101 Synonyms for Love on Valentine’s Day
Woo your valentine with more creative words than just “I love you.”
Writing
Infographic: How to Use Trademark Symbols
Don’t embarrass yourself. Use trademark symbols the right way.
The Subversive Feminist Poets of Afghanistan
In a nation beleaguered by violence, corruption, addiction, and dozens of other ills, a network of resilient women are coming out of the shadows through writing. Embrace me in a suicide vestbut don’t say I won’t give you a kiss. A landay is a subversive, biting poetry style esteemed among the Pashtun tribes of Afghanistan. …
Productivity-Boosting Keyboard Shortcuts for Writers
Speed up your everyday writing workflow with these basic keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word. Sometimes mouse-work can be slow and tedious. Here are a few essential PC keyboard shortcuts you can use to get more done in less time! Ctrl + A Select all Ctrl + C Copy Ctrl + V Paste Ctrl + F …
Who Writes the Messages in Chinese Fortune Cookies?
Writing and Chinese food just go together like vowels and consonants. Long hours and deadlines are made for good Hunan chicken. You know it’s true. After putting in the 17th round of changes into a 600-page report, have you ever wished that you could get the ultimate writing gig? Let’s say, something like writing the …
Funny (Non)definitions
Disclaimer: You won’t find any of these definitions in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary: Arbitrator: n. A cook that leaves Arby’s to work at McDonalds Avoidable: v. What a bullfighter tried to do Burglarize: n. What a crook sees with Counterfeiters: npl. Workers who install kitchen cabinets Eclipse: v. What an Cockney barber does for a living Eyedropper: …
Backronym Whimsy
A while back, we wrote an article about retronyms. Now it’s time for more Word People whimsy! Do you know what a “backronym” is? If not, you soon shall. A backronym is a reverse acronym. (Alternative spelling: bacronym) It’s an expression that has been formed from the letters of an existing word or name. Examples …
Catbird’s seat?
Based on the great response to last week’s article on Adam’s House Cat, we decided to explore the origins of another odd saying: “Sitting in the catbird’s seat.” According to The Phrase Finder website: This is an American phrase – which is unsurprising as the grey catbird which is the probable source of the phrase …
14 Ways to Break Writer’s Block
When your livelihood depends upon your ability to write, writer’s block is like a power outage. Your mind goes dark, and you have no idea when the lights will come back on. Here are 14 time-honored ways to break writer’s block: Take a break. Overworking your brain can make it just shut down. Surf the …
Retronymania
Are you a retronymaniac? Not sure? Perhaps you should consult with your favorite Word Person for a diagnosis. This week’s article explores this often used element of language…the retronym. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines retronym as “a term (such as analog watch, film camera, or snail mail) that is newly created and adopted to distinguish the …