Kindle is a verb which can be used transitively, where it means to set fire, or intransitively, where it means to take fire or to begin to burn in flames. The transitive usage can also mean to arouse. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon … Read more
I have lived in Japan for the past 21 years, coming from the UK, where I had worked in the IT industry in support and technical writing. Originally, I came over to write manuals for musical instruments and audio equipment, working for a Japanese subcontractor specializing in documentation. For the past 12 years or so … Read more
troop: “body of soldiers,” Old French trope, Middle French troupe. Latin troppus “flock” Anuschka Krysiak writes: I’ve noticed that journalists are now using the word “troop” in place of “soldier.” She illustrates the usage with a headline in the Brisbane (Australia) Times: Eight US troops die in one of worst Afghan battles She goes on … Read more
Mettle is a quality of temperament. It refers to courage, fortitude and disposition. Mettle can also mean the “stuff of which a person is made.” The word is a variant spelling of metal, and its origin comes exactly from the allusion to the temper of a sword. But it’s only after a stumble or failure … Read more
A discussion prompted by Daniel’s word of the day ward put me in mind of one of my favorite etymological factoids: the relationship between words like warden and guardian. English suffers a bad rap for its spelling, but the variety of spellings is an inevitable side effect of the richness of vocabulary acquired by borrowing … Read more
Most writers use may and might interchangeably: I may go to the library to work on my term paper. I might go to the library to work on my term paper. Is there a difference? There is, but it’s slight. May suggests a possibility that an action will occur, while might suggests a slightly smaller … Read more
Whet is a verb, and it means to rub on with something or to sharpen. You can whet a knife with stone, for example. It can also mean to excite, stimulate or instigate. There’s nothing like a global financial crisis to whet appetites for business news. (USA Today) Mr. Lawrence said the problems had contributed … Read more
A reader writing a report emailed me to ask: Should I write “compared to previous years” or “compared with previous years” or doesn’t it matter? Here is what three popular handbooks have to say on the matter. Strunk and White (The Elements of Style) To compare to is to point out or imply resemblances between objects … Read more
A patois is a regional dialect, which is different from the standard or literary language. A synonym of patois is jargon. It comes from the French patois, which means local speech. I asked for a few words in patois. Mr. Gex said that words for the same thing can differ not only from one valley … Read more
This is a guest post by Steven Pittsley. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Although often taken for granted, the question mark can be used for more than ending a direct question. Really? Yes. The question mark was first seen in the eighth century when it was called … Read more
Joan writes: So often I hear people use the word “nuther” when they mean “other”. Like in “that’s a whole nuther story.”How did this happen? First, I don’t think that the word “nuther/nother” is being substituted for the word “other” in this expression. Rather, the word “whole” is being inserted between elements of the word … Read more
Prowess refers to bravery and valor, especially inside the military context. It can also be used more broadly, meaning a superior skills or ability. It comes from the French prouesse. At the Asian Art Museum, ‘Lords of the Samurai’ glimpses the warrior-aesthetes who combined martial prowess with cultural attainment. (LA Times) Some commentators have assumed … Read more