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Don't Be Judgy about 'Backflash' Jan. 23, 2019
Some random dispatches from the Word Front, including one from the War Front: Flashback to "Backflas... Read More
What 'Caws'es Us To Say 'Crowbar'? Jan. 16, 2019
Q. What's the origin of "crowbar"? — Al Cohen, Newington, Connecticut A. A crow, a robin and a... Read More
This 'Calling Card' Hasn't Expired Jan. 09, 2019
When a TV weather forecaster described a November blast of cold air as "winter's calling card," I wo... Read More
Fifty Shades Of Go Away Jan. 01, 2019
I'm the female author of a funny memoir about sex addiction and relationships. Unfortunately, I now... Read More
Words That Go Bump in the Night Dec. 26, 2018
As a young graduate student, I once took a flight to Minneapolis that left LaGuardia Airport in New ... Read More
What Are the Rules for 'Fewer' and 'Less'? Dec. 19, 2018
My seventh-grade English teacher, Mrs. Morris, was a formidable and forthright woman. And when it ca... Read More
A Look Back at the Words of 2018 Dec. 12, 2018
My goodness, what a year we had, With mayhem, storms, and fires so bad. Our language seemed to fall ... Read More
Political Potshots Have Always Packed Punch Dec. 05, 2018
If you think today's political insults are nasty, consider these mud bombs hurled at Presidents Ulys... Read More
Good Folks Peppered With Salty Language Nov. 28, 2018
Q. Why do we call virtuous people "the salt of the earth?" — John S., West Hartford, Connectic... Read More
New Books on Language Bring Holiday Cheer Nov. 21, 2018
There's no place like tome for the holidays. These new books will delight the word-lovers on your sh... Read More
Linguistic Disputes Can Pack a Punch Nov. 14, 2018
Heated controversies over proper usage can lead to food fights at faculty clubs and fisticuffs on co... Read More
These Tools Have Fascinating 'Handles' Nov. 07, 2018
During college, I spent an entire summer with a lute in my hands. No, I wasn't strumming medieval ma... Read More
Subject and Verb Beg to Disagree Oct. 31, 2018
Q: The lead sentence in a newspaper story stated, "A string of recent announcements promising jobs a... Read More
Language Pitches Some Learning Curves Oct. 24, 2018
Some random dispatches from the Word Front: — Listen and Learn. The recent confirmation hearin... Read More
Nicknames Pepper Sergeant's Band Oct. 17, 2018
Nicknames can be a curse or a blessing, and sometimes both. Often, they mock a person's physical app... Read More
Are Business Buzzwords on Your Radar? Oct. 10, 2018
Let's play Jargon Jumble! Fill in each blank in the following sentences with the best choice from th... Read More
Halloween Books Oct. 05, 2018
These new books are super fun and help kids get in the mood for the year's spookiest holiday. "Scary... Read More
Eagles and Rams and Bears ... Oh, My! Oct. 03, 2018
NFL owners aren't generally known for supporting liberal legislation, but the investors who founded ... Read More
Courtly Terms for Kavanaugh Hearings Aug. 29, 2018
As the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh approach, many wonder whether... Read More
The 'Democracy or Republic' Fight Aug. 10, 2018
In the fourth century, the theologian Athanasius wanted Christians in the western Roman Empire to us... Read More
