When we read a book by an esteemed author, aren't we entitled to expect no typographical errors, no awkward phrasing, no misuse of language?
I've just read a new book in which each of those sins occurs. To cite one: the author writes about a man "peddling" his bike around the city.
Makes you wonder if the rider is an ambulatory eBay vendor.
It seems the man was actually "pedaling" his bike, using his feet to apply pressure to the pedals.
Errors erode trust in a speaker or writer. That's the main reason writers — especially those who do not have paid editors — should ask a friend or colleague to vet the writing for them.
Emails from readers keep landing in my inbox, asking me to elaborate in a kindly way on a misusage, or, if a reader was really steamed, to pour boiling oil on the sinner.
Take the difference between like and as.
The most common misuse: "Like I said ..."