I briefly mentioned this in a previous post, but I have to be honest that it’s mildly alarming how many queries I receive that misuse the word “blog.” I’ve seen everything from “the webpostings on your Blogsite” to “your blogspot on your website.” People are personalizing, which is great, but… word people should not be misusing words.
Now, before I get accused of sarcasm for writing this post: this is not sarcasm. Some people need this info, and hopefully this will clear things up.
Let’s drill down a bit into the different words and usage. OED, eat your heart out:
The whole shebang: it’s a blog, singular. It’s not blogs or a blogger or a blogsite or a blogpsot. Just: blog. Or, if you want to get fancy, weblog, only no one really says that. Example: “I read your blog.”
An individual entry on the blog: a post. Example: “I loathed your post on rhetorical questions, but I’m submitting to you anyway.” (“Entry” is interchangeable with “post.” Thanks, Scott).
Multiple entries on the blog: posts. Example: “Thank you for your posts on The Hills, which were deeply philosophically illuminating.”
Proper usage of the word “blogs”: Blogs, plural, refers to different blogs at different sites. Example: “I like to procrastinate by reading as many publishing industry blogs as possible.”
Blog as a verb: Blogging as an overall activity is “to blog.” Example: I blog, you blog, we blog, they blog. (thanks to Charlie for suggestion this addition). However, to add something specific to your blog you can either use the past tense of “blog” or “post.” Example: “I posted an entry on blogging” or “I blogged about blogging today.” (thanks to Kate)
A person who blogs: A blogger. Example: “He is a wild and crazy blogger.”
And with that, I’ll conclude this webposting.
Lisa Schroeder says
Now you will most likely get queries that say, "I love your whole shebang, Mr. Bransford."
Sara says
Here, here!
Now chapter two needs to clear up the matter of "tweets", "twittering" and the "twitosphere."
Julie Weathers says
Thanks. I wondered where the word "blog" came from in the first place.
Kiersten says
I believe "blogspotting" is a sport, is it not? The equipment was too expensive, but I've seen some nice coffee table books on The Joys of Blogspotting.
Galen Kindley--Author says
This is bloggone good info.
Bane of Anubis says
Dear Mr. Bransford,
I really enjoyed your post today about your trip aboard the SMS Fury…
So much anger, my young Padawan 🙂 –
all joking aside, your frustration sounds similar to mine with subjunctives.
Margaret Yang says
Next post: the difference between toward and towards. (Hint, the latter is British.)
Lunatic says
I want to know who the hell thought up the word weblog or blog in the first place. It's too close to blob. I'm starting a petition to make it a chewy. And to change a post to a spit.
Fred
Ink says
"Barf."
"Oh no, get away from me!"
"No, no, that's my name. Barf. I'm a Mog. Half-man and half-dog. I'm my own best friend!"
Ah, Jim Candy, what will we do without you?
Anonymous says
Ever notice that a "blog" is just one "l" away from a "bog?" I don't think it is just a coincidence.
Mary Jo
lauren says
Ooh yeah, the misuse of "blog" is a big pet peeve with me, too. My local newspaper's website is a HUGE offender of blog-linguistics misuse. Even more annoying, most of the regular commenters on the newspaper's various blogs refer to themselves as "bloggers." Argh! A person who comments on a blog is not automatically a blogger!
Bane of Anubis says
Margaret, that's another peeve – oooh, toward, backward, forward, etc… what's it up in Canadia, Bryan – English or Yankee style?
Dara says
Good info! I agree with Sara: there should be a clarification post on Twitter–I'm still Twitter Illiterate 😛
Elaine 'still writing' Smith says
Anyone one else wasted minutes researching the origin of 'shebang' ?
Phil says
Additionally, weblog works.
Ink says
Bane,
Both. Canada is like No Man's Land, a sort of giant free for all. I see both… and probably use both. Terrible, I know. I'm guessing, technically, we're probably supposed to tag along with the Brits. I like tea, too. And crumpets. Well, I'm not sure I've ever actually had a crumpet. But I've had scones, so that will have to do. Hell, I'll just eat some donuts. I am Canadian, after all, eh?
Bryan
Charlie says
Couldn't blog also be used as a verb? I blog, you blog, we all blog for eggnog.
A silly blogger blogs to a fellow blogger in a blog about bloggers misusing the word blogs, has spoken.
Kate says
What about blog as a verb?
As in, "I managed to get in a bit of blogging this weekend."
Or is it more technically correct to say, "I managed to get in a bit of posting to my blog this weekend."?
Ink says
And John Candy posthumously changed his name to Jim. In case anyone was wondering. Someone please inform his Estate.
Nathan Bransford says
Thanks, Charlie, updated accordingly.
Bane of Anubis says
Bryan, well, you are The Melting Pot's northern stepchild (the simmering pot, maybe), so that make's sense 🙂 (hugs and kisses from your southern upstart troglodyte 🙂
Elaine – didn't look up shebang (I figure google's gonna come back w/ some sites the missus would not approve of); however, used the phrase "three sheets to the wind" yesterday and my wife looked at me like I was nuts – I looked that up and learned that being sheeted to the wind is a 4 stage process – who knew?
Nathan Bransford says
Thanks also Kate, updated accordingly.
Elaine 'still writing' Smith says
I've been re-writing Treasure Island for 11 year olds – I now know a lot of 'ancient' nautical phrases – 'run that on up the mizzen mast' and see if it sticks!
Memoirs of a Bulimic Black Boy says
“but… word people should not be misusing words.”
Unless using them to communicate with a body of people who have, share, appreciate and agree upon an alternate understanding of the word. I’d hate to have to purge all my non-white Standard English writing authors. Language is fluid and therefore transforms often independent of its creator. The word Google is a prime example, we use it as a verb however Google is a noun.
T. Anne says
Thanx for the blogolicious post.
Scott says
An entry is a post, but you can also post an entry. Does that make entry and post interchangeable? I've always operated under that assumption.
lysid says
Technically, this could be called your Blogspot or Blogger, as opposed to your LiveJournal or Dreamwidth account or whatever the kids are flocking to these days.
Fawn Neun says
Hmmm… I dunno. I think "Blogsite" is kinda cute and fun to say. 😉
PurpleClover says
I <3 Nathan's blogspot.
Sorry I had to. Maybe "blogs" was a typos?
Sorry I had to again.
I will admit I went back to check my query from the Agent-For-a-Day contest to be sure I used "blog" and everything was written in the correct context. lol.
Nathan Bransford says
Thanks, Scott, I agree, updated accordingly.
Creager Studios says
Wonder if the word 'Blog' originated from the small nation of Bloglandia? The land where everyone speaks in short sentences about silly things they observe or do.
sex scenes at starbucks says
Yes, I cringe when I see posts referred to as "blogs."
Goodie says
For Memoirs of a BBB:
You should google Merriam-Webster, my friend. I google, you google, we google and blog!
bryngreenwood says
Hmmmm…so you're saying the elusive blogspot isn't just a myth? And men have them, too?
Justus M. Bowman says
You posted wisely.
Thermocline says
Blogger is kinda boring. Bloggo or Blogette might be more useful. Maybe Dark Blogotron if you're an artificial intelligence trying to take over the internet.
Rick Daley says
"I like to procrastinate by reading as many publishing industry blogs as possible."
OMG…you do that too?
Jil says
Good, I needed all that clarification, although "Post" was the word I had most trouble with. What about "alright" and "all right"?
I don't mind how many words are added to our language, it's the ones that fall by the wayside that frustrate me. Such as, "I saw an actor in Safeway today." I now must use extra words to find out if it's male or female because we can't use "actress."Grrr!
Elizabeth says
I would think that anyone who can't get these simple terms straight couldn't be that good a writer, as writing is communication (no matter the form), and someone who can't communicate effectively can't be easy to read. Sounds like a good excuse to trash a query to me!
Buffra says
I know this wasn't meant to be sarcastic. Maybe it wasn't even meant to be funny, really.
But I can't stop giggling madly at the whole thing. I think I'm going to read it again, just for the giggle factor.
Who knew a basic refresher in "blogging" would be so darn amusing?!
WV: curaffs — the hill-billy cut-off jeans version of a carafe, often made out of an old tin can
Erin says
Make sure to watch out for "typo's" on your "blogger" 🙂
Jen P says
Well, right now, this is general correct usage of accepted terminology, agreed. But language is fluid and on the web and in the media, more so than anywhere. The words develop and change as they become used, so if a significant population (even if you believe ignorantly mis-)use the words frequently they do become accepted as the correct use of language.
I agree with you 100% “but… word people should not be misusing words.” And in queries, right now, people should use the accepted term correctly. But are we not also responsible for creating terms and developing them over time? The terms Orwellian and Big Brother spring to mind from a recent article. The word 'fat', would seem to have its whole own street meaning, which would be considered plain wrong in other situations.
And mistakes which become common usage become acceptable and held to be correct over time. – Different from and different to, being my pet favourite.
House 6 says
Oh, good gravy… people get confused by this? That's scary!
AnonBlogger says
And all the blogs out there together are the "blogosphere."
Mira says
Lol. I enjoyed this post.
I liked the verb breakdown, especially.
However, you left out the adverb forms: bloggedly, bloggally, bloggically.
Adverbs are very important.
Anonymous says
I love when things like this get pointed out to crowds. Could you please enter a post letting people know that if you "could care less," you care at least a little, but if you "couldn't are less," you truly don't give a fig?
RW says
You don't include "weblog" in your lexography–the longer term that "blog" is an abbreviation of.
I suppose in a formal business email it's really better to use the the complete term, weblog. Blog is just too casual.
Sarcasm 😉
Anonymous says
"Couldn't CARE less." Ugh.
DebraLSchubert says
I also use blogosphere (which is listed in Wikipedia, btw) or blogiverse. In this day and age, with the technology changing faster than you can say, "tweet!" or "blog!" it's no surprise that not everyone is on the same blogalicious boat.
Jordan McCollum says
THANK YOU! People saying that they "have a blog up today" always drives me crazy. I mean, unless they're planning on taking their blog down tomorrow…