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Celebrating the Message of Gospel Music During Black Music Month Jun. 10, 2022
At the end of May, President Joe Biden issued his proclamation on Black Music Month for June. In it,... Read More
This Quiz Might Require a P'h.'D. Nov. 04, 2020
It's "H" Hour! Can you choose the correct derivation for each word beginning with "h"? 1) Harbinger:... Read More
And Now for Some Literary 'Critter'cism Aug. 12, 2020
Edith Frankel of Hannawa Falls, New York, sent me this sentence from Science News: "An array of crit... Read More
Will You 'Cotton' to These Word Origins? Jun. 24, 2020
"I don't cotton to that idea," a friend said the other day. The idea he wasn't "cottoning to" was my... Read More
Are You A-Where of These Regional Terms? May. 20, 2020
Despite the homogenization of American language during the past century, many delightful words uniqu... Read More
The Fake That Launched a Thousand Slips May. 13, 2020
When the origin of a word seems obvious, beware! Consider these tricksters: Launch: You might assume... Read More
Are You Ready for a 'Double-Cross-Word' Puzzle? Apr. 29, 2020
Let's play "Guess the Word Origin!" Can you select the correct derivation of these terms? 1. When so... 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
What 'Caws'es Us To Say 'Crowbar'? Jan. 16, 2019
Q. What's the origin of "crowbar"? — Al Cohen, Newington, Connecticut A. A crow, a robin and a... Read More
This 'Calling Card' Hasn't Expired Jan. 09, 2019
When a TV weather forecaster described a November blast of cold air as "winter's calling card," I wo... Read More
Words That Go Bump in the Night Dec. 26, 2018
As a young graduate student, I once took a flight to Minneapolis that left LaGuardia Airport in New ... Read More
What Are the Rules for 'Fewer' and 'Less'? Dec. 19, 2018
My seventh-grade English teacher, Mrs. Morris, was a formidable and forthright woman. And when it ca... Read More
Political Potshots Have Always Packed Punch Dec. 05, 2018
If you think today's political insults are nasty, consider these mud bombs hurled at Presidents Ulys... Read More
Good Folks Peppered With Salty Language Nov. 28, 2018
Q. Why do we call virtuous people "the salt of the earth?" — John S., West Hartford, Connectic... Read More
New Books on Language Bring Holiday Cheer Nov. 21, 2018
There's no place like tome for the holidays. These new books will delight the word-lovers on your sh... Read More
Linguistic Disputes Can Pack a Punch Nov. 14, 2018
Heated controversies over proper usage can lead to food fights at faculty clubs and fisticuffs on co... Read More
These Tools Have Fascinating 'Handles' Nov. 07, 2018
During college, I spent an entire summer with a lute in my hands. No, I wasn't strumming medieval ma... Read More
The Silly Debate About Socialism Sep. 06, 2018
What's with all this socialism business? A handful of lefty candidates are calling themselves social... Read More
Dealing With a Screaming Child Aug. 28, 2018
Dear Annie: I was recently shopping in a department store, when I heard the very loud screams of a c... Read More
Rush-SHA, Rush-SHA, Rush-SHA Mar. 15, 2017
Every day, another onslaught of crazy out of this administration. Pick a day. Any day. Wednesday, le... Read More
