We want to take grammar back starting with a few of the most convoluted but well-rooted rules this grammarian has ever seen. Starting with different forms of English and how to decipher them. Check out these rules it’s time to rebel against and consider which rules you want to break when writing content.
Choose an English
The biggest grammar conundrum I have is with English across countries. There’s American English and British/UK English, Canadian English and Australian English. English is spoken differently in the British Isles as it is in Australia and New Zealand and in North America. You’ve got the Irish speaking English, as well as South African English, Philippine English, and Indian English.
All the different dialects are awesome! Writing for the most common ones—UK/British, Canadian, Australian, and American—back and forth on a regular basis—not so much! Stick with me on this, I am not dissing dialects. I want to figure out a smarter and faster, more reliable way for web content writers to learn the different English dialects. That way we can follow them when writing and editing content for a global audience.
Grammar Problematics
Just a few of the many roadblocks I’ve hit online when just sourcing UK English are:
1. There is no common online source guide like Dictionary or Thesaurus like other searchable wordbooks. You have to go by gut or instinct or one of these other less reliable methods:
2. The British Council is what Google considers the best you’ve got online for learning differences between our English and that over the pond. And it’s meager at best and only touches the surface of the waters that are already murky.
3. Those free online English Vs English websites that will convert your content into the right dialect are sketchy and rarely work. I haven’t found a paid program or software to even consider.
Provide Culturally Appropriate Content
In order to be able to provide culturally appropriate content for clients, we need to have a better way of deciphering those differences online. Yes, there are dictionaries and books on slang that we can use and we should. A tool to search for these differences would be an excellent resource. Want more online resources to give you a better grasp of the British/American English differences?
- The beginning of all the grammar changes
- Grammarly’s take on the matter
- A list for British grammar
- Editing tips for British English
To learn more about good old grammar, check out these references.
“Welcome. I’m the Whispering Wordsmith of the Woods, An Old Man Willow type cunning the lit forest, Disrupting textbookish writers with grammar snaps and cracks.” As a professional web content writer for small-to-medium businesses, Miranda B understands how to effectively balance technical jargon and personal brand messaging. Her content is sticky, evergreen when expected to be, and always creative. Keep ’em coming back for more, that’s Miranda’s motto!
