You’ve likely been inundated with news about our government’s little sabbatical (ahem), the reasons for which are many and complex. I do not claim special insight or analysis. Instead, I’m dedicating today’s Which Word Wednesday to the whole debacle by looking at delusion and illusion. I want to make sure…
Although fall doesn’t officially kick off for another 11 days, I tend to think of Labor Day as the beginning of the season. School has started, football is on, the leaves are changing, and—my favorite: There are cross country meets to watch. It’s part nostalgia, part love for running that…
You may be wondering how in the world someone might mix up these two terms. In common, everyday usage, an orphan is a parentless child; a widow is a woman whose husband has died. But these terms are also used in the editing world to describe less-than pleasant text layout….
Years ago, I decided that when each of my nieces turned 16, I would treat them to a day of fun. Niece Julia was first; we ventured to Chicago to see Phantom of the Opera—it was completely magical. Now it’s niece Isabelle’s turn. And today’s the day. We’re taking the…
You know what I love about my friends? They know I’m a word nerd and they still talk to me and even feed me potential cases for Which Word Wednesday. I am one blessed gal. This week’s entry of preventative and preventive comes from friend Melisa. Her inquiry sent me…
Summer is almost here! And you know what that means: ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen custard, that oh-so-mysterious soft serve stuff, gelato, sorbet, Italian ice, sherbet. The treats are plentiful, which is one of the best parts of summer. But that last item on the list is a tricky fellow;…
The trio for this week’s Which Word Wednesday is something I’ve seen a few times recently, although I’ve failed to keep track of the examples. And examples make this so much more interesting! Oh well—onward. It’s another round of homophones with cite, site, and sight. Let’s look
I’d like to dedicate this week’s Which Word Wednesday to the 2013 Kentucky Derby. Those of you who know me know that my heart doesn’t beat for horses—I have a now-hilarious horseback riding experience that sealed it. (Let’s just say I’m not a fan of crabby horses or saddle bruises.)…
I love it when friends encounter their own word duels and send them my way as potential Which Word Wednesday entries. Today’s match up comes from dear friend Angel who wondered about the difference between connote and denote. Good one! Although I’m familiar with the pair, I had a hard…
Happy Which Word Wednesday, my friends! There has been a lag here as of late due to some heavy project deadlines. I’ve missed being here! And I’m sure your linguistic tank is tapped dry by now, so I’m giving you a triple-dose with a threesome: peak, peek, and pique. This…
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