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Great $%&@ Gatsby! On “Bad” Words in Good Literature
The sign of any great book is that it has been banned for its corrupting influence on youth. The Great … Read the full post
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Read More: Victor Wishna
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And Now For a Few Words From “Father”
About a month ago, in honor of Mother’s Day (and the mothers it honors), I pointed out just how … Read the full post
Why Book Lovers and Word Lovers Should Love the Tony Awards
Tonight, for the 66th consecutive year, the American Theatre Wing will hand out its Antoinette Perry … Read the full post
There’s Got to Be a Word for That…
I watch a lot of ESPN, and I love to learn new words—but I don’t often watch ESPN in order to … Read the full post
Sunday Diversion: Words and Remembrance (The Answers)
Last week, I reported (as in, someone else did the work of porting it—I just re-ported it) on a … Read the full post
Sunday Diversion: Words and Remembrance
It’s commonly accepted (and, I suppose, scientifically confirmed) that as we get older, our memory … Read the full post
With Thanks to “Mother”—Everywhere
Today is the day to appreciate your mother, or mom, or mama, or ma, or mami, or mum, or mutter, or … Read the full post
Gathering Eggcorns Can Be Hobby-Forming
One of the most important reasons to care about language and to always be delving deeper into its … Read the full post
Meet Molly Coddle (and Other Words with “Personality”)
So I was in a meeting the other day, when one of the others in attendance, making a point of which … Read the full post
Earth: A Real Classic
Earth Day. It is day to celebrate our home planet—which, depending on your scientific/religious … Read the full post
Some Words for Today — “Tax” Included
So today is April 15, the day we mark the spiritual observance* of Tax Day, and we are once again … Read the full post
“Book!” (First Word Bodes Well For a Life Full of Them)
Our daughter is nine-and-a-half (months, that is). And while she continues to fascinate me every day, … Read the full post
Say What? New Research Reveals English is Less Than 200 Years Old
On the heels of a recent study that contends our language is dying, some startling new research indicates … Read the full post
How to Tell Your “Honeyfuggle” from Your “Hooky Bob”
Back in the late 20th Century, during my college freshman orientation, we had a visit from a linguist … Read the full post
How Many Words Have You Killed Today?
Words are dying, and you probably aren’t doing anything to stave off the epidemic. How many times … Read the full post
Don’t QWERTY, Be Happy?
Before I share this news… Are you sitting down? At your computer? Okay. Look at your keyboard. All … Read the full post
American English: A Language of Pure Imagination?
So I happened to catch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on cable the other night—the 2005 Tim Burton/Johnny … Read the full post
Why You Can’t Always Trust the Dictionary…
Caught an interesting bit on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” this week (turns out it … Read the full post
No Stopping the Linguistic “Linsanity”
By now, if you’ve been exposed to any form of media at all in the last week, you’re likely familiar … Read the full post
Valentine’s Spell(ing): How Can Luv B Wrong?
Your name doesn’t have to be Siri for you to realize that the latest communications technology and … Read the full post
