Evasive Maneuvers
Euphemisms old and new
Strategic Flexibility and Other Bendy Balderdash
October 7, 2021
Savor every moment of this month's euphemism roundup.
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October 7, 2021
Savor every moment of this month's euphemism roundup.
Continue reading...
Language Lounge
A Monthly Column for Word Lovers
I Think We're All Bayesians on This Bus
October 1, 2021
Why is predictive typing so much more accurate and useful than predictive speech?
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Word Count
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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Article Topics:
Candlepower
Ad and marketing creatives
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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Article Topics:
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:
Industrial Athletes Championing Adjusted Ackamarackus
July 8, 2021
- 1 Comment
Why You Should Consider Dictating Your Writing
June 24, 2021
- 6 Comments
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
Click here to browse all the articles in our archive by date.
May 20, 2021
- 8 Comments
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RECENT COMMENTS FROM OUR SUBSCRIBERS
I Think We're All Bayesians on This Bus
JOHN K. said,
"Cheers. Great subject and your examples explain conditional probability better than I've seen in statistical and scientific contexts. Thank you. John..."
- Friday October 8th, 10:36 PM
Orin Hargraves said,
"Interesting point, Susan. I also "trained" my speech-to-text system (Windows suggests that this will improve performance) but the same errors..."
- Thursday October 7th, 12:12 PM
Susan C. said,
"Thanks for this—a subject I, too, have pondered. I’ve used speech-to-text programs on my PC (broken wrist) and found that it does a fine job with..."
- Thursday October 7th, 10:38 AM
Mark A. L. said,
"Thanks again and glad to you see the great weather and great news. (My phone’s predictive text.)"
- Monday October 4th, 3:11 PM
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
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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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