A reader has asked for a comment on the difference between “camera” and ”in camera.” The word we use for a “picture-taking device” comes from Latin camera, “an arched or vaulted roof or room.” The English word chamber, “room,” comes from the same Latin word. Camera in its architectural sense exists in English as a … Read more
This is a guest post by Tony Hearn. If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. Time was when the suffix -ee lived a quiet and well-ordered life in its own restricted little corner. Your bank slips would ask for the name of the payee, perhaps. Lawyers would talk about … Read more
A reader has asked about the expression hell-bent for leather. The expression fuses “hell-bent” with another expression, “hell-for-leather.” The bent in hell-bent is the past participle of the verb to bend, a word with at least 23 definitions in the OED. To be “bent on something” is to be determined to do a specific thing. … Read more
All right folks, it is time to kick start the first DWT Poetry Competition. The response from our readers was fantastic, with over 150 entries! Given this number we’ll have two qualifying rounds every week. The first one on Tuesdays, and the second one on Thursdays. The voting on each round will be open for … Read more
A reader writes: I have all these great stories in my head, but no talent what so ever … when it involves writing it down. Is there any advice you could give me or am I stuck? Unless the questioner wants to become an oral storyteller and tell these great stories to a live audience, … Read more
“Economic” and “economical” are two adjectives that are frequently used interchangeably. They are clearly related but they have, strictly speaking, quite distinct meanings. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the definition of economic is Relating to economics or the economy. Economical, however, means Giving good value or return in relation to the resources used or … Read more
As long ago as the 4th century B.C.E., a student of religion and myth named Euhemerus theorized that the gods and their stories had their origins in actual historical events. His name has given us the term euhemerism [yū-hē’mə-rĭz’əm]: interpretation of myths as traditional accounts of historical persons and events –OED Much later, an Icelandic … Read more