812 - Kibosh. Sidekicks. Misolation.
The origin of "kibosh" is a long-standing mystery in the English language. Yiddish? A whip? Clog-makers tools? We investigate. Also, sidekicks play interesting and important roles in fiction. Does you...
25 Feb 202117min
811 - Inigo Montoya and Coining Phrases. 'Dose' or 'Dosage'?
Coin a phrase? It does not mean what you think it means. And get your dose (or dosage?) right.Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course.Join the conver...
18 Feb 202112min
810 - Words out of Time. Why 'OK' Is OK.
Would words and phrases like "operative" and "pump him for information" be out of place in a novel set in the 1800s? We investigate! And we also look at the two spellings of "OK/okay," and I explain w...
11 Feb 202115min
809 - Rethink Descriptions Like 'Diabetic.' The Wonderful World of Italics,
Should you call someone a diabetic or a person with diabetes? Also, are you confused about when to use italics? We have the basics (and something that might be changing)!Subscribe to the newsletter fo...
4 Feb 202114min
808 - 6 Latin Abbreviations You Should Know. 'Imply' or 'Infer'?
6 Latin Abbreviations You Should Know. 'Imply' or 'Infer'?Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course.Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.Gramm...
28 Jan 202114min
807 - Why We Call Them Sea 'Shanties.' A Trick to Remember How to Spell 'Conscience'
If you're enjoying sea shanties these days, have you wondered why they're called "shanties"? Plus, I always have a hard time remembering how to spell "conscience." Here's my trick for getting it right...
21 Jan 202112min
806 - Why You Should Try Fanfiction. How to Find Tricky Pronunciations.
Why writing fanfiction can make you a better overall writer. Plus, my tricks for figuring out tricky pronunciations.Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing ...
14 Jan 202116min
805 - 'Acedia': the lost name for the emotion we're all feeling right now
"Acedia": the lost name for the emotion we're all feeling right now. Plus, when does "thank you" need a hyphen?Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing cours...
7 Jan 202111min
