Posts Tagged ‘word’
One of these words is not like the others
My daughter asked to learn some new words tonight, so my wife went with callipygous, plethora, and personification. Guess which one I thought was slightly questionable (but ultimately fine).
Read MoreThere is no female counterpart to the word “guys,” and that is a tragedy.
One of college supervisors’ favorite critiques of student-teachers is their use of the word “guys” when addressing the entire class, claiming that the word is gender specific and therefore inappropriate. This critique is made for two reasons: College supervisors, in my experience, have very little to say that is critical of a student-teacher’s performance. They…
Read MoreWhat’s the word for this feeling?
The Germans have a word for everything (schadenfreude is one of my favorites), so what is the German word for the sadness that suddenly befalls a child when he realizes that it’s time to leave his friend’s house and return home to his thousands of plain old toys.
Read MoreI use the word “bigot” instead of “homophobic.” You should, too. Here’s why.
A reader noted my tendency to use the words bigot and bigotry in lieu of homophobia or homophobic when describing an idiot who is prejudiced against or hates homosexuals. Observant reader. This is actually a purposeful choice. A phobia is “an extreme or irrational fear or aversion to something.” When attached to another word or…
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