Evan in Madison, Wisconsin, learned that peruse means to read closely and carefully but keeps hearing it used for a quick skim. The older sense was even stronger, meaning to use thoroughly, use up, or exhaust, and then later to pore over a text long...
Puzzle Guy John Chaneski presents a quiz called “Repeat After Me.” It’s a quiz that’s neither so-so nor too-too. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Repeat After Me Word Quiz” You’re listening...
All aboard! This week, a bit about the musical language of railroad conductors’ calls: “Anaheim, Azusa, and Cu-ca-monga!” Also, the origin of the military slang term cumshaw, tips for learning Latin, the influence of Spanish...
Crescendo is not the high point of a sound, at least in the strict musical sense. Linda from Fort Worth, Texas, a retired symphony bassoonist, notes that a crescendo is the increase in volume or intensity, whether written out, abbreviated, or shown...
Political candidates end their TV ads with the statement “I approve this message.” Is that ungrammatical? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “I Approve This Message” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski presents a puzzle involving inverted M’s and W’s called “Turn the Worm.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Turn the Worm Puzzle” You’re listening to A Way with Words...
