You’ve been reading a book but you’re just not into it. How do you quit it, guilt-free? How do you break up with a book? Also, what do you ask for when you go through the grocery checkout line: bag, sack, or something else? Plus, brung vs. brought...
What does it mean to vet a political candidate? The word “vet” comes from veterinarian, specifically the ones who would examine a horse before a race to make sure it was healthy and eligible. Similarly, one might vet a candidate to make sure they’re...
There’s been a lot of talk about the place of handwriting in the digital age. Grant has some great books to recommend on the subject: Reading Early American Handwriting by Kip Sperry, and Handwriting in America: A Cultural History by Tamara Thornton...
Lo, a Chinese American caller from Oak Park, Illinois, learned English as a second language and uses Oriental for herself without taking offense, but wonders why others object. Applied to people, Oriental can sound dated or condescending because it...
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 is Liz. I’m calling from...
secret squirrel mission n.— «The detail protects the governor, the lieutenant governor, visiting dignitaries and other elected officials deemed to be at risk. But Mr. Wiese so frequently dispatched members of the detail to other duties that State...
