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The Spelling Nazis Are at It Again!

Posted by Editormum on Tuesday, 19 August 2008 in Word and Phrase Origins |

Very amused by a recent exchange on the Forbes.com website, commenting on an article about multi-level marketing. One guy corrected another’s spelling, and lo, and behold, the wars were on! The argument was over which of two spellings was correct: bush league or Busch League. I did a little online research, and I share my […]

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Who Died in That Kilt?

Posted by Editormum on Thursday, 14 July 2005 in Word and Phrase Origins |

I have recently seen the proliferation of a really egregious error caused by a homophone in a common idiom. The idiom in question is “dyed-in-the-wool,” which is never spelled “died-in-the-wool” unless someone has actually passed away while encased in sheeps’ fur. In medieval England, you could dye unspun wool before making it into threads, or […]

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Towing Lines and Hoeing Roads … What ARE We Coming to?

Posted by Editormum on Friday, 31 December 2004 in Grammar Problems, Word and Phrase Origins |

Two quick little corrections for some frequently misquoted idioms. One does not “tow the line;” one “toes the line.” This idiom refers to runners at the beginning of a race. They line up on the start line with their toes on or slightly behind the line. It may also refer to sailors standing in formation. […]

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Now What’s That Word Again?

Posted by Editormum on Wednesday, 28 May 2003 in Definitions, Usage and Diction, Word and Phrase Origins |

Here’s a few obscure but very useful words for writers looking for a unique descriptive or “that exactly correct” word. Did you ever wonder what that large flap, or apron, of flesh that hangs down from an obese person’s tummy? Yeah, yeah, a small, beginning one is called a “beer belly” or, for those who […]

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