A reader wonders about the use of dashes to replace colons: More and more I see dashes (of various sorts) used to do the work you say that the colon should do: introduce a word, phrase, clause, list, or quotation after a complete sentence. Is either acceptable? I can’t find an example of a dash … Read more
English has several idioms that employ the words step and stepping. As a verb, step means to lift the foot and set it down again on the ground in a new position. As a noun, step is the act of stepping. baby steps and giant steps A “baby step” is a step that covers a … Read more
A reader asks about some terms: I’m confused: What’s the difference between Submissions and Query Letters and Cover Letters and Biographies and Resumés? As these terms are often used interchangeably on writing sites, the reader’s confusion is understandable. Perhaps the following explanations can help. 1. Query Letter A query letter is a one-page letter intended … Read more
I learn a great many new words as I cruise the Web collecting examples of usage for my posts. This week I learned polyamory: polyamory: the fact of having simultaneous close emotional relationships with two or more other individuals, viewed as an alternative to monogamy, especially in regard to matters of sexual fidelity; the custom … Read more
On this language site and others, readers often question a writer’s choice of that instead of who to refer to a person. Here are some typical comments: As the word “that” [in this sentence] refers to human beings, shouldn’t the relative pronoun be “who”? English is my second language, and it hurts to see the … Read more
Loathe is a verb. Loath (also spelled loth) is an adjective. Loathe means to hate. Loath means reluctant or unwilling: I loathe hypocrisy. (verb) The politician was loath to admit that he had taken the bribe. (adjective) A mistake with the verb loathe is to use it as if it were an adjective: Incorrect: He’s … Read more