To think that some (not all) of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s rules for communications are okay?

[CruCru]

I am not a fan of Jacob Rees-Mogg. I would hate to be made to refer to Imperial units because I don’t think in Imperial (presumably he does) and the Esq. thing is alien to me.

However, things like “Check your work”, having two spaces after a full stop and no comma after “and” are fair enough. I’m not sure about all the banned words or phrases but perhaps they are overused (to the point of being sloppy).

Two spaces after s full stop are normal - I don’t know anyone who doesn’t do this.

Where do you work, NC? It hasn’t been normal in my field of work for decades and would be flagged as an error.

It was a pleasure listening to Jacob speak on the morning Boris came in. Whatever anyone thinks of him, whatever I think of him, he deployed our language well.

Thank you @Peregrina, it's the whole 'look at me, I'm Pitt the Younger' schtick that's particularly irritating.

Yes, he's an arrogant, self important prick. Not allowing staff to use the word " equal" is worrying. The imperial measures thing is outrageous. He must know that the great majority don't understand and can't use imperial measurements. It's like advocating a return to the days when books were written in Latin, so that the majority couldn't read them.

The issue is not the rules, but the fact that he thinks this is best use of his time and that dictating this sort of detail is important. I've worked with managers like this and they are invariably rubbish at their jobs.

Surprised he hasn’t insisted on typewriters.

Abraid2 typewriters? I'd expected quill pens.

I think that it should be Mr, not Esq, by the way.

I have considered the facts and, having examined the evidence, have concluded that Jacob Rees Mogg has a face that requires slapping.

He's also wrong about no comma after 'and', as illustrated. Oh, and again!

I'm no fan of JRM, but don't think this is outrageous. Some of his 'rules' are a bit petty, but it's completely normal for MPs/ministers to have this exact sort of document for staff to refer to. I'd imagine the intended use is for keeping the same tone for external communications, rather than banning staff from using particular words.

He's also wrong about no comma after 'and', as illustrated.

He is.

and, of course, nanny

From the acknowledgements in 'The Victorians' by Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Always use two spaces at work and even on MN. Looks terrible with only one.

But MN edits the second space out.

bloody peasants!

But MN edits the second space out.

I almost decked a coursemate at Uni, after spending 2 days solid (48 hours) doing the curating to put together collections of text for a case study. We were using Wordstar which inserted "soft" spaces in order to justify text (which was all the rage in 88). He tried to insist on hard spaces which the program moved around ... after the 50th time, I snapped ...

I am that old

I approve.

The imperial measurements thing is outrageous. How can anyone think that's reasonable?

I like them all. Have always used 2 spaces. Imperial is bullshit though.

I have to teach both metric and imperial measure and students need to know how to convert between the commonly used units such as kms and Miles and inches and cm. People still ask for a certain amount of inches cut from their hair and it turns out my students have little idea of what that means. Another works in a place where they order 2 by 4 wood in 2mette lengths and is v confused.

I also use 'dear' in emails as 'hello' or 'hi' is way to informal in many cases. I also double space after full stops as it looks wrong otherwise.

With job applications, I am instantly dated when forms insist upon knowing what year I took O levels and my job history back to 18 years of age. It is very annoying.

It's no just that Imperial is bullshit its the potential that it introduces expensive bloody mistakes in measuring and commissioning things!!!

Running a government isn't some quaint little fiefdom like a veg shop that still hand writes tags and only weighs in pounds! It's not some fucking vintage tea shop FFS

Two spaces went out with the ark. It's avoided due to causing white rivers through blocks of text.

I was taught to use 2 spaces after a full stop at school as part of my Information Systems: General GCSE. It has only been in this last year that my brother, who proof reads academic work, told me that that was no longer acceptable. It's so automatic though that I'm finding it difficult to get out of the habit.

no comma after “and” are fair enough.

Just plain wrong.

JRM is tall and not as clever as he thinks he is.

JRM is tall and, despite his expensive education, not as clever as he thinks he is.

Practice has changed on double spaces. I can't get out of the habit but I search and replace it when it matters. Some of us were taught things when young that are now out of date, that's all.