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

MLB BANS 2 FANS WHO GRABBED BETTS INDEFINITELY
from 2025 in ( education / language / english / headlines )

They were BANNED indefinitely, they didn't GRAB Betts indefinitely. Headline writing ain't what it used to be.

'Major League Baseball has banned two fans who interfered with Dodgers star Mookie Betts during a World Series game at Yankee Stadium from attending any games at big league ballparks....' .... read more

AUSTRALIA DROPS PLAN TO FINE SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS ACCUSED OF ENABLING MISINFORMATION
from 2024 in ( education / language / english )

This is the problem with the new use of the word "drop." I can't tell if they're announcing new plans or have stopped planning.

Australia's government said it had dropped plans to fine internet platforms up to 5% of their global revenue for failing to prevent the spread of misinformation online........ read more

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 mirror, while a chest doesn't.... 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 newer form. In historical Google Books searches, lambast is almost nonexistent before 1850. It appears inc... 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 online, it means: a political philosophy, movement, or regime... that exalts nation and often race above the individual... In Italian, the word fascio (plural fasci) means literally bundle, and figuratively group.Replace nation and race wi... read more

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

This first one, lexico.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). 20-best-foreign-loanwords-in-englishenglish-words-from-other-languagesforeign-words-used-englishsomething-borrowed-english-words-with-foreign-originsenglish-... 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 Italian word ciao has been... 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 usually only correct when following a preposition as in of whom, to whom, from whom, etc. 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: title-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 between. Also known as up style and headline style.... 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-breedsDo 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 or terrier) that you lowercase.... read more

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

This is pretty new, from the new 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 please not to read notis.IN A BUCHAREST HOTEL LOBBY: The lift is being fixed fo... read more

WORD HIPPO
from 2019 in ( education / language / english )

Useful site here: Word Hippo. Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs. UPDATE: And now they translate to/from foreign languages! See dynamic translation.... 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 the 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 journalists. A few examples, below (petty of us, yes, but we had th... read more

HOW TO SPELL TRAMPOLINE
from 2017 in ( education / language / english / spelling )

Trampoline ends in ine not ene as I had thought. Just FYI for next time someone tells you that's the wi-fi password and you can't get online to look it up. :)... read more

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

Wordnik. 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 you click it) like the one above. It claims to be the most comprehensive English dictionary in the world. I don't know about that, but I like it.And, you can support them by adopt... 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's Robbery Under Arm... 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 as 'Silent Cal'. -- Rob Christensen; Interesting, But Not ... read more