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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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.
Continue reading...
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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Let's look at the behavior of some words in English whose primary and original denotation involves physical contact, physical characteristics, violent impact, and damage.
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The realm of nerdiness has been steadily expanding for years. That makes this a good time to look at this insult turned compliment with a murky past and bright future.
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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
January 10, 2018
- 7 Comments
"Fake News" Is the Real Word of the Year
January 7, 2018
- 2 Comments
Bombology: Beyond the "Bomb Cyclone"
Click here to browse all the articles in our archive by date.
January 3, 2018
- 1 Comment
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Quiz yourself on these words spoken by the man at the center of the "Laurel" / "Yanny" craze!(100 words)
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RECENT COMMENTS FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS
To Boldly Go
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."..."
- Today, 8:03 AM
Sam T. said,
"How I enjoy your articles! Refreshingly creative and thought-provoking. Thank you for making the effort. Sam"
- Yesterday, 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
Jan S. said,
"We might see it as a mark of social progress that our present-day blows, blasts, slashes, and other attacks draw less blood than they did centuries..."
- Tuesday May 1st, 11:56 AM
26 Fantastic No-cost Tools for Writers
Dennis H. said,
"Thanks for the list. I plan to try some of them."
- Tuesday May 1st, 11:50 AM
Words with Sharp Edges
ThomasK said,
"Thanks for the interesting list of words ‘denoting physical contact’, as you described it. However: could you not consider anguish, stress, worry as..."
- Tuesday May 1st, 8:21 AM
Vincent Vrijbalk said,
"Perhaps the "sticks and stones" adage is inspired by stoic philosophy? Nevertheless, this is an interesting article. It is nice to see how words cross..."
- Tuesday May 1st, 4:58 AM
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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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