Let’s have a close look at infer vs. imply. Is there a difference, and how do we use them? Here is the short answer: When you infer, you are using context clues to make an educated guess about the meaning of something. On the other… continue reading
Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone, but primarily by catchwords. Robert Louis Stevenson The end of the day Followed by another day. Not really the end. Zen haiku WARNING: Reading this article may result in heightened linguistic awareness accompanied by… continue reading
Have you found yourself the butt of the joke for not knowing this idiom? Let’s dive in. The person addressed as the “butt of the joke” is a target for mocking, teasing, or other ridicule. An idiomatic expression is a phrase in which the words… continue reading
Have you ever felt like a fish out of water? The short answer is “probably not.” If you really felt like the fish, you’d feel as if you were drowning. This is another of those word-groups whose meaning must be learned from the whole, not… continue reading
Jist or Gist? Many colloquial or slang terms get thrown around in professional circles, especially if used verbally. One great example of this is the word “Gist.” Or is it “jist?” Let’s give you the gist of it: “gist” is the correct spelling of the word,… continue reading
Council vs. Counsel Let’s take a look at council vs. counsel. First, the quick answer: A council is a meeting or a group of people meeting to discuss laws or rules. Counsel refers to advice given or a person who gives legal or professional advice.… continue reading
In this post we will discuss nominalization, or the process of turning verbs and adjectives into nouns, through the prism of two distinct styles that literate, communicating adults encounter every day. I refer to the difference between the Impersonal (or I) style and the Personal (or… continue reading
In politics, a dog whistle is the use of coded or suggestive language in political messaging to garner support from a particular group without provoking opposition. The concept is named for ultrasonic dog whistles, which are audible to dogs but not humans. -Wikipedia The dictionary… continue reading
Let’s tackle a hotly contested topic in the English language: “Is data singular or plural?” Data: Singular or Plural? The answer to this question comes down to a few points of contention. As a foreign word, people argue whether “data” should follow English plurality rules or… continue reading
Let’s talk about criteria vs. criterion. “Criteria” is a noun typically used to refer to standards or rules of judgment. To be most correct, if you want to speak of “criteria” singularly, you should say “criterion.” Although this rule may sound odd, many other words, such as “datum,”… continue reading
