-
PublishedJuly 16, 2023
In a word: Animal talk is the cat’s pajamas
The English language is full of colorful animal expressions. Enough to keep you busy until the cows come home.
-
PublishedJuly 9, 2023
In a word: William Safire’s word-filled legacy
He cheekily warned his readers that 'It behooves us to avoid archaisms. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.'
-
PublishedJuly 2, 2023
In a word: W3 was definition of ‘controversy’
Criticism of Webster’s Third New International Dictionary often boiled down to it boldly being a recorder of the English language instead of a bastion of proper English.
-
PublishedJune 25, 2023
In a word: What’s behind all the word games? M-O-N-E-Y
Word games are hot, and plentiful. Just ask the New York Times. And Taylor Swift.
-
PublishedJune 18, 2023
In a word: Spelling reform’s long, fyootl history
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said, 'Reformed spelling might become universal, but it would cease to be the English language.'
-
PublishedJune 11, 2023
In a word: All the buzz about spelling bees
When Kingston, Jamaica’s Jody-Anne Maxwell spelled 'chiaroscurist' correctly in 1998, she became the event’s first black winner and also the first winner from outside the United States.
-
PublishedJune 4, 2023
In a word: Tech names and a look at FANG
Amazon started out as Cadabra. But not everyone got the reference, and it didn’t help that people calling the retailer often heard 'cadaver' instead.
-
PublishedMay 28, 2023
In a word: The names behind some big names
'Pete’s Submarines' sounded too much like “pizza submarines,” so owners Fred DeLuca and Doctor Peter Buck first changed the name to 'Doctor’s Associates' before deciding on a more familiar one.
-
PublishedMay 21, 2023
In a word: How did you pronounce that again?
Take the word 'gif," which is an acronym for 'graphics interchange format.' People seem to pronounce it one of two ways, but its inventor has no doubt about how it's pronounced.
-
PublishedMay 14, 2023
In a word: A look at my elementary words
'It’s not a timecard,' I say back to the nice voice coming out of the speaker in the ceiling, 'it’s a timesheet.'
- ← Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- …
- 25
- Next Page →