A reader wonders about the correctness of the following phrase: “the strengths of the existent organization.” Says the reader: I just read this phrase in an email sent out from the Dean’s office of a large Midwestern university known nationally for academic excellence. Personally, I would not have written the sentence with the word “existent” … Read more
The words in the following list represent misunderstanding of the words’ meanings and not simply an inability to spell them correctly. This post covers words starting with the letters c and d (the a-b list is here). 1. canvas / canvass The OED and M-W both show the spelling canvas as a variant spelling of … Read more
A reader takes issue with my use of the designation CE instead of AD in this sentence: “A mix of these tribes migrated to England in the fifth and sixth centuries C.E.” Here is the reader’s reaction: Give me a break with the New Age (CE) crap. You can’t make-up words and slogans to change … Read more
Careless grammar in run-of-the-mill television shows no longer surprises me, but I’m still startled when pronoun errors crop up in quality productions, spoken by characters assumed to be educated. Here are some gleanings from my recent viewing. Note: The third example is an approximation of what was said. However, it accurately illustrates the pronoun error … Read more
Lovers of language and literature, especially those with children or grandchildren still in Grades K-12, will find The Language Police by education historian Diane Ravitch riveting, revelatory, and extremely disturbing. The Language Police is an exposé of the practice of systematic self-censoring by textbook manufacturers to avoid offending either the political right or the left. … Read more
An article on the sports page of my morning paper quoted the owner of the winning horse praising the jockey: Victor road him really well. The reporter was reaching for the past tense of the verb ride: Victor rode him really well. The error is embarrassing, but etymologically speaking, the words ride and road are … Read more
A reader asks, What exactly is meant by “sleight of hand” and how do you pronounce “sleight”? First the pronunciation: sleight rhymes with light and might. The noun sleight has been in the language since the 13th century. In early use, it meant “cunning employed so as to deceive” and was often paired with words … Read more