A flashlight emits a steady beam of light. So what’s the flash part of that word about? Also, if you’re a nervous Nellie, you’re skittish and indecisive—both characteristics of an American politician who earned that nickname in the 1920s. And...
Hitten, as in You’ve hitten every green light, sounds nonstandard today, but it has company. Kendall in Highland, Utah, a native Texan whose wife is from British Columbia, uses it as a past participle of hit. Charles Mackay’s 1888 A Dictionary of...
When you have a habit of using a particular bit of poor grammar, rote exercises like writing out a script to practice may help you get past it. Practicing the correct usage by singing to yourself may work, too. This is part of a complete episode...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a puzzle about anagrams. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Anagram Word Quiz” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Grant Barrett. And I’m Martha Barnette. And we’re joined now by our quiz guy, John...