Is publically a word? Yes, if by “a word” you mean “a term that is found as an entry in dictionaries.” But is it a word a careful writer is apt to use? That’s another story, which will be told below. First, dictionaries are not arbiters of highly literate writing; they merely document usage. For … Read more
A word’s original meaning often expands over time. For example, take decimate, from Latin “to take a tenth.” The element dec is from decem, the Latin word for ten. One meaning was “to tithe,” but the sense that has given us the English word related to destruction is from a Roman military practice: To select … Read more
One by-product of the COVID-19 pandemic is the introduction of a vocabulary pertaining to the disease. Here are ten terms everyone should know to help them and others in their families and communities understand the disease and avoid contracting it. Asymptomatic: This term simply means “presenting no symptoms of disease,” but the connotation is that … Read more
This post explores definitions and connotations of various terms associated with leaving one’s place of employment. 1. Discharge This term is used mostly in military contexts, generally with a qualifier such as honorary that denotes a bureaucratic category, to refer to the end of enlistment for any of various reasons. (Discharge stems from the Late … Read more
Are you hoping to go further with your writing this year? Whether you want to launch your freelance writing career, write and publish a book, or start a successful blog, these ten resources could help. I’ve split them into three different categories: learn, write and market. If you’re fairly new to writing seriously, then you’ll … Read more