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Writers Talk About Writing
How to Reestablish Your Writing Habit After a Break
May 26, 2018
Here's how to reestablish your writing habit after a break.
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May 26, 2018
Here's how to reestablish your writing habit after a break.
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Word Routes
Exploring the pathways of our lexicon
The Geeky, Cosmic, Philosophical History of "Multiverse"
May 23, 2018
By Mark Peters
Multiverse is a word with multiple meanings and origins, ranging from heady philosophy to spandex-clad superheroes.
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For a while, the trendy prefixes i- and e- may have been flashy signposts for this new era, but go communicates what they couldn't: urgency, energy, and, most of all, mobility.
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Evasive Maneuvers
Euphemisms old and new
Heavy Episodic Malarkey and Other Formulated Fluff
May 7, 2018
My euphemism mop wiped up the following terms from the drippy drivel of 2018. Enjoy and employ these terms, but keep a twaddle towel handy.
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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.
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For Whomst Does the Neologism Toll?
February 23, 2018
- 8 Comments
26 Fantastic No-cost Tools for Writers
February 19, 2018
- 5 Comments
Taking Some Problematic Executive Time
February 7, 2018
- 2 Comments
The Duties and Powers of His Office
February 1, 2018
- 3 Comments
Here's a Non-Resolution That Could Change Your Writing Life
January 18, 2018
- 4 Comments
Come On, You Know the Euphemism of the Year
Click here to browse all the articles in our archive by date.
January 10, 2018
- 7 Comments
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RECENT COMMENTS FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS
The Geeky, Cosmic, Philosophical History of "Multiverse"
Bosse B. said,
"Are you guys allowed to use words that are not in VT? That's quite doozy, eh?"
- Wednesday May 23rd, 11:20 AM
To Boldly Go
Juan Jose Hartlohner said,
"- Shortest paragraph ever: "Go." - Should the NTSB called their scramble team "Go-Team"?"
- Tuesday May 22nd, 7:42 AM
Susan D. said,
"Nice article. As a language junkie, I very much enjoyed it. And thanks for being so thorough."
- Monday May 21st, 2:24 PM
Nancy Friedman said,
"Orin: Thanks for that addition to the list! It looks as though GO is functioning as a modifier here ("the team that *goes* to the scene of an..."
- Monday May 21st, 9:12 AM
Orin Hargraves said,
"And there's this, from the NTSB website: "Go Team" with no intervening comma. 'The NTSB "Go Team" At the core of NTSB investigations is the "Go Team."..."
- Monday May 21st, 8:03 AM
Sam T. said,
"How I enjoy your articles! Refreshingly creative and thought-provoking. Thank you for making the effort. Sam"
- Sunday May 20th, 9:39 AM
Words with Sharp Edges
David C. said,
"I recently wrote a book about sticks and stones versus words: LAUGHING AT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. As Vincent alluded to above, the stoic Marcus..."
- Sunday May 6th, 9:32 AM
Nerding Out on "Nerd"
catwalker said,
"We in Canada like to think that 'nerd' is derived from 'Northern Electric Research and Development.' Northern Electric was the Canadian counterpart to..."
- Friday May 4th, 11:45 AM
Words with Sharp Edges
ezriel K. said,
"Words are the root of all evil."
- Thursday May 3rd, 10:46 AM
Naomi B. said,
"To Mr. Hargraves, this is the first time I have seen a written expression of "racking" one's brain. I had always visualized the phrase as "wracking,"..."
- Tuesday May 1st, 8:59 PM
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Lesson Plans
Put the VT to work in your classroom
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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