Fall Colors Are Part Of What I Want To See

by Kevin Burton    I have at times, felt sorry for those Americans who live in places that do not have four discernable seasons.    Spring, summer, fall and winter.    I have lived in the Midwest most of my life and have experienced times when those four seasons all came within the same week.  …

Our Brains Demand Certain Word Orders

by Kevin Burton    If you start talking about the fauna and flora of a certain environment, people are going to be weirded out. Why?    Well, we usually say flora and fauna, not the other way around. Is there a good reason for this? Maybe not, but don’t buck the trend, unless weirdness is …

These Ten Words Emerged From the Military

by Dictionary Scoop.    Most nations in history have taken great pride in the strength and honor of their military. So it seems logical that something as valuable for any society has a profound and direct impact on the way we communicate with each other. We have selected  a few words we use every day that have military …

These Eleven Idioms All Make The Grade

by Dictionary Scoop     A lot of slang terms and everyday words have surprisingly rich backstories tied to real historical events and practices. These expressions once described literal experiences before turning into figures of speech. What was their first, literal meaning? 1-Run-of-the-mill    “Run-of-the-mill” these days means something ordinary or unremarkable, like in the sentence: The …

Making The Case For Ten Underused Words

by Dictionary Scoop     English is full of beautiful terms that we use every day, but it also holds many other gorgeous words that, unfortunately, we have stopped using over time.     Here are ten 10 beautiful English words that we don’t use much anymore -but definitely should. 1-Murmuration    “Murmuration” is a beautiful word in our language that …

Conquering Mathematics By Definition

by Kevin Burton    Fear not, dear reader. Easy does it. This won’t hurt a bit.    For your attention today we bring terms and definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary for elements of mathematics. But there will be no test.    Or, if you consider it a test, you are auditing this one. Take from …

“Charity” And Words That Changed Meanings

by Kevin Burton    The first time I encountered “charity” in the King James Bible, it made me scratch my head. It didn’t seem to fit just right.    Given time, words will do that to you.    “Charity” in the King James most commonly means “love.”  Here are more specifics on the Biblical definition …

Use A Variety Of Verbal Tools To Communicate

by Kevin Burton    In my early studies in journalism I heard or read somewhere that a news reporter should write at a 10th-grade level. I never did that. I wouldn’t.    I was very aware that I was talking to everyone, “broadcasting,” in the print news sense of the word, with the emphasis on …

Where Your Favorite Cheeses Come From

by Dictionary Scoop     Whether you’re a cheese expert or just enjoy a good slice on your sandwich, you’ll enjoy this flavorful ride.    There are fascinating stories behind the cheeses we eat every day. So, let’s take a trip around the world—one cheesy stop at a time—and explore ten places that gave these famous …

Bolster Your Vocabulary With Creative Insults!

by Kevin Burton    I know I shouldn’t be doing this. But here’s my excuse up front: The dictionary made me do it!    There is more than enough bad blood, ill manners, insincerity and name calling to go around these days. Nevertheless, Merriam-Webster dictionary provides you today with entirely new and creative ways to …