Said and Read
Words fascinate me. Their origins, their meanings, their evolution — all of that interests me, and has for as long as I can remember. Words are the building blocks of thought, and the pathway to other minds. They give us a way to externalize the complex and ephemeral thoughts and feelings that make each of us unique in the history and future of the world. In this blog, I’ll share my exploration of (and enthusiasm for) words, language, and communication. I’ll try for a good mix in trivia, tips, and observations.
Editorial Oops
I'm so glad that people sometimes say — and write — unwittingly funny, telling, or bizarre things. Even the most articulate people and the most well-edited publications are subject to editorial slip-ups, and you just have to be grateful for that. I, for one, can laugh...
The Back Streets of Vocabulary
Learning new words is something profound. A new word can bring a new idea into focus. Vocabulary is the foundation of thought. There doesn't seem to be a standard answer to "how many words are there in the English language". The problems with counting are pretty...
Karmic Apostrophes
It's not an obsession, this thing I have about apostrophes. It's just that the poor things are so misunderstood and misused! When I notice one in the wrong place, I can't get it out of my mind. It's the same feeling I get when I'm visiting someone's home and the...
Does the First Sentence Really Matter?
I just started reading Maphead, by Ken Jennings, and I am already sure I’m going to love it. It's the kind of book I'm inclined to like—but I am only a few pages in and already hooked. How? Writing instructors often stress the importance of the first sentence, and I...
The Ultimate Anagram
My brother is a software engineer who considered being a math major in college. I, on the other hand, make my living in words and rejoiced when I learned that I would never actually need calculus. Not long ago, he and I chatted about what sorts of things we randomly...
Henry James & Brain Overload
Henry James is one of my favorite authors, and one of my very favorite books is The Ambassadors. In certain circles, this is a polarizing statement – people who’ve read any of his novels quickly sort into two groups. I’ve never talked to someone who admitted...
Backpacking Across the Thesaurus
The way words filter through languages and culture and history is fascinating. Sometimes they gain nuance as they evolve, and sometimes they lose it. Tonight’s realization, prompting this little jot, is that knapsack, rucksack, and haversack – which most English...
The Unintentional Apostrophe
When I drove up to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas with my family, I passed a digital road sign that read, “Caution New Traffic Pattern’s Ahead.” Those signs – the Lite-Brite answer to Gutenberg – definitely attract attention. (I would like to know the statistics of...
