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These Words Are Based on 'Sound' Judgment Aug. 30, 2023
"Bar-bar-bar." That's what the speech of strange, foreign tribes sounded like to the ancient Greeks.... Read More
Latin Root 'Caper' Has Got Your Goat Aug. 23, 2023
Picture a taxi cab leaping through heavy traffic like an acrobatic billy goat. In fact, the word "ca... Read More
Summer Reading List 2023: Books for When You Can't Focus Jun. 24, 2023
It's the briny armpit of another June. The presidential race already reeks like an abandoned diaper.... Read More
Why Not Write Your Life? Jun. 23, 2023
When I'm not writing columns or working on my books, I devote a lot of time to helping seniors commi... Read More
Pronoun Choice Can Lead to Double Bogey May. 31, 2023
Which sentence is correct? "My husband likes golf more than I," or "My husband likes golf more than ... Read More
The One Where Matthew Perry is Sober Mar. 24, 2023
I waited 14 weeks on the library waiting list to listen to the audiobook version of Matthew Perry's ... Read More
Why I Tend to Write About Myself Dec. 02, 2022
Someone recently asked in the comments section of one of my columns, "Do you ever write about someth... Read More
Phrase Origins? Let's Cut to the Chase! Oct. 26, 2022
Let's see how many readers' questions about word origins I can answer in 90 seconds! No. 1: "The who... Read More
Please Read This Book: Part 2 Oct. 14, 2022
Last week, I made a strong suggestion that everyone add "Happiness Is A Choice You Make: Lessons Fro... Read More
Your Story: Part 3 Sep. 09, 2022
Because I'm an author, columnist and journalist, working with words comes naturally. But I'm well aw... Read More
Handy Tips for Writing That Zips Sep. 07, 2022
Here are three easy ways to ameliorate your writing: No. 1: Avoid fancy words like "ameliorate." (In... Read More
Your Story: Part 2 Sep. 02, 2022
In my last column, I addressed the benefits of writing a memoir, both for yourself and your family m... Read More
Your Story: Part I Aug. 26, 2022
When I'm not working on my own writing projects — or lost within the pages of a spellbinding b... Read More
There's No Beast in These Beauties Aug. 17, 2022
The "fish" in "crayfish" has nothing to do with fish. There's no pig in "piggyback," and no cat snoo... Read More
Is There a Fossil on Your Tongue? Aug. 10, 2022
Have you ever wondered why "bravado" means a FALSE sense of courage? "Bravado" is a linguistic fossi... Read More
'Primrose' Path Leads to 'Buttery' Slope Jul. 27, 2022
Did you know there's no "linger" in "malinger," no "butter" in "buttery" and no "rose" in "primrose"... Read More
Books Everywhere Jul. 16, 2022
When I was a student in the fourth grade, our teacher gave us an assignment investigating different ... Read More
Old Words for New Wizardry Jun. 08, 2022
"Class, please use your stylus to write the correct answer on your tablet." Are these instructions f... Read More
Bank Goes on a 'Power' Trip Jun. 01, 2022
Today, some random dispatches from the Word Front... —Power Play — "What would you like ... Read More
English Shows Off Nerves of 'Steal' May. 25, 2022
The English language is a great thief. Like an out-of-control kleptomaniac, our Mother Tongue has ra... Read More
