Gems of Language Archives

A graphic showing an old man in a toga from Greek times and the caption describing the origin of the word "Criterion:Criterion comes from the Greek kritḗrion, meaning “a standard,” from kritēs, “judge,” from krinein, “to decide.” "

Gems of Language

Criteria vs Criterion: What Is Difference?

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

A graphic showing that "historic" does not equal "historical"

Gems of Language

Historic vs Historical: Which One To Use?

Let’s have a look at historic vs. historical. It’s easy to confuse the two words. Not only are they both adjectives, but they also share similar spellings and meanings. However, you can’t use historic if you mean historical, and vice versa. It’s important to know… continue reading

Go To Hell In A Handbasket – Meaning And Examples

The saying, “go to hell in a handbasket” is another way of saying to “deteriorate” or “become a disaster.” It is normally used to describe when things aren’t going very well for a person. It can also describe when someone’s actions lead them in the wrong… continue reading

A picture of a little boy dressed as a hero

What Is The Plural Form Of “Hero?”

We all need a hero sometimes. But what if the tasks calls for more that one hero? Should we simply add an “s” at the end to end up with “heros?” No, that would indeed be incorrect. So what is the plural of “hero?” In… continue reading

A picture of a snail shell on top of a speeding rocket with the words "is vastly a word?"

Gems of Language

Is “Fastly” A Real Word?

Can You Use “Fastly?” Have you ever wondered find yourself wondering: “is ‘fastly’ a word?” “Fast”is a special type of adjective that can double as an adverb without requiring any change. In other words, if you want to describe an action or a noun, you… continue reading

A green and white background with the words Oriented or Orientated

Should You Say “Oriented” Or “Orientated?”

Is one “oriented” or “orientated?” It is common in English to hear people say both “orient” and “orientate” in everyday speech. Both verbs mean “to align or position yourself in a literal or theoretical environment.” Additionally, both words originated from the Latin root “oriens,” which means “rising/east.” Additionally, when… continue reading

Is Learning the Definition of Bupkis Worth Anything?

The definition of “Bupkis” is something that is worthless or has no value (origin: Yiddish language) It can also mean “nothing.” While it is not as common an expression as it used to be, from time to time, you may hear someone use the word… continue reading

Graphic illustrating the featured image for beck and call.

Beckon Call, Beck and Call . . . Bacon Call?

“Beck and Call” is the proper spelling of the expression and is used to describe situations where one person does whatever is asked of them by another. “Beckon Call” and “Bacon Call” are errors most likely caused by mishearing the proper expression. Have you ever… continue reading

Is Ginormous a Proper Word?

Sometimes when describing something quite large, you may hear the adjective “ginormous” used to describe it. The word is fun but doesn’t sound like something you’d find in a legitimate dictionary. Is this a real word? Where did it originate? Well, the answers may very… continue reading

A graphic of a man in a monocle with the word "indubitably" above

Indubitably | Meaning and Use

There is an expression beyond the shadow of a doubt. It means that something is true, without the remotest possibility that it could be false. If you were to declare your absolute certainty of something, you would say that it was true beyond the shadow… continue reading