Five quick English tips for Swedes

- even if you’re really good at English

1.      UK or US: British and American English have plenty of differences – in spellings, vocabulary and grammar. Choose which one is right for your audience and then use it consistently.

2.      Since and for: Don't make the common mistake that both of these can be used as a replacement for the Swedish “sedan.” How to remember which to use when? Use “since + a specific point in time” (e.g. I’ve been an engineer since 2012) and use “for + a duration of time” (e.g. I’ve been an engineer for 2 years).

7 things we didn’t know we moved to Jämtland for

Last year, Erik and I switched the fast life of New York for the forests of Norrland. We were enticed by the idea of daily cross-country skiing, closeness to nature and the peace of our cabin by the lake.  So far so very good.

Last weekend though, very good became extraordinary. On a Gastronomy tour of Vaajma (the very Northern part of Jämtland and over the border to Norway), our senses were pleasured by so many experiences that we’d not expected from this region before moving here. And at the centre of the weekend? Food and travel, the way to my heart.

There’s too much to write about in one blog, so here’s the top 7 list from the tour. You can also watch a short film produced by one of the other participants. Spot me and Erik?

How writing for others keeps your pencil sharp

There are so many different ways to write.

I’m reminded of that this week as each of my current client projects demands its own style. Writing for others forces a writer to test new techniques. It challenges you to try on styles that you normally avoid. Sometimes they even fit. It keeps you creative, fresh and sharp, and for that I’m grateful for each project - whatever style it asks for.

Here are this week’s examples:

You too can present like a priest

The 5 great presentation techniques I watched in a cathedral in Norway.

Last week I had the honour of singing with over 200 other choir members in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. My local choir, Östersund’s Cantilena Kör, joined seven other choirs for a celebratory mass to re-open “St Olavsleden” – a 500 year old pilgrim route between Sweden and Norway. (Incidentally I had translated the event’s PR materials).

Now, I am not a religious person. Add to this that a) it had been a long day, b) the entire ceremony was in Norwegian, c) we were sitting on cold steps, and you have the ingredients for me not paying attention to the actual content of the ceremony. But one of the priests changed all that. In spite of my scratchy Norwegian, sore backside and waning attention – here’s why.