All Verbal Energy

‘Care’ began as an emotion but now is an activity accounting for nearly a fifth of the United States economy.

A look at Washington’s vocabulary for ways of making officials available to the media – or not.

Political ‘women in white’ at the US president’s address to Congress prompt thoughts on the link between ‘suffering’ and ‘suffrage.’

The discovery of a whole family of new-to-us planets is a reminder how observatories have evolved over time.

A new(ish) term of art for resistance that moves at a stately pace.

Merriam-Webster’s ‘trending now’ words: the vocabulary of a new era in Washington.

Thoughts on language rights and language learning as International Mother Language Day is observed.

Unraveling the mysteries of proper names.

A look at how some odd place names may – or may not – have come to be.

Does a term borrowed from Arthurian legend get maybe too much of a workout in the news media?

After year-end remembrances of the dear departed, a look at why we call them ‘late.’

A look at three idioms for different kinds of ‘distance’ – literal and figurative.

‘Elite’ has become such a pejorative over the last while; let’s take a look at its roots and its word kin.

A little hygge may be just what we need as we head into the northern winter.

When civilization seems to be under pressure in the ‘post-truth’ era, the public library helps hold things together.

We don’t know the roots of ‘gig,’ but its sound symbolism suggests a certain resilience – which we’re all going to need.

Data cruncher extraordinaire Josh Katz has turned the responses he got to his fascinating online dialect quiz into a new book.

Before the holiday, a look at the roots of our vocabulary of gratitude.

A look at the many meanings of a useful little word – and those of its evil twin.