Search Content
Is 'False Flag' a Linguistic 'Fabric'ation? Feb. 16, 2022
The term "false flag operation" has been flying frequently during the past few years, most recently ... Read More
Midnight Cowboy Shows Up at High Noon Feb. 02, 2022
Q: What's the proper use of "a.m." or "p.m." for 12 noon and 12 midnight? — Bertha Williams, S... Read More
'Historic' or Jan. 12, 2022
Q: We have seen signs that read "Historical Site" as well as "Historic Site." Which is correct? R... Read More
Looking Further Into 'Farther' Jan. 05, 2022
Q: When is it correct to use the word "farther" as opposed to "further"? Both words seem to fit gram... Read More
Coming Clean on Word Origins Dec. 29, 2021
"It's as clean as a whistle," my father would often say after washing the family car. I always thoug... Read More
'Gazebo Effect' Is Bitter Pill To Swallow Dec. 22, 2021
The ever-vigilant members of the Word Guy Blooper Patrol have sent me these errors from newspapers a... Read More
Put Some 'Clause' in Your Santa! Nov. 17, 2021
Your holidays will be jolly days if you give — or get — one of these nifty new books abo... Read More
Earn Your Chops and You'll Get Props Nov. 10, 2021
A reader writes, "In the newspaper I keep seeing sentences like 'So-and-so showed his acting chops i... Read More
Do You Like Spinach More Than Me? Nov. 03, 2021
Q: In a recent television commercial, someone said, "I am not afraid of companies bigger than us." M... Read More
Patient Survey Summons 'Room'inations Oct. 20, 2021
After a recent visit to the doctor's office, I was asked to fill out a survey on my "patient experie... Read More
These Quirky Words Are Spellbinding Oct. 13, 2021
Today, I serve up an alphabet soup of lettery lore. Letter rip! "Strengths" is the longest word in E... Read More
Ladling Out Some Alphabet Soup Sep. 29, 2021
Loyal readers have just scooped up the latest batch of errors in newspapers and other publications. ... Read More
I Know There's a 'Rifle' in There Somewhere! Sep. 15, 2021
I was riffling through my mailbox the other day, when I came across this letter from John Daigle of ... Read More
Prefixes 'En' and 'In' Battle for Dominance Aug. 25, 2021
Q. When should "enclosed" be used vs. "inclosed"? Is there a difference in meaning? — Katherin... Read More
Avoid Snacking on Linguistic Bonbons Mar. 24, 2021
We all have our nasty little habits: binge-eating potato chips, chomping on gum and reading columns ... Read More
And Now for a Lesson in 'Onto'logy Feb. 24, 2021
I, the all-powerful, all-knowing Word Guy, have a confession: I'm sometimes not sure whether to use ... Read More
He Talks to Impress, Not to Express Mar. 28, 2019
Q: I work in a legal department where all of the employees are smart. The problem I have is only wit... Read More
