by Kevin Burton My friend and co-worker on my college newspaper Tim, once suggested that thinking become a new sport. That’s something that should really be pursued. In this thinksport, there should be a penalty for speaking without thinking. Maybe I’ll continue this thought later. For now, I want to share …
Category Archives: Words
A Language That Goes Beyond Words
by Kevin Burton Surely you’ve heard this old joke: What do you call a person who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call a person who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call a person who speaks only one language? American. A wicked, sweeping generalization that. Not entirely fair. But …
What’s The Big Deal About Small Talk?
by Kevin Burton What is your stance on small talk? I’m not into it. “I’m just making conversation.” Ever hear that one? I say real conversation makes itself. Necessity causes words to come out of my mouth. Information must be shared, I share it, so that action will be taken. “We …
Oh My Word! Scrabble Goes Crazy
by Kevin Burton If you read this column often you know I’m a Scrabble player. Guess I’ve become an old Scrabble player. I used to laugh at my mom because she objected to some of the new words in the Scrabble Players’ Dictionary. I’m not laughing anymore. I have the sixth edition …
Words For The Cranky And Disagreeable
by Kevin Burton God help me not to resemble this post. But today we tune into Merriam-Webster’s “19 words for the cranky and disagreeable,”part of the words at play column on its website. We will not get to all 19, but here are some of the more helpful terms as you seek to …
So Tomorrow, Is It Fall Or Is It Autumn?
by Kevin Burton I hear you asking, should I say “fall” or “autumn” beginning tomorrow as the season changes? I hear you asking this because my hearing is good. It’s my vision that isn’t so good. Both my vision and hearing are selective, as my wife will tell you, and as you …
Who You Calling Stubborn? I’m Resolute!
by Kevin Burton One adjective I have a hard time using properly is “stubborn.” I say it’s not a useful word. It’s easier when I’m not talking about people, a stubborn stain I can’t get out of my jeans for example, or a stubborn headache I can’t get rid of. In that sense, …
Of OSSB And A Bright Sunshiny Day
by Kevin Burton How do you get to 50 years? It starts with a day, or a night. Then, you turn your heart toward the sunrise, again and again. There was a night when my parents put me into the family Delta 88 and drove me from our home in Yellow Springs …
Words Borrowed From Foreign Languages
by Kevin Burton When I travel to foreign lands such as Mexico or Mississippi, I bring back souvenirs. I’m sure you do too in your travels. Some of the souvenirs we bring back are words and phrases. Today we look at some favorites from the Merriam Webster dictionary. Their list is of words …
Speaking Of English, Speaking In British
by Kevin Burton Not smashing, not daft, something mid-table I’d say, to use a football analogy. I thought I was ready, so I had a go, with middling results. Every day Merriam-Webster sends me an e-mail to help me watch my language. A few weeks ago they announced “The Great British Vocabulary …
Page 7 