Author: Dean Koorey

WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Phony vs phoney

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re such phonies… Q: Hey

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TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Origin of ‘southpaw’ and ‘goofy foot’

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s all about lefties… Q:

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WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Breath vs breathe

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s a breath of fresh

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PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: The origin of “couch potato”

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re getting comfortable on the

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WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Prize vs prise

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we have our eyes on

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TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: The origin of ace, deuce, love

Each week, we chat about the quirks and anomalies of the English language. This week, we’re avoiding double faults with a few common tennis terms explained… Q: Hi AWC, inspired by the recent Wimbledon tournament, can you explain some of the terminology used in tennis? A: Certainly. One moment please.

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Interviews with writers
Dean Koorey

AWC EXCLUSIVE: Interview with ‘Anonymous’

Anyone who has ever worked in a corporate office will know the awe-inspiring power that a framed black-and-white wall picture of a kitten saying “hang in there” can have. In fact, motivational and inspirational quotes can be found everywhere from greeting cards to coffee mugs, notebooks to T-shirts. “If you

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PUNCTUATION
Dean Koorey

Q&A: “Nothing to write home about”

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we’re discussing things to write

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TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Migrants vs immigrants

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we’re discussing migrate, immigrate and

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PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Sell like hotcakes, sell your soul, sell yourself short

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we’re discussing sayings with “sell”

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TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Solstice and equinox

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we’re discussing everything under the sun…

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WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Roofs or rooves? Hoofs or hooves?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re raising the roofs (or

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PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Where does ‘dime a dozen’ come from?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, the idioms are a dime

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WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Final vs finale

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s the final say on

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WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: OK, O.K. or OKAY?

Each week, we take a look at a common confusions and ambiguities in the English language (that gives us about a century’s worth of material!) – making things easier through the power of friendly conversation… This week, when is it OK and when is it not OK? Q: Hi AWC,

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TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Stepmother, stepfather, stepchild… Why ‘step’?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re taking things step by

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PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Why is it a ‘ballpark figure’?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s in the ballpark… Q:

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WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Couch vs sofa vs lounge

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week we are just lounging around…

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PUNCTUATION
Dean Koorey

Q&A: ANZAC vs Anzac

Every week in our free Australian Writers’ Centre newsletter, our Q&A desk handles the important lexical issues of the day. This week, a reader wanted to know about the ANZAC vs Anzac…<.p>

Q: Hi there, my TV guide lists the show “ANZAC Girls” as “Anzac Girls”. But surely, it has to be capitals, because it’s an acronym, right?
A: Okay, hang on, just need to put this batch of delicious Anzac biscuits in the oven first. Right, now, where were we? Ah yes. ANZAC vs Anzac.

Q: It stands for “Australia and New Zealand Army Corps” and therefore should be capitalised, should it not?

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Writing news
Dean Koorey

9 sweet courses to binge over Easter

As we approach the Easter long weekend and the chance to take stock one-third of the way into 2019, it’s a great opportunity to add to your writing skills with our suite of self-paced online courses. The following NINE have been created by experts and designed to provide you with

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