Contemporary as a Kind of Janus Word
Reasons to be mindful of the ambiguity of the word contemporary . . . Read More
Posts related to word choice
The Danger of Deploy
Deploy is not a good synonym for use, utilize, or employ Read More
It is . . . that; or, How Not to Edit Jane Austen
The formula it is . . . that is common in academic writing Read More
President’s Day: A Singular Holiday?
Authorities disagree about the name Presidents' Day . . . Read More
Celebrate the New Year in (MLA) Style
Should you write, “Happy New Year,” “Happy new year,” or “Happy New Year’s”? . . . Read More
When Not to Include
On the use of include to mean are . . . Read More
Overhedging
Some writers are timid—or pretend to be—about making a statement, so they hedge Read More
Former and Latter
There are many stylistic sins worse than using former and latter Read More
Critique versus Criticize
Claire Kehrwald Cook noted that critique as a verb “has not yet won full acceptance” Read More
Liberate Those Verbs!
Some phrases in English lengthen a sentence while adding nothing to its meaning . . . Read More