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Shifting Letters Create Whole 'Nother' Words Jul. 06, 2022
In English, what you say is often what you get. During the 1300s, for instance, a protective cloth w... Read More
The Last Name I'll Ever Have Jun. 29, 2022
Several readers have recently inquired about the pronunciation and origin of my last name. So, I fig... Read More
How a Driveway Became a Parkway Jun. 15, 2022
Q: Why do cars drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? — Johanna Van Valkenburgh, West Gran... Read More
Old Words for New Wizardry Jun. 08, 2022
"Class, please use your stylus to write the correct answer on your tablet." Are these instructions f... Read More
Bank Goes on a 'Power' Trip Jun. 01, 2022
Today, some random dispatches from the Word Front... —Power Play — "What would you like ... Read More
English Shows Off Nerves of 'Steal' May. 25, 2022
The English language is a great thief. Like an out-of-control kleptomaniac, our Mother Tongue has ra... Read More
It's Time To 'Book' Your Summer Vacation May. 18, 2022
If you're shipping out for summer, consider toting one of these new books about language aboard. The... Read More
This Comma Quiz Will Give You Pause May. 11, 2022
"The fewer commas you use," Nicholas Baker once wrote, "the more of a tyrant you would be if placed ... Read More
I Know Where You're Coming From May. 04, 2022
A Chicagoan who had just moved to Tennessee was washing his car with a garden hose when his neighbor... Read More
A Cheat Sheet on Linguistic 'Adult'ery Apr. 27, 2022
When Groucho Marx once asked a female contestant on his TV show, "You Bet Your Life," to describe he... Read More
This Quiz Might Make You 'Grimm' Apr. 20, 2022
Once upon a time, a sadistic language columnist challenged his readers to find one grammar or usage ... Read More
Where Never Is 'Herd' a Discouraging Word Apr. 13, 2022
We all know that a gathering of geese is a "gaggle," a passel of fish is a "school," and a herd of s... Read More
Origin of 'Burner Phone' Is One Hot Topic Apr. 06, 2022
The Jan. 6 Congressional Committee is currently investigating a burning issue: Did former President ... Read More
When Choosing Classical Plurals, Caveat Errata! Mar. 23, 2022
Howard Goldberg of West Hartford, Connecticut, poses this plural puzzler: What's the Latin singular ... Read More
'Take' This Rule to Heart Mar. 09, 2022
Q: Please explain the difference between "bring" and "take." — Paul Johnson, Minneapolis A: In... Read More
'Round-Robin' Is Based on Circular Reasoning Mar. 02, 2022
Why is a tournament in which every contestant plays every other in succession called a "round-robin"... Read More
Let's Jettison Excess 'Ton'nage Feb. 23, 2022
Today, some random dispatches from the Word Front... — 2,000 Pound Gorilla — A recent in... Read More
Is 'False Flag' a Linguistic 'Fabric'ation? Feb. 16, 2022
The term "false flag operation" has been flying frequently during the past few years, most recently ... Read More
Two-Faced Words Prompt Double Takes Feb. 09, 2022
"Flores Drops Bombshell Lawsuit" "Gov. Newsom Pitches Plan To Reopen Public Schools" "Red Tape Holds... Read More
Midnight Cowboy Shows Up at High Noon Feb. 02, 2022
Q: What's the proper use of "a.m." or "p.m." for 12 noon and 12 midnight? — Bertha Williams, S... Read More
