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Do TV News 'Anchors' Sink or Swim? Nov. 29, 2023
I've always assumed the TV term "anchor," referring to the host of a newscast, was derived from "anc... Read More
I Hope You -- and This Column -- Read Well Nov. 15, 2023
"Citrucel absorbs readily." When Les Krumm, a retired pharmacist from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hea... Read More
This Fairy Tale Has a Happy Ending Nov. 08, 2023
Once upon a time (the early 1800s to be exact), a scholar named Jacob Grimm lived in Germany. In add... Read More
Will This Quiz Boost Your Self 'S' Teem? Nov. 01, 2023
Can you select the correct "s" word in each sentence? 1. By the time daylight (saving, savings) time... Read More
What Should We Do To 'Due To'? Oct. 25, 2023
Q: Is it acceptable to use "due to" for "because of"? — Helen Finnie, San Jose, California A: ... Read More
In a World Full of Distractions, We Have to Know Our Purpose Oct. 13, 2023
If we don't understand our purpose — why we do the things we do — we allow ourselves to ... Read More
So THAT's Why Cynics Like To 'Mutt'er! Oct. 11, 2023
Cynics believe the world is going to the dogs. Linguistically speaking, that's appropriate, because ... Read More
Services Temporarily Disrupted Oct. 05, 2023
I've never been one to keep a daily journal. I wish I would have done that, though. I would love to ... Read More
Subject/Verb Disagreement Sets off Fireworks Oct. 04, 2023
Q: Which sentence is correct: "The last thing he needed WAS fireworks" or "The last thing he needed ... Read More
Do You Know Noah? Sep. 27, 2023
Noah Webster (1758 — 1843) is widely regarded as "The Father of American English." He's most f... Read More
AI Wrote This Editorial. It Offers Persuasive Arguments for Why That's a Bad Idea. Sep. 20, 2023
Editor's note: With artificial intelligence creating such controversy in journalism these days, the... Read More
Blooper Patrol Settles the Score Sep. 20, 2023
Eagle-eyed members of the Word Guy Blooper Patrol have detected a score of linguistic blunders in ne... Read More
Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give a... Sep. 13, 2023
I'm embroiled in a "damn" dispute. A while back, I wrote that the last word in the phrase "not worth... Read More
Giving the Whispered Conversations of Women a Full Voice Sep. 08, 2023
An essay collection I've contributed to was released this month and I'm a bit nervous. It's not my f... Read More
Explore Your Human 'G' Known Sep. 06, 2023
Select the correct "G" words on this quiz, and you'll be a "G" whiz! 1. When the candidate realized ... Read More
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
