Gail from Minden, Nevada, notes the difference between pixelated, which describes images composed of tiny pixels, and pixilated, which is pronounced the same, but means “drunk” or “confused.” Pixilated derives from the idea of being pixie-led, or...
Should cursive handwriting be taught in schools? There are compelling arguments on both sides. A handwritten letter or note may carry additional emotional power. Also, to have a yen for something means to yearn for it. It comes from a Chinese word...
Why is the ch pronounced differently in spinach and stomach? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “The Differing “ch” in “Spinach” and “Stomach”” Hi there, you have A Way with Words. Hi, thank you. My name is Isabella. I’m calling from...
Keith in Valparaiso, Indiana, wonders why his mother uses the term icebox for what other people call a refrigerator. Before electric refrigeration, people kept food cold by putting it in a an insulated box that was literally cooled with a block of...
Why do we use the plural for pieces of clothing worn below the waist, like trousers, pants, shorts, and jeans? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Why are Pants Plural?” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hello, this is Rob calling...
Nancy in Panama City Beach, Florida, remembers that as a girl, whenever she asked why her mother was looking at her, her mother would respond, “Well, can’t the cat look at the queen?” This phrase goes all the way back to the mid-16th century. A 1652...