Every January Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie publishes a list of 15 Words to Be Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. This year’s losers (and some reasons given for banishing them): 1 Green 2 Carbon Footprint 3 Maverick 4 First Dude – “Skateboard English is not an … Read more
You’ve got a great idea for a mystery novel. You can hardly wait to get started, but before you launch into that first chapter, three steps can save you hours of frustration and repair work later. 1. With the murder as the central event, draw a time line. Indicate where every character is at any … Read more
An NPR reporter talking about Colorado ranchers mentioned the income they get when they sell the offspring of their cattle. What she said was: when they sell their [kăfs]. She pronounced the plural of calf, which is spelled calves, as [kăfs]. I’ve heard speakers on radio and television pronounce the plural of knife as [nīfs], … Read more