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...
Gail in San Diego County, California, has been hearing forms such as I could have went for I could have gone, a ship that had sunken where she expected sank, I was sat, and I was drugged for I was dragged. These don’t all have the same explanation...
A theater professor who has cast many students in productions wonders about the past tense of the verb to cast. Is it cast or casted? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “”To Cast” Past Tense: Cast or Casted?” Hello, you have A Way...
If you pronounce short-lived with a long i, you’re saying it correctly– at least by the standards of the 1600’s. Today it’s far more commonly pronounced with a short i, though both pronunciations are acceptable. This is part of a complete episode...
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...