Calling from the Greek island of Crete, a retired English teacher named Beth asks about using of amount of instead of numberof when it comes to such phrases as the amount of people or the amount of eggs. The traditional distinction is that amount applies to mass nouns, or uncountable things, and number is used with count nouns, or things that can be counted. In everyday speech, however, it’s fine to relax about this rule. This is part of a complete episode.
Knitters are creating temperature blankets, also known as weather blankets, by assigning colors to daily temperatures and stitching them into finished pieces. Makers involved in The Tempestry Project extend the practice by representing the weather...
Nikki in Charlotte, North Carolina, shares the story of a man who casually told passersby You dropped your pocket, prompting them to check for something that wasn’t there in the first place. That silly saying reminds her of playing pool and trying...
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