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A matter of course
Q: In texting me, my daughter used the phrase “of course” (spelling it “of coarse, naturally”), which got me to thinking. How is it that we use “course” to refer to something in a positive manner (as in “of course”) as well as to a path, a route, or a plan—from a “concourse” to an... ? Read More: A matter of course
Program notes
Q: Why do fund raisers on public radio ask for help with the “programming,” rather than the “programs”? I’ve always thought of broadcast programming as the act of scheduling or arranging programs. What are your thoughts? A: We checked a half-dozen British and American dictionaries about the use of the word “programming” in its broadcasting... ? Read More: Program notes
Is “go viral” going viral?
Q: Why are so many things going viral? Pictures of cute puppies or kittens or kids may be widely seen on YouTube, but “viral”? An ugly image, and it’s wildly overused. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. And now you can move on to your next complainer. A: The verbal phrase “go... ? Read More: Is “go viral” going viral?
Yeah, no
Q: We North Queenslanders are considered rednecks even by Australian standards. I thought I’d pass on an example of English usage in this part of the world: Yeah, no, as in “Yeah, no, they should’ve won in the last quarter.” A: We’ve written on the blog about “yeah,” but we haven’t looked into “yeah, no”... ? Read More: Yeah, no
Between times
Q: On the morning news the other day, a reporter said a fire was “between 30 to 50 feet” from something, instead of “between 30 and 50? or “from 30 to 50.” This usage is very common now, but incorrect unless the rules have changed since I was in school. A: No, English usage hasn’t... ? Read More: Between times
Two for One
Not sure if I want this guy making signs for me… (Thanks, Ed!)
"Dog’s on Wheel’s"
Spotted at a hot dog stand in the dumbest place in America – Woodville, TX. I believe this may be the most egregious case of apostrophe abuse to date. (Thanks, Aaron!)
Your Channel for Local Saving's
Saw this on the local cable channel at work and had to snap a pic. (Thanks, Dana!)
Hot Special's
An advert published in a biking magazine in South Africa! (Thanks, Kim!)
A la carte pizzas?
Every time I pass this place, I wonder how much it costs if you buy the whole pizza, crust, sauce, and all. (Thanks, Susan Clarke!)
Say's it all…
Advertisement for an Indian restaurant in Bexley, London. (Thanks, Phil Hall!)
4th Annual Workshop on Immigrant Languages in the Americas
Had never actually been to Iceland (beyond the airport) but am here now for the 25th Scandinavian Conference of Linguistics in Reykjavík. Amazing in every way... and the weather has been mostly better than in Madison. I can't believe...Show More Summary
Let’s rustle up an answer
Q: The other day, I asked my office manager to order me new business cards. Her answer: “Sure, I’ll rustle up some for you.” So where in the world does “rustle up” come from? A: The verb “rustle” dates back at least as far as the 14th century, and it may have its roots in... ? Read More: Let’s rustle up an answer
Problems, problems
Q: Many people use “problematic” to mean “posing a problem,” as Frank Luntz did when he told a group of college students that Rush Limbaugh and right-wing talk radio were “problematic” for the Republican Party. Isn’t this usage problematic? A: Luntz, a Republican political consultant and pollster, made his comment on April 22, 2013, to... ? Read More: Problems, problems
Death, the great intensifier
Q: I find the death imagery in a sentence like “I love her to death” to be inappropriate and grotesque. I’d be thrilled (though not to death) if you would write something about this on the blog. A: We’re sorry to disappoint you, but you won’t be thrilled by our answer. We don’t find the... ? Read More: Death, the great intensifier
The singularity of Mother’s Day
Q: Which is correct, Mother’s Day or Mothers’ Day? I have a customer who wants to use the name as an imprint on promotional gifts for the holiday. I think of Mother’s Day as singular possessive, my mother, but in this case is it correct? A: We also think it’s Mother’s Day, and so do... ? Read More: The singularity of Mother’s Day
Is “offshore of” off-putting?
Q: Several times recently I’ve come across the usage “offshore of ” in copy I’m editing. It sounds dead wrong to my ears, but I’m having difficulty explaining why to my client. Can you clarify? A: You’re right in thinking that the “of” is unnecessary in a phrase like “offshore of Cuba.” But we... ? Read More: Is “offshore of” off-putting?
DARE, safe for the moment
You've seen the news by now — anywhere from the Log to the local news —that the Dictionary of American Regional English has secured enough funding to keep going. The good news actually trickled in over a couple of weeks but it's all come together now. Show More Summary
Morphology FAIL
I was on the train today (yes, a train, here in America!) and caught sight of this billboard. It was for a car, maybe a Buick??? Well, I was so riveted by the bizarreness of the morphology that I didn't really register the product (one...Show More Summary
Why “stereo” in “stereotypical”?
Q: Can you tell me what’s “stereo” about the adjective “stereotypical”? A: The combining form “stereo-” that shows up in such words as “stereotype” and “stereophonic” is derived from stereos, a classical Greek word meaning solid. John...Show More Summary
