A few years ago, I finally acquired a job title, as a visiting professor at Glasgow Caledonian University, but for the most part I’ve been describing myself as a writer / freelance journalist for 27 years. Before that, I’d have described myself as a journalist, when I worked for the Sunday Times, for a couple of years as literary editor. Before that, I’d have described myself as a student, first at Edinburgh University then at Oxford. Before that, I’d have said I was at Kirkcaldy High School and a fan of Roxy Music and Angel Delight. I’ve written two novels and four non-fiction books, including English for the Natives, my first go at explaining our real grammar and our linguistic brilliance.

I’ve created this website because, as far as I can tell, there isn’t any proper guide to our language on the web. I don’t think there’s anything like this in print either. At least there isn’t anything for us general readers and native English speakers. This website is also meant to advertise the wonderful discoveries of linguistics – that we’re all geniuses at English grammar, and that everyone’s English is equal. Plus the discovery which I think I’ve made – that English is the only language divided by class and that its grammar contains a series of secret class passwords.

Praise for English for the Natives

“Clear, trenchant, funny, Ritchie makes thinking a pleasure” – Professor John Carey

“A hugely entertaining read, full of attitude and verve and sharp running jokes. And underneath all this lies rigorous linguistic heft, which gives the book real authority” – Daily Mail

“I learnt a lot about my own language from English for the Natives, and about how our language and our understanding of the world have developed in tandem. Wonderful to have such a fresh first-hand observation of how language actually works” – Michael Frayn