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Five Phrases That Mean You're Not Hired Aug. 28, 2014
Put down that pen, Ben. Turn that computer off, Geoff. That brilliant resume that you are writing fo... Read More
Should We Topple This 'Regime'? Jul. 16, 2014
Three readers have sent me questions about three different sentences: —Sandy Duffy of Princeto... Read More
Summer Reading for Word Lovers Jul. 09, 2014
Whether you're heading for hostels, highways or hammocks this summer, curl up with one of these new ... Read More
The Cheat Sheet for Life Jun. 27, 2014
I am not a big fan of most teachers, and certainly a screaming majority of the ones I had growing up... Read More
I.O.U. an Explanation of I.E. Jun. 25, 2014
Q: One linguistic usage that always throws me for a loop is whether to use "i.e." or "e.g." to cite ... Read More
'Room'inating on Word Origins Jun. 11, 2014
Whenever you sit back and relax in your home, you're exemplifying the origins of the word "residence... Read More
Jargon Makes the Dean's List Jun. 04, 2014
Today, some random dispatches from the Word Front ... —Dean Speak — Benjamin Ginsberg's... Read More
Free Range
May. 21, 2014
How to Avoid 'Trash Talk' May. 21, 2014
When flight attendants collect our napkins, plastic cups and cellophane wrappers before a landing, t... Read More
Why the Throes Can Be the Pits Apr. 30, 2014
"I couldn't finish my paper because my family is in the throes of moving," a student told me last we... Read More
Flo & Friends
Apr. 14, 2014
Words From the Easy-Bake Oven Apr. 02, 2014
Given the ease of slipping off a diet, it's not surprising that many phrases for easy tasks involve ... Read More
Countdown to Controversy Mar. 26, 2014
If David Letterman can devise top 10 lists, we letter men and women can do it, too. Here are today's... Read More
What Hath God 'Fraught'? Mar. 19, 2014
Q: Would you please discuss the proper usage of the word "fraught"? I had an English teacher who tol... Read More
From Rags to Witches Mar. 05, 2014
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, I coached a boys cross country running team. During practice, these run... Read More
Is There a Cure for 'Curate'? Feb. 26, 2014
Once upon a time, "curate" was a nice, quaint little word. Derived from the Latin "cura" (care), it ... Read More
Too Much of a 'Good' Thing Feb. 19, 2014
Today, some random dispatches from the Word Front ... —Goodie-Goodies — We all know tha... Read More
Unscrambling Some Common 'Eggs'pressions Feb. 12, 2014
Is there any connection between the phrase "egging someone on" (inciting someone to action) and actu... Read More
Giving Letters the Silent Treatment Feb. 05, 2014
Should you pronounce the "t" in "often"? The "l" in "almond"? Though "often" was pronounced with a "... Read More
Peevish Readers Grow 'Pet'ulant Jan. 22, 2014
Every once in a while, I ask my readers to unleash their pet peeves — a snarling collection of... Read More
