Apparently and Presumably
A reader has asked for a discussion of the difference between the words apparently and presumably. A meaning for presumably […]
“Elite” Is Not a Dirty Word
Used mostly as a noun or as an adjective, elite derives from an Old French verb meaning “to choose.” The […]
“Forecast” and “Broadcast” Never Need -ed
My telephone weather app really mashes on my grammar nerve when it tells me that “rain is forecasted.” Likewise, I […]
Falling Prey to Error
In researching articles for Daily Writing Tips, I stumble upon all kinds of interesting topics and curious examples of usage. […]
Butt Redux
Seven years ago, I wrote a post called “The Ubiquitous Butt.” In it, I admitted my own distaste for the […]
The Many Uses of “Set”
The OED has nine entries for the ubiquitous word set: an acronym, two nouns, two adjectives, two verbs, an obsolete […]
May or Might—Does It Matter Which?
The verb may is one of the oldest in English. Through the centuries, it has been used with a variety […]
What Does “Mien” Mean?
Until recently, I thought everyone agreed on the meaning of mien. Dictionaries do. Someone’s mien is their general appearance and […]
“Bully,” a Word with a Split Personality
Bully is one of many English words that have undergone semantic degeneration or pejoration. Beginning as a pleasant word, bully […]
Supremist, Supremacist, and Agent Nouns
Reader venqax poses a question about the use of the four-syllable agent noun supremacist in preference to three-syllable supremist. On […]
Amelioration: A Nice Semantic Shift
Semantics is the branch of linguistics concerned with meaning in language. Students of semantics trace the ways that words and […]
Is “Myself” a Polite Way To Say “Me”?
A reader commenting on “TV’s War on Me and I” asks, Is it your opinion that when a speaker refers […]