The Spelling Nazis Are at It Again!
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 […]
Who Died in That Kilt?
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 […]
Towing Lines and Hoeing Roads … What ARE We Coming to?
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. […]
Watch Your Phraseology!
There is a growing movement toward redefining the words “homophobia” and “homophobic” to mean a person who hates or disapproves of homosexuals and homosexual behaviour. As an arbiter of correct grammar and proper diction (word choice), I believe that it is incumbent upon me to correct this common mistake before it takes root and becomes […]
A Dilettante Has Nothing to Do With Pickles!
Well, nothing, that is, unless your “dilettante” is a pickle-lover. “Dillettante.” A common misspelling, this, and sometimes humourous. But for those who have the affliction of needing to be right, there are certain words in the language that give us nightmares. “Chaffeur” …”amateur” … “connoisseur.” But the Big Kahuna of them all is “dilettante.” Everyone knows […]
Now What’s That Word Again?
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 […]