Old-school news, just in time
by Dictionary Scoop Language preserves history in unexpected places. Many job titles that seem ordinary today began with entirely different meanings. Although the work behind these titles has changed dramatically over the centuries, the words themselves continue to carry traces of the past wherever they are used. 1-Secretary Today, a secretary is …
Continue reading “Job Titles That Changed Meaning Over Time”
Some Of History’s Best, Wittiest Responses by Kevin Burton Sometimes a question is a softball, served up right into your wheelhouse, ready to be hit out of the park. But if you’re like me, you usually think of the witty, brilliant response after the fact, a day or two later. Don’t you …
Continue reading “Some Of History’s Best, Wittiest Responses”
by Dictionary Scoop We all know it: some words just sound ridiculous, but they mean business. If you have ever come across a term like “gobbledygook” or “kerfuffle” and wondered if someone made it up, you’re not alone. Here are 12 of these magnificent words that seem unreal, but are not. 1-Firkin …
Continue reading “12 Words From Antiquity, (Better Left There?)”
by Kevin Burton Every syllable must have both a written vowel and a vowel sound. It’s a rule kids, don’t giggle! Now settle down. This is knowledge you need today, because today is National Silent E Day. Take the word “giggle” for example, since we just used it. That second syllable, to …
Continue reading “Who Can Turn A Can Into A Cane?….Silent E!”
by Dictionary Scoop There’s a reason why certain phrases keep coming at us from public-facing workers across many industries. Decades of trial and error have taught brands which words will put customers at ease, which expressions to reach for, and which to avoid at all costs — such as “unfortunately” or “I don’t …
Continue reading “The Language Of Customer Service Explained”
by Kevin Burton “Every year August burns itself out like too much of a good thing and every year September is there looming,” I wrote in a profile in my college newspaper. “It’s cooling influence is enough to bring both leaves and schoolboys, floating down to earth.” Autumn begins today in the northern …
Continue reading “Interesting And Obscure Words About Autumn”
by Dictionary Scoop Vocabulary is in great part learned through copying and imitating others, but this can lead to incorrect use of a word becoming widespread. Let’s explore some words that you might be using incorrectly. (Then let’s enjoy some snarky comments from your humble blogger.) 1-Nauseous Many people use “nauseous” to describe …
by Kevin Burton So I missed my window. Again. As Stockard Channing’s character Betty Rizzo sang in “Grease,” “there are worse things I could do….” This here blog, Page 7, turned seven years old July 20 and I didn’t usher it into year eight properly, with a birthday post. One reason was …
Continue reading “Blogging And Trying To Cure A 7-Year Ache”
by Dictionary Scoop English is a very welcoming language in that it incorporates terms from many other languages from all over the world. And Native American languages have lent many of their words and terms to English speakers. Some traveled through Spanish or French before settling into English, and others arrived directly through …
by Dictionary Scoop English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, but that doesn’t mean it is easy to explain. In fact, some of its strangest features might surprise even native speakers. Here are 10 fascinating things that make English unique. 1-The “-ough” If you’ve ever talked with someone …
Continue reading “Hail English, That Wonderful Weirdo Language”
