Search Content
Can You Spot the Dirty Dozen? Jul. 13, 2022
Members of the ever-vigilant Word Guy Blooper Patrol have nabbed a dozen verbal culprits in newspape... Read More
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
Our Declaration of Linguistic Independence Jun. 22, 2022
When in the course of human events it became necessary for Americans to write a Declaration of Indep... 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
Let's Sit Down for a Spell Mar. 30, 2022
"One false spelling may fix a stigma upon a man for life," wrote the Fourth Earl of Chesterfield in ... 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
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
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
'Historic' or Jan. 12, 2022
Q: We have seen signs that read "Historical Site" as well as "Historic Site." Which is correct? R... Read More
Looking Further Into 'Farther' Jan. 05, 2022
Q: When is it correct to use the word "farther" as opposed to "further"? Both words seem to fit gram... Read More
