Matt from Waukesha, Wisconsin, has been discussing the words barely and nearly with his 10-year-old son Simon. They know the two words are nearly alike, but how exactly? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Barely vs. Nearly” Hello...
Why are those tiny, white flowers that grace bouquets called baby’s breath? Some people say they like newborn’s breath, but the name may simply reflect the fact that these blossoms are small and delicate. Their genus name, Gypsophila, literally...
Jonathan in Fall River, Wisconsin, says when he worked in Zambia he met many people named Bornface, supposedly because they were born face-up. In The African Book of Names, Ashkari Johnson Hodari explains that it’s common throughout sub-Saharan...
Is saying “Yes, Ma’am” and “No, Sir” when addressing someone in conversation too formal or off-putting? Not if it’s clear that those niceties come naturally to you. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Sincere Niceties” Hello, you have...
Accent imitation can be part of ordinary human mimicry, the same impulse behind matching someone’s cadence, posture, or gestures. Sarah, who lives in Santa Fe and is temporarily in Philadelphia, finds herself reproducing the accent of a coworker...
The difference between the verbs lay and lie has always been tricky to master, but Bryan Garner has some helpful tips. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Tips for Lay vs. Lie” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Stacey Lee...