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2020 Was Bad; Just Take Our Words for It Dec. 16, 2020
With sadness, dear readers, I'm here to review The words of the year we've all just been through. Th... Read More
Don't Waver in Heeding 'Wave/Waive' Distinction Dec. 09, 2020
"These guys never waiver in supporting me." When I read that sentence recently, I thought, "What a w... Read More
Quoth the Raven, 'Never Said' Nov. 11, 2020
Complete each of these familiar quotations: 1. "A penny for your ... " (John Heywood); 2. "Variety i... Read More
A Glimpse Into the Kitchen of Language Oct. 14, 2020
We often create words in the same way we prepare delicious foods: We slice them, dice them, season t... Read More
Give These Sentences a CAT Scan Sep. 30, 2020
Cats have nine lives, and this quiz on verb use has nine questions. Choose the correct verbs and you... Read More
A Canny Question Proves Uncanny Sep. 16, 2020
I had just been thinking about the odd words "canny" and "uncanny" when an email from a friend arriv... Read More
Links to Slavery and Racism Taint Many Terms Aug. 19, 2020
In the wake of George Floyd's death and the reinvigoration of the Black Lives Matter movement, words... Read More
This Question Comes Up 'Biannually' Aug. 05, 2020
Q: I was taught that a biannual event occurred every other year. Now it seems "biannual" is being us... Read More
Do Brainstorms Cause Thunder and Enlightening? Jul. 29, 2020
We've all been there. You and your colleagues are brainstorming during a Zoom session, shouting out ... Read More
'Gregarious' and 'Ruminate' Share Beastly Origins Jun. 10, 2020
Whenever a minister speaks of a congregation as a "flock" — the last time this happened, by th... Read More
When Being 'Correct' Can Lead to a Wreck Jun. 03, 2020
A newspaper reporter recently wrote that an Edgar Degas exhibit was "up for fewer than 10 days." I d... Read More
Summer Books for the Alone Ranger May. 27, 2020
Whether you're self-isolating at a cove, cabin or campsite this summer, or just stuck at home like t... Read More
Merger Mercury with the Sun May. 03, 2020
As the Taurus sun merges with Mercury, we'll think twice before we speak words that might come acros... Read More
A Trap Play in the Grapefruit League Apr. 15, 2020
While working as a busboy in the dining hall during my college days, I became the victim of what wou... Read More
Politicos 'Stand Up' a New Buzzword Apr. 08, 2020
Today, two random dispatches from the Word Front ... — "Stand Up" Comedy — The Washingt... Read More
'Epidemic'/'Pandemic' Distinction Requires Fine-Tuning Mar. 25, 2020
During the current coronavirus scare, I've been taking comfort in playing the piano. I'm a terrible,... Read More
How a Virus Got Its Name Mar. 18, 2020
As the current coronavirus disease spreads, several readers have asked me about the origin of its na... Read More
All's 'Fare' in Love and 'Commuting' Mar. 04, 2020
Q: Why do we call someone who travels back and forth to work a "commuter"? — Chris Ryan, New Y... Read More
Taking the Terror out of 'Terrific' Feb. 26, 2020
Q: Could you explain why "terrible" and "horrible" are synonyms but "terrific" and "horrific" are an... Read More
Iowa Caucus 'Debacle': Worse Than We 'Thaw't' Feb. 19, 2020
Well, we finally found something that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on: The Democratic Io... Read More
