Below is everything (newest at top) with "culture OR humor OR language OR english" in its title or subcategories. For a strict listing (matching all categories and subcats), click here

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHEST OF DRAWERS AND A BUREAU
from 2022 in ( education / language / english )

Because I keep wondering what to call that thing we have in our entryway/foyer (another term I go back and forth on)! Here is an explanation:The main difference between the chest of drawers and the bureau is that a chest has multiple compartments while a bureau has only one large compartment. A bureau also has a m... read more

LAMBAST VS. LAMBASTE
from 2021 in ( education / language / english )

While the exact derivation of the word is not definitively known, the OED posits that it's a combination of lam and baste, both of which bear the sense (now archaic for both words) to beat soundly. Other sources agree. And lambaste is the older form. In historical Google Books searches, lambast is almost nonexistent before 1850.... read more

WORD OF THE DAY: FASCISM
from 2021 in ( education / language / english )

Fascism is not an ideology, it's a means to power -- Benito Mussolini According to merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascismMerriam Webster online , it means: a political philosophy, movement, or regime... that exalts nation and often race above the individual... In Italian... read more

FOREIGN WORDS WE USE IN ENGLISH
from 2021 in ( education / language / english )

This first one, lexico.com/explore/foreign-words-and-phraseslexico.com , is a great site on this subject, though a LOT of the words they list are never used by anyone but dilettantes (from the French and, surprisingly, not listed there). altalang.com/beyond-words/2... read more

AMERICAN-ENGLISH WORDS THAT SEEM TO BE UNIVERSAL
from 2021 in ( education / language / english )

Judging by foreign-language TV shows/movies I've watched, here are a few English and/or American-English words / mutterings / phrases that now seem universal, no matter which language you speak:Mm-hmm or uh-huh -- meaning yes;OK or okay;Hey;Super pronounced supah -- meaning great;Of course, the Ital... read more

WHEN TO USE WHO INSTEAD OF WHOM
from 2020 in ( education / language / grammar / english )

Almost everyone uses the word whom incorrectly. Whom is ONLY correct when following a preposition as in of whom, to whom, from whom, etc. That is the ONLY time you use whom instead of who. And, yes, even your English teacher probably gets it wrong. :) Who without the m is a perfectly valid word.... read more

WHAT IS TITLE CASE?
from 2020 in ( education / language / grammar / english )

This might be useful: thoughtco.com/title-case-capitalization-1692469title-case-capitalization Title case is one of the conventions used for capitalizing the words in a title, subtitle, heading, or headline: capitalize the first word, the last word, and all major words in bet... read more

SHOULD I CAPITALIZE THAT DOG BREED NAME?
from 2020 in ( education / language / grammar / english )

In a word, no. See style.mla.org/capitalizing-names-of-dog-breeds/style.mla.org/capitalizing-names-of-dog-breeds Do not routinely capitalize the names of dog breeds. Many breed names are composed of proper nouns that you capitalize like Boston and generic terms (like retriever ... read more

MANGLED ENGLISH
from 2020 in ( culture / humor / language / english )

This is pretty old, from the old /pages/family/holmes/newsletter/newsletter in 1992, when the Soviet Union still existed, but it's still funnyHow English is Being Used in Different Parts of the WorldIN A TOKYO HOTEL: Is forbitten to steal hotel towels please. If you are not person to do such thing ... read more

ANOTHER GRAMMAR COMPLAINT
from 2018 in ( education / language / grammar / english )

I used to be able to spot junk email by its bad grammar, spelling and punctuation. Now, even legitimate emails often fail the test. It makes the grammar Nazi in me very sad. And, no, I'm not a fan of the Oxford comma.... read more

THIS WEEK'S LITERACY RANT
from 2017 in ( education / language / grammar / english )

OK, people, the word is led (when pronounced led) not lead unless you're referring to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadthe metal . I'm not surprised to see this in social media where it's acceptable (cool, even) to be completely illiterate, but I keep seeing it in news articles written by supposed... read more

COOL WEBSITE: WORDNIK
from 2012 in ( education / language / english )

titleflyclipart.com/kids-writing-clipart-writing-journal-clipart-325865 hrefwordnik.com/words/whatever%20floats%20your%20boatWordnik . Cool website for those who like words. I love how they provide samples from articles on the internet. And they provide an explanation/definition to links (if yo... read more

WORD OF THE DAY: DINKUM
from 2010 in ( education / language / english )

(DING-kuhm)Dinkum, also dinky-di, fair dinkum, adjectiveTrue; honest; genuine. Etymology: Probably derived, like many other Australian words, from English dialect. The counties of Lincolnshire and Derbyshire had a word or dincum meaning work; a fair share of work. The word was first recorded in Australia in Rolf Boldrewood&... read more

WORD OF THE DAY: PARSIMONIOUS
from 2010 in ( education / language / english )

Our word of the day is parsimonious(par-si-MO-nee-uhs)adjective: Excessively sparing or frugal. Etymology From Middle English parcimony, from Latin parsimonia, from parcere (to spare). First recorded use: 1598. Usage President Calvin Coolidge was so with words that he became known... read more

AWARD-WINNING ENGLISH PROSE
from 2001 in ( culture / humor / language / english )

Every year, English teachers from across the USA can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year's winners.1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compre... read more

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