Category: Words Worth Defending
Happy Independence Day!
I’ve written before about my discomfort when people refer to “the holiday,” meaning whatever holiday is coming up or happening. But as soon as I turned on the radio this morning, July 4, I started hearing about “the holiday,” “the Fourth of July holiday weekend,” or just “happy Fourth of July.” Well, I can wish... Read more »
Words worth defending: stare decisis
After Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade, I kept hearing mentions of an unfamiliar term, stare decisis. I had to look it up, but as usual, that’s a signal to me that a word or term needs defending — it needs to get out in the sun... Read more »
You stood on the lectern? Your balance beats mine!
I was delighted when I checked the Grammar Rules posts at WritersDigest.com today. Robert Lee Brewer’s post featured three of my favorite furies among words worth defending: lectern, podium, and pulpit. While Brewer’s examples are clear and well worth reading, I’d like to expand on them by looking at the roots of the words. Lectern... Read more »
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Notebooks vs. computers
I was determined to get started at my desk this morning. My computer wasn’t. It was offline, as many from two providers in different states were — according to the radio news I heard, when the radio station itself wasn’t cutting off the air every few minutes or running groups of commercials to make up... Read more »
Who is a word worth defending? Yes! Who!
I was talking to a friend, J.S., in a peer group we attend for help with our job-hunting. He said something that immediately struck me as an idea for Words Worth Defending: So many ads say that the company requires a person that has a particular degree or a number or years of experience. Whatever... Read more »
I couldn't care less that I've missed World Emoji Day
I’ve just settled down at my desk for a quick look over e-mail and social media. Several posts on Facebook refer to today, July 17, as World Emoji Day. The only way I want to observe it is to write about it in words. I don’t see anything to celebrate here. Anything I read about... Read more »
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Concurrences and dissents to verdicts on words by Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune
(Note: I read Eric Zorn’s excellent column in the Chicago Tribune and enjoy his writing, even when I don’t agree with his opinions. On June 11, his column “Break up the ‘Southside’ and other verdicts on words” was particularly enjoyable. In the spirit of his court verdicts, I offer the following concurrences and dissents. Terms... Read more »
Recuse: a Word Worth Defending for the Best Posts lists
Regular readers (and fellow bloggers) will have noticed long before this that I am now the editor of the monthly Best Posts lists for Chicago Now. Yet I’m not about to stop writing, and one post I wrote did appear on the February 2021 list. I left that post on the list for February because... Read more »
How to change your 'gruntlement'
During my job search — which is a long way to say “recently” — I’ve found a kindred spirit on LinkedIn,com. The Grammar Girl column there, which features all sorts of “quick and dirty tips,” has a recent post here headlined “Don’t worry, be gruntled.” Guest author Bonnie Trenga credits P.G. Wodehouse, one of the... Read more »
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Get rid of 'expeditiously' -- quickly!
I’m listening to the news on the radio, and I just heard Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot say what needed to be done — and done “expeditiously.” Madam Mayor, with that word, you lost my attention completely. A minute after I was eager to hear what you said on the topic, your careless extra-large word wrecked... Read more »
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