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Good Folks Peppered With Salty Language Nov. 28, 2018
Q. Why do we call virtuous people "the salt of the earth?" — John S., West Hartford, Connectic... Read More
New Books on Language Bring Holiday Cheer Nov. 21, 2018
There's no place like tome for the holidays. These new books will delight the word-lovers on your sh... Read More
Linguistic Disputes Can Pack a Punch Nov. 14, 2018
Heated controversies over proper usage can lead to food fights at faculty clubs and fisticuffs on co... Read More
Subject and Verb Beg to Disagree Oct. 31, 2018
Q: The lead sentence in a newspaper story stated, "A string of recent announcements promising jobs a... Read More
Language Pitches Some Learning Curves Oct. 24, 2018
Some random dispatches from the Word Front: — Listen and Learn. The recent confirmation hearin... Read More
Are Business Buzzwords on Your Radar? Oct. 10, 2018
Let's play Jargon Jumble! Fill in each blank in the following sentences with the best choice from th... Read More
Me, Myself and I Sep. 26, 2018
In a eulogy honoring Sen. John McCain, former President Barack Obama speculated as to why McCain had... Read More
Comma Fare for the Fan Man Sep. 05, 2018
Q. I'll often write sentences such as this: "My friend Michael is having a party." Should I place a ... Read More
Courtly Terms for Kavanaugh Hearings Aug. 29, 2018
As the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh approach, many wonder whether... Read More
That Ain't Good English Feb. 19, 2018
Dear Annie: I have been attending a local church for about a year, and although I am very shy, I hav... Read More
Classic Ann Landers Aug. 27, 2017
Editor's Note: Hundreds of Ann Landers' loyal readers have requested that newspapers continue to pub... Read More
Third Time's Less Charming Jun. 16, 2016
Dear Annie: When is enough, enough? My granddaughter is getting married for the third time in August... Read More
Writing Contest Deadline Extension Apr. 13, 2016
Dear Annie: I just heard about your contest to write a poem for July 4 that is more balanced, and th... Read More
'In-' Can Negate -- or 'In'-tensify Oct. 21, 2015
Q: What is the logic for the many meanings of the prefix "-in"? "Inhumane" means "not humane." But "... Read More
Knuckle Draggers Are Us, Er, We Oct. 08, 2015
The smart folk at Grammarly — an online grammar checker — examined Facebook posts writte... Read More
Should We Topple This 'Regime'? Jul. 16, 2014
Three readers have sent me questions about three different sentences: —Sandy Duffy of Princeto... Read More
Summer Reading for Word Lovers Jul. 09, 2014
Whether you're heading for hostels, highways or hammocks this summer, curl up with one of these new ... Read More
Andy Capp
Jul. 01, 2014
I.O.U. an Explanation of I.E. Jun. 25, 2014
Q: One linguistic usage that always throws me for a loop is whether to use "i.e." or "e.g." to cite ... Read More
For Whom the 'Tell' Tolls Jun. 18, 2014
While grading a student's paper the other day, I came across this sentence: "The cost of the U.S. In... Read More
