Below is everything (newest at top) with "education+science+animals+language" in its title or subcategories. For a strict listing (matching all categories and subcats), click here

CHEST OF DRAWERS VS. BUREAU: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
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 bur... read more

IT'S A MYTH THAT ADULTS CAN'T LEARN LANGUAGES AS EASILY AS KIDS
from 2021 in ( education / language )

Adults can learn a second language as fast as children, reports a new study, and it's only the conditions in which a child learns a second language that's given kids a reputation as such fast learners. This means that adults can develop the increased neural connections typical of...... 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... 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.... 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).... 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";... 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... 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 i... read more

THIS SO-CALLED PANDEMIC IS NOT EVEN AN EPIDEMIC
from 2020 in ( education / language / semantics / covid )

One-third (now one-sixth) of one percent does not constitute an epidemic, let alone a pandemic . Semantics, I know, but can they not even get the language right?330,102,000 population (see census.gov)2,800,000 cases130,000 "related" deaths (which mea... read more

EARBUD-LIKE DEVICE CLAIMS TO BOOST LINGUISTIC SKILLS
from 2020 in ( education / tech / language )

The simple gadget dramatically improves the wearer's ability to learn new words, say the University of Pittsburgh team behind the research new... ... 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 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 retri... read more

SPELLING AND GRAMMAR ONLINE
from 2020 in ( education / language / grammar / internet )

When is that spelling-and-grammar-checking feature coming to Facebook, Instagram, etc.? It's not that my own (or anyone's) grammar and punctuation are flawless (too many contradictory rules), but can we all at least try harder for the sake of being understood?... read more

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

This is pretty old, from the old 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 re... read more

WORD HIPPO
from 2019 in ( education / language )

Useful site here: Word Hippo. Thesaurus and word tools for your creative needs.... 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

YET ANOTHER GRAMMAR RANT
from 2017 in ( education / language / grammar )

In addition to honoring our veteran's, how about if we honor our teachers who taught us punctuation, spelling, and the difference between possessive and plural? :)... 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... read more

LINGMO LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR
from 2017 in ( education / language / tech )

Wow, I want one of these! Real-time language translation device whispers into your ear in real time as it's listening to the person speaking.... read more

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

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 on... read more

DOLPHINS SPEAK IN HOLOGRAPHIC LANGUAGE
from 2015 in ( education / science / animals / language )

Very cool! scientists-reveal-that-dolphins-speak-in-a-holographic-language/UPDATE: The commenters are mostly unconvinced.... read more

HER OWN LANGUAGE
from 2014 in ( education / language / elizabeth )

I love how my daughter, Elizabeth, 9, makes up words. Tonight I was complimenting her on what a good fruit smoothie she'd just made. I said she should always try to remember how much of each ingredient she used so she can make it again. So, she was going through the list of ingredients: two bana... read more

MUSICAL SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
from 2013 in ( education / language / help / music )

That must be some fast signing. I'd like to see that. I guess they show the beat by tapping their feet? It's got me curious.We are SO excited to tell y'all that Musical Sign Language Interpreters will be at this weeks show.. and it is...... read more

MYSTERY SOLVED
from 2012 in ( education / language )

I solved an old mystery today, thanks to one of the Russian language podcasts I've been listening to lately. It's a phase I'm going through. I'm starting to listen to Hindi, Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese, too. I guess I'm doing all of the "... read more

LANGUAGE PAGE
from 2012 in ( education / language )

Names in their own tongue and script: Language names in their own tongue and script The table shows native/local names for languages in their own scripts, or autoglottonyms. You can click on the Language names that are links to hear how... 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... 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 reco... 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

LESSON FOR TODAY
from 2010 in ( education / language )

There is an old hotel/pub in Marble Arch, London which used to have gallows adjacent. Prisoners were taken to the gallows (after a fair trial, of course) to be hung. The horse-drawn dray carting the prisoner was accompanied by an armed guard who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the prison... 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... read more

DID I READ THAT SIGN RIGHT?
from 1998 in ( culture / humor / language )

In a public restroom Toilet Out Of Order. Please Use Floor Below In a laundromat Automatic Washing Machines Please Remove All Your Clothes When The Light Goes Out In a London department store Bargain Basement Upstairs In an... read more

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