A caller is adamant honorifics should be used to address the President of the United States, as in “President Obama,” never “Mr. Obama.” He thinks it’s disrespectful and divisive when news organizations use “Mr...
A 2009 article in American Speech by John Considine proposes that blotto, slang for drunk since around World War I, may come from Blotto Frères, a French maker of a three-wheeled delivery vehicle known to be dangerous and erratic. The idea is that...
charticle n.— «Well, here’s an equation that editors and designers in newsrooms ranging from small dailies in Oregon to major metros in Florida are increasingly turning to: Chart + article = charticle.…Charticles—as defined by Omaha...
plat rush n.— «The notification that Prescott’s AMA was in a state of Groundwater Mining meant that the amount of water that can be taken out of the ground is capped. Period. But, in Prescott’s case it wasn’t immediate...
Puzzle-man Greg Pliska joins us for a recap of 2007—in limericks! This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Can You Solve a 2007 News Quiz in Limericks?” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Grant Barrett. And...
windshield cowboy n.— «Instead of the customary chuck wagon, the participating cowboys and a number of “windshield cowboy” spectators ate their barbecue dinner at the auction after the herd was penned.» —“Cowboys Push...