How I Rode Cold Notes Straight To The Top

by Kevin Burton    Today we finish up the Dictionary Scoop website’s list of jargon phrases used in journalism. As I did yesterday, I will add to the list.    “Above The Fold” is a term that refers to stories and pictures that appear in the top half of the front page. It’s the part …

Speaking My Language, Journalism Jargon

by Kevin Burton    Every industry has its insider jargon and our friends at Dictionary Scoop have released a list of journalism phrases.    And I’ll get to it, gladly.  But first, one bone to pick.    So the way I was trained in journalism was, get to the point, now. Put the most important …

Yum, Yum, Here’s Some Food For Thought

by Kevin Burton    Just so you know, I did not write these little gems I am going to share today, though I could have.    It’s the kind of smart-alecky stuff that sounds like something I would say, and perhaps I will write my own list like this someday, but for this stuff, not …

A Fearful List Of Ten Unusual Phobias

by Dictionary Scoop     The word “phobia” does not merely mean “fear of” as some believe. There is more to it.    A phobia is an irrational fear, “an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation,” according to Merriam-Webster dictionary.    Here are ten uncommon fears and …

Foreign Words With No English Equivalent

by Interesting Facts    With the right combination of words and expressions, we can communicate anything our hearts desire. That’s the power of language.    But what about those times when you’re looking for a single word rather than an entire sentence to sum up a thought or feeling? For that, we can look to …

Braille Gives Literacy, Independence, Access

by Megan Dausch Helen Keller Services    The Louis Braille Museum in Coupvray, France, smelled like history—aged wood, old paper, and the faint mustiness of time. It was a small house, but it held the weight of a remarkable legacy.     I remember running my fingers over the dominoes Louis Braille played with as a …

Words For Cats’ Eyes, Bad Hair, Plenty More

by Kevin Burton    Merriam-Webster dictionary took to social media to ask readers to identify some of their favorite underrated words. Yesterday we posted some of these words and today we finish their list.    This may be the weirdest list I’ve ever posted. Some of these words don’t strike me as particularly useful. Others …

Panning For Gold In The Discount Word Bin

by Kevin Burton    I missed it and didn’t get to participate, but Merriam-Webster had a notice on social media inviting readers to vote for their favorite underused words.    The dictionary published the results under the headline “12 Underrated Words That Deserve More Love.” I don’t agree with all the choices, but there was …

Where Ya From? What’s Your Demonym?

by Kevin Burton    People from Wichita, the nearest large city to me, are called Wichitans.  That’s straightforward enough.    People from Puebla, Mexico, a city very near to my heart, are called Poblanos. Why not Pueblanos?  Not sure, good question.    Wichitan and Poblano are demonyms. The word demonym is “Rooted in the Greek …

When In Denmark, Speak As The Danish Speak

by Dictionary Scoop    Coming from the Indo-European language family, Danish has some funny idiomatic expressions. Some will leave you scratching your head.    For example, “reading a horse.” What’s that all about? Continue reading to learn nine Danish expressions and their meaning translated. 1-Mind the cows    When life gets a bit hard, we all need …