What do readers of The New Yorker complain about most when they write letters to the editor? Those two dots above vowels in words like cooperate and reelect. The diaeresis, as those marks are known, has remained in use at the magazine ever since the...
If everyone on the planet spoke a single language, wouldn’t that make life a whole lot easier? For that matter, is a common world language even possible? Maybe for a minute or so—until new words and phrases start springing up. Also, did you...
Oxford University doesn’t really have a mascot, so a listener asks on our Facebook page: Why not call them the Oxford Commas? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Oxford Comma Mascot” On our Facebook page, Gabrielle...
