http://belletra.com English Translation from German, Spanish and Catalan; English Editing and Writing Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:38:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The English translation of Ricky Martin's statement today is a world away from the Spanish original. And what you've been hearing in the press is the biggest translation mistake of all. The English out of the Ricky Martin camp says that he is a fortunate man who happens to be ... http://belletra.com/written-english/ricky-martin-translation-fail/ Happy National Grammar Day, loyal blog readers! Before you read today's entry, why not have a look at some previous posts on grammar, including our illustrious president's most talked-about mistake? Today I explore a comment left about the proper usage of unbeknownst by John Carlson. John asks:Can one use “unbeknownst” without the “to” ... http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/national-grammar-day-exploring-unbeknownst/ Scientists at Stony Brook University in New York have found that 1 in 10 long-term couples experiences true love, as far as an fMRI can show it. Jake Young of Pure Pedantry explains why this is so much journalistic fluff. But the researchers are right about one thing: by referring ... http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/watchwords-for-2009-swan/ Congratulations, President-Elect Obama! http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/a-victory-for-eloquence/ If you e-mail me when I'm on vacation, you'll probably receive a message in English back. When I'm traveling, I'm often too pressed for time to figure out a grammatically perfect way to express my unavailability in German. I'll set up a message saying something like,Thank you for your e-mail. ... http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/communicate-with-your-clients-in-their-native-language-its-what-they-pay-you-for/ This is not stuffy schoolmarmishness. This is, for now at least, the way standard written English is supposed to work. You said it, NYT. Philip B. Corbett's refresher course is designed for those who, like me, still get confused by the who/whom distinction : is it just for indirect objects ... http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/for-those-whom-care/ By the third time I noticed unbeknown in somebody's English, I knew it was time to take action. First stop: that U.S. English stalwart, Merriam-Webster. I smugly tapped in "unbeknown", expecting to see M-W's usual nonjudgmental response: The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. A Mistaken Mistake? Color me surprised -- or don't, ... http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/98/ or How to Tell When You Really Need an Editor, Part II: XYZ Hotel & Spa presents an elegant bridal open house that offers you a rare opportunity to tour our one-of-a-kind banquet rooms and the world famous St. Francis Chapel in full wedding attire. A special event for those brides who ... http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/the-running-of-the-brides/ I've listened to the English interview that John McCain did with Yoli (Yoly, if you read the Washington Post account) Cuello of Radio Caracol. The Republican presidential candidate does do a good job of acting as if he knows exactly what he's saying, although he does hit those talking points ... http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/of-course-mccain-knows-who-zapatero-isright/ I just found this fantastic video from Taylor Mali to show "The the Impotence of Proofreading." Have a look, and a laugh, on this sleepy August Thursday. http://belletra.com/editor-at-large/how-to-tell-when-you-really-need-an-editor/