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Writers Talk About Writing
How to Reduce Writing Shame
September 23, 2021
By Daphne Gray-Grant
Don't feel shameful when reducing your writing goals.
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Don't feel shameful when reducing your writing goals.
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The Rare, Overstuffed "Turduckenym"
September 16, 2021
Most portmanteaus are blends of two words. When three or more words are involved, things get tricky.
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Evasive Maneuvers
Euphemisms old and new
Naturally Inspired, Independent, Gifted Gobbledygook
September 9, 2021
Check out the latest fiddle-faddle and twiddle-twaddle that may send you higgledy-piggledy.
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Communication with the Divine is an extraordinary thing, and so most religions have specific, prescribed forms of language for it. How well do they serve the purpose?
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Automatically create lists of vocabulary from any text
using the Visual Thesaurus VocabGrabber.
January 18th is celebrated as Thesaurus Day to honor the birthday of the author of the first thesaurus, Peter Mark Roget. Get into the spirit by reading our two-part interview with Roget biographer Joshua Kendall here and here. Also check out an ode to the thesaurus penned by Franklin P. Adams here and Johnny Carson's hilarious "Funeral for a Thesaurus Editor" sketch here.
On the first Monday in September, the United States observes Labor Day, while Canadians celebrate Labour Day. If you want to know why labour is the accepted spelling in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries like Canada, while Americans prefer labor (and color, favor, honor, humor, and neighbor), check out this classic Word Routes column by Ben Zimmer.
Article Topics:
Multi-Purpose Malarkey That Facilitates Fiddle-Faddle
June 10, 2021
The Post-Dictionary World?
June 3, 2021
- 4 Comments
How to Learn More From Negative Feedback
May 20, 2021
- 8 Comments
Auditing Imaginary Companions Through Mental Training
Click here to browse all the articles in our archive by date.
May 6, 2021
- 1 Comment
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The Rare, Overstuffed "Turduckenym"
Phil H. said,
"I'll bet there are former Cub Scouts out there who also once aspired to acquire the Webelos badge: "Cub Scouts in fourth and fifth grades work toward..."
- Sunday September 19th, 1:48 PM
Naoko T. said,
"mRNA is messenger RNA, not modified RNA."
- Sunday September 19th, 12:17 PM
When You Should Reduce Your Goals
Ismail M. said,
"Is there a kindle version of your book? How can we purchase an electronic version?"
- Sunday September 19th, 10:34 AM
Naturally Inspired, Independent, Gifted Gobbledygook
Claire H. said,
"Have you noticed in your grocery store that some produce is "farm-grown?" Where-the-heck is the other stuff grown?"
- Wednesday September 15th, 11:24 AM
K.R. said,
"Hi Mark, I love your articles (and your nouns, verbs, etc., too). But your lack of Klingon knowledge is easily remedied - just go to Duolingo and sign..."
- Sunday September 12th, 2:16 PM
When You Should Reduce Your Goals
Craig J. said,
"A cousin of Zeno’ paradox?"
- Thursday September 9th, 11:23 PM
Audémus Dícere
Orin Hargraves said,
"Thanks for catching that one, Deborah. I sense interference (in my brain) from wring, wrest, and mostly from wrangle. Mea culpa."
- Wednesday September 8th, 8:25 AM
Deborah Gavrin F. said,
"Wrankle? So odd to see a typo in the Language Lounge!"
- Tuesday September 7th, 4:45 PM
Mike R. said,
"Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa: To err is human to edit, divine thus sayeth Gramaraly whom I worship."
- Thursday September 2nd, 1:57 PM
Elevating Our Evasive Ecosystem
Dr. Don said,
"Good article! Thanks! Reminded me of Mark Twain's wonderful observation that "In certain desperate and trying circumstances, profanity provides a..."
- Thursday August 26th, 1:25 PM
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Stage Directions: the Vocabulary of Theatrical Delivery
November 1, 2013
How can interpreting the language of stage directions enhance students' comprehension of drama?
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