book is a celebration of language, not a how-to on its use. I wrote it for everyone.”

A professional writer and owner of Department of Writing, Grace began blogging in 2012. Words covered include the common (is, are, the) the little known (fungible, feculent, kludge) and the nonsense (ferroequine, snotril, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis).

“What I’ve discovered is that when you dig, every word has an interesting story,” he says.

“Nerds, Snotrils and Ferroequines” has been released in time for the Christmas and holiday reading market. It is available from selected booksellers and Grace’s company website, departmentofwriting.co.nz

Excerpts from “Nerds, Snotrils and Ferroequines”

Eschatology (n): the study of the end of days. Not to be confused with scatology, the study of another end-related matter entirely.
p25, ‘eschatology’

Do you ever have a problem telling apart lie and lie (for untruth versus lying down)? What about tear and tear (as in crying versus ripping)? Bass the fish versus bass the singer? No you don’t. Context is your ultra-reliable friend here, and you don’t need different spellings to help you out.
p134, on misspelling faze as phase

Given English speakers’ long history of messing up words so they’re easier to pronounce (your ancestors pronounced iron eye-ron, not eye-in, you lazy sod), a little tolerance of the aksers among us could go a long way.
‘Snotril’ and other mispronunciations

When we were children, my siblings and I used to munch on oxalis, then tell each other it was poisonous and we would all get sick and die. Didn’t happen. However, we did build up a strong immunity to dog pee.
p140, ‘paroxysm’

At the same time that dog was pushing hound aside in England, its variants were also bounding through Europe, presumably shedding fur on carpets and crapping on lawns as they went.
p150, ‘dog’

Cheat as a synonym for being unfaithful Tiger Woods-style isn’t recorded till 1934, which is (and make of this what you will) shortly after the first mass-produced zippers hit the market.
p160, ‘cheater’

Like me, you may regard it as a deep irony under current global circumstances that nuclear and nut emanate from the same ancient source.
p164, ‘nuclear’

About the author

Ken Grace is a professional writer and writing coach. After completing an MA in English at Auckland University, he finagled his way into medical publishing before becoming a magazine editor. For 10 years he worked as an advertising copywriter and in 2000 founded Department of Writing, a business dedicated to helping other businesses tell their stories well. He has worked with some of New Zealand’s largest companies and dozens of smaller ones, and has coached hundreds of people in government and business on how to write productively and effectively. He lives in Auckland.

ENDS

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