A Way with Words

Whistling Dixie

Posted by Grant Barrett on August 30, 2014 · Add Comment

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Cute as a Button

Posted by Grant Barrett on August 2, 2014 · Add Comment

Did you ever wonder why we capitalize the pronoun “I,” but not any other pronoun? Also, the romantic story behind the term halcyon days, the origin of the phrase “like white on rice,” and the linguistic scuttlebutt on the word scuttlebutt. Plus, a pun-laden word game, hold your peace vs. hold your piece, nixie on [...]
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South End of a Chicken

Posted by Grant Barrett on July 26, 2014 · 1 Comment

Are your nightstand books all over the place? Why not stack ’em into a bookmash? A bookmash is a kind of found poetry formed from book titles! And we all know that honesty is the best policy. But does that mean you should correct the grammar of your daughter’s teacher? Plus, texting lingo in everyday [...]
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Little Pitchers

Posted by Grant Barrett on July 19, 2014 · 1 Comment

Did you know reading poetry improves your prose? That includes hip-hop lyrics, too. Also, how linguist can guess where you come from based on how you speak. What do you call someone who picks the chocolate out of the trail mix? Plus, champing at the bit, rutching around, kerfuffles and kerfluffles, pear-shaped, and little pitchers [...]
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Kissed Her on the Stairs

Posted by Grant Barrett on July 12, 2014 · Add Comment

Do Americans use the same sign language as the British? And what do Japanese people use instead of umm? Plus, why do we vote at polling places? What goes into file 13? All this, a word quiz, commode vs. toilet, saditty and bougie, and cute stuff that kids say!
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A Dancer Who Walks for a Living

Posted by Grant Barrett on July 5, 2014 · Add Comment

You dream of writing the great American novel, but to make ends meet, you spend your days writing boring corporate reports. There’s a difference between writing for love and writing for a living — or is there? Does a heyday have anything to do with hay? Did getting dressed to kill originally refer to soldiers? [...]
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