5 Fun Facts About the English Language

To celebrate National Grammar Day 2024, we've picked our five favourite facts about English spelling and grammar.

1. Our alphabet has 26 letters today, but it used to have 32! Lost letters include Ash (æ), which represented a short vowel sound between a and e, and Ethel (œ), which was originally pronounced like the oi in coin.
2. A palindrome is a word or phrase that reads the same backward or forward. Examples range from single words like radar, level or rotator to full sentences such as A man, a plan, a canal – Panama.
3. I am is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
4. The Oxford Word of the Year 2023 was rizz. Short for charisma, it refers to someone's ability to attract another person through style or charm.
5. The sentence The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog is a pangram: a sentence that uses all 26 letters of the alphabet at least once. Pangrams are sometimes used to test keyboards or in puzzles and word games.

Top tips for avoiding typos

Remember, well-written copy helps businesses look more professional, retain customers' trust and show that you care about attention to detail.

So, to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes and inconsistencies, it's a good idea to work with a professional proofreader and use a style guide.

Looking for proofreading services? Need to create or update your company's style guide? We're here to help!

Come back soon for more insights into style guides on the Bwritr blog.