The tiny English word so has numerous uses. Merriam-Webster gives it separate entries as adverb, conjunction, adjective, and pronoun. Most of the time, little so goes about its business unnoticed, but one of its functions has been provoking heated discussion on the Web: the use of so as “a discourse marker.” The term “discourse marker” … Read more
The definition of protagonist most familiar to me as a student of literature is this one: protagonist noun: the chief character in a dramatic work. Hence, in extended use: the leading character, or one of the main characters, in any narrative work, as a poem, novel, film, etc. According to this definition, the sister of … Read more
The Latin phrase non plus, “not more, no further,” entered English as a noun with the following meaning: A state in which no more can be said or done; inability to proceed in speech or action; a state of perplexity or puzzlement; a standstill. As a verb, to nonplus means, “to bring to a nonplus … Read more
A reader wants to know who’s right about the use of the word tool: My brother vehemently asserts that a tractor counts as a tool, since it is an invention that helps someone do something. However, the rest of [my friends and family] maintain that since it is mechanical as opposed to manual, it does … Read more
When I began writing about language several decades ago, the pronoun errors that concerned my readers related to number and case. I never imagined that gender would ever become a source of confusion. Nowadays, however, journalists are faced with the question of which pronouns to use when writing about transgender people. The recommendation of the … Read more
Every year more and more companies realize that having a strong online presence is paramount to their success. In order to build that presence they need to produce high-quality content on social media accounts, websites, blogs and online magazines. The result of this trend is a strong and growing demand for online freelance writers. If … Read more
A reader asks about the capitalization of this title: “We Should Be People-oriented”: In this book I’m editing, there are many such [compounds], all with the second element uncapped. I looked for but didn’t find it in the CMS [The Chicago Manual of Style]. Is there a rule on this? It looks incomplete to me! … Read more
It has been quite a while since I reviewed a book about usage and grammar on this site. The only thing to set such books apart is the formatting and the title. The content is usually the same. A new guide from the Oxford Press is no exception to the charge of sameness of information. … Read more
A reader has asked me to discuss the word quantify: I was hoping you could help me with the word quantify. I feel like I’m not quite using it correctly. As a term in logic, quantify means to ascribe universal or particular quantity to a term or proposition. For example, the statement “Dogs are playful” … Read more
When I see the word inferno, I think fire, but originally, the word did not carry the connotation of intense heat. The association with burning derives from beliefs taught by some religions about the afterlife. The OED offers only one definition of inferno: Hell; a place of torment or misery compared to hell; a place … Read more
The verb fare derives from the Old English verb faran, “to travel.” In OE it could also mean “to undergo” or “to suffer.” In modern usage, the verb fare is used to mean something like “to get along.” Here are examples of correct usage: [Sanders] offered a stunning chart that showed just how poorly most … Read more
Another term associated with religious practice, but often used in other contexts, is stigma. The word has two plural forms: stigmas and stigmata. Stigma derives from Greek and Latin words for the type of mark made by burning, like the brand placed on a slave, or by cutting. The word’s figurative meaning is “mark of … Read more