The Last Post: Adventures with the Written Word

Words evolve. Their spellings and definitions can vary over time, and sometimes terms are replaced altogether. This article explores the changing meaning of the word infrastructure . Aerial view of highway intersection. Designed by  Freepik Etymology The Oxford Dictionaries website defines infrastructure as ‘ The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities… needed for the operation of a society or enterprise ’. The word was coined in 19th-Century France and literally means ‘substructure’. It was originally used to refer to foundations for  railways, roads or buildi ngs . Changing Context Usage didn’t really take off until the middle of the 20th Century, when Western Europe was simultaneously rebuilding structures after World War II and preparing for the Cold War. The New York Times u sed the word in 1952 to refer to the vast programme of ‘… Allied airfields, barracks, railways, roads, depots and joint headquarters … ’ being developed by NATO . Beyond Publi...

Happy Halloween 2025! You may be trick-or-treating this year, attending a costume party or hiding at home with the lights off. But are you familiar with these phobias, and their origins? Unusual phobias: James Hutchinson + AI coulrophobia , mass noun : an extreme fear of clowns. The word’s origins are uncertain, although the Online Etymology Dictionary suggests that the prefix coulro- may be related to k ō lobatheron ('stilt') in Greek. cyberphobia , noun : an extreme fear of computers or technology; cyber- is a back-formation from cybernetics . hexakosioihexekontahexapbobia , noun : the intense fear of the number 666  (known to Christians as ‘the number of the beast’, in reference to the Book of Revelation). However, the oldest surviving copy of the text actually gives the number as 616 . See The Other Number of the Beast: 616 . pantophobia , noun : a fear of everything, or generalised anxiety. From pantos (‘all’) in Greek, and dating back to the 19th century. Original...

Humans are a sociable species. We love to share ideas – so why do we often struggle to communicate through our writing? Author  Brenda Ueland  offered an  explanation: ‘ You have to hold your audience in writing to the very end -- much more than in talking, when people have to be polite and listen to you ’. Human communication. Designed by  Freepik When we speak to each other, we usually receive immediate non-verbal feedback (positive signs include regular eye contact or smiling). Written content relies solely on words – words that are based on assumptions about what readers want. However, these five communication strategies will make your writing engaging and sustain readers' attention throughout. 1. Choose a Strong Title A short – but relevant – title tells your audience what they can gain from your content. Identify keywords and include them to boost your online presence. Consider phrasing your title as a question – it’s quite possible that people are Googling...

Hello, and welcome. This is  The Last Post :   a place to discuss language, grammar, punctuation, plain English and publishing.  Illustration: James Hutchinson + AI My name is James Hutchinson . I'm a professional Copy Editor and Copywriter with over 20 years of experience. In my career, I've worked on a wide variety of material, including: architectural publications; specification software; SEO -driven articles for the web; research reports; marketing copy; case studies; and dissertations. I've written my own guides, articles, plays and reviews.  I've also studied copyright and have cleared thousands of high-quality images for publication.  With a degree in English Literature and membership of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) , I bring both knowledge and passion to these Adventures of the Written Word .  Are you an author or editor? Are you a copywriter or content producer? Maybe you are simply curious about the origins of th...