Why do some people pronounce the word sixth as “sikth”? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “”Sixth” Pronounced as “Sikth”” Hi, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Augusta calling from...
Laura in Hereford, Arizona, noticed scientists saying species as “spee-SEES” while a radio host used “spee-SHEES.” Both pronunciations are standard in North American and British English, and neither carries a stigma. The “spee-SHEES” version, with...
There are eight major planets, but more than a million minor ones, including asteroids. If you discover one, you get the honor of naming it. The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names includes minor planets named for rock bands, jazz musicians, poets, and...
Generally speaking, the color that’s a blend of black and white is most often spelled gray in the U.S. and grey in the UK, although both spellings existed side by side for many years, and in fact, 18th-century British lexicographer Samuel...
Leah, a college student in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, asks: Does biweekly mean “twice a week” or “once every two weeks”? In British English, fortnightly specifies “once every two weeks.” But biweekly is...
Scott, in Cincinnati, Ohio, notes in his work as a technical writer for a software company, that his colleagues use the word as instead of what he believes is the correct word, because. For example, in the sentenceYou must enter the customer’s...