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Politicos 'Stand Up' a New Buzzword Apr. 08, 2020
Today, two random dispatches from the Word Front ... — "Stand Up" Comedy — The Washingt... Read More
'Flatten' Down the Hatches! Apr. 01, 2020
The mantra of public health experts during the current coronavirus pandemic has been, "Let's flatten... Read More
'Epidemic'/'Pandemic' Distinction Requires Fine-Tuning Mar. 25, 2020
During the current coronavirus scare, I've been taking comfort in playing the piano. I'm a terrible,... Read More
How a Virus Got Its Name Mar. 18, 2020
As the current coronavirus disease spreads, several readers have asked me about the origin of its na... Read More
When Your Name Is Your Game Mar. 11, 2020
I recently heard a radio interview with a spokesman for Venture Data, a company that conducts teleph... Read More
All's 'Fare' in Love and 'Commuting' Mar. 04, 2020
Q: Why do we call someone who travels back and forth to work a "commuter"? — Chris Ryan, New Y... Read More
Taking the Terror out of 'Terrific' Feb. 26, 2020
Q: Could you explain why "terrible" and "horrible" are synonyms but "terrific" and "horrific" are an... Read More
Iowa Caucus 'Debacle': Worse Than We 'Thaw't' Feb. 19, 2020
Well, we finally found something that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on: The Democratic Io... Read More
Hacking Around With Backronyms Feb. 12, 2020
During my first year of teaching, I supervised about 50 boys in a recreational jogging program. It w... Read More
Some Metaphors Are Beyond Comparison Feb. 05, 2020
We swim in a sea of metaphors. Our everyday conversations teem with the minnows of comparison: We bi... Read More
Sitting in the Cat Word Seat Jan. 29, 2020
On an evening dark and dreary, I was pondering possible topics for my next column when my gray tabby... Read More
Dad Fires Up His 'Range' Rover Jan. 22, 2020
My 23-year-old daughter called me the other day to tell me that her landlord had provided a "new ove... Read More
Bristle While You Work Jan. 15, 2020
One of the occupational hazards of writing a language column (other than introducing myself and havi... Read More
Blooper Patrol Finds Cash in the Cellar Jan. 08, 2020
Members of the ever-vigilant Word Guy Blooper Patrol have sent me this latest collection of gaffes, ... Read More
Repartee in the Rathskeller? You Don't Say! Dec. 25, 2019
Here's your chance to test your mastery of frequently mispronounced words. I'll even throw in some l... Read More
Experts Have Pronounced Differences Over 'Ukraine' Dec. 04, 2019
Today, some random dispatches from the Word Front ... — Scratching Our U-craniums Recent test... Read More
'American Exceptionalism' -- What, Who, Why and Really? Nov. 13, 2019
Pundits, professors and presidents have been batting around the term "American exceptionalism" like ... Read More
Shoo, 'Of,' Don't Bother Me! Nov. 06, 2019
The seemingly harmless preposition "of" is the fly in the ointment of good writing. This pesky pest ... Read More
Lock, Stock and Peril Oct. 02, 2019
— Answering a Loaded Question: President Donald Trump's recent description of the U.S. militar... Read More
Reading Between the Lines Sep. 25, 2019
Bing Crosby once crooned in a classic song, "You've got to accentuate the positive/ Eliminate the ne... Read More
