Here are some reasons why spanking isn't a good idea.
Grief visits all of us at some point in our lives. We each deal with it in our own way, and, knowing how awful we felt when we last were grieving, it’s only natural that we try to comfort our friends when we see them in pain. Here are some things that you shouldn’t say, why you shouldn’t say them,...
Parenting is easy. No, really, it is. All you have to do is keep the kid fed, clothed, sheltered, and safe. Oh, and teach the kid how to talk, and not to soil himself. That’s relatively easy stuff. Being a good parent? That’s really, really hard. Here are some of the stupid things that even good...
Lots of words and phrases in English are the result of a process called Folk Etymology. This is a linguistic shift in which an unusual or foreign word gets changed to a more familiar word. This edition of You’re Saying it Wrong will take a look at several folk etymologies, a couple of which have...
Lots of English idioms have very interesting origins. In this iteration of "Your Friendly Neighborhood Grammar Geek," we’ll take a look at some phrases that come from the mighty sailor men of days gone by.
Many usage errors in English happen because the language is full of homophones. If you’re talking, homophone confusion will never be a problem. But if you’re writing, and if you’re overly dependent on your spellchecker, it can be a bit of a worry. This installment of “You’re Saying it Wrong” is to...
In You're Saying it Wrong, part 3, we'll see why we don't pull our rope 'taunt' when we go 'repelling,' find out why inferring is different from implying, and might literally chuckle at people who try to make metaphors mean what they say.
The English language is full of words that sound alike but are written differently, or are spelled alike but pronounced differently, and which make you look silly when you mix them up. This article discusses why we shouldn't try to peak someone's interest, wet someone's appetite, say "Here comes...
In a further attempt to promote standard grammar and usage, here are some common expressions that are often mispronounced and/or misspelled, along with the correct usage, and most importantly, explanations for each.
Robin Hood’s story has been around since the Middle Ages, but still remains relevant today. Here are some thoughts on why.
Yes. Yes it is. Read on to find out why your granddad's old-fashioned cast iron skillet is superior to the brand-new nonstick cookware you probably registered for when you got married.
Are you noodle folk? Does broth run deep in your veins? If not, don't worry. You, too can learn the secret of Secret Ingredient Soup!
In a traditional blog, this article might be called a “link-dump.” But I’m not just dumping a bunch of links. I want to share with you some neat things that make me happy on a daily (…well, maybe weekly…well, semi-regular, okay?) basis.
This is the story of how I was able to write a screenplay and get it turned into an actual short film that people have seen in a theater, in spite of having no knowledge of the filmmaking process.
Here's how you and your Padawan can make a decent-looking toy lightsaber with a bunch of stuff you probably already have lying around the house. It will be light enough to be safe for use in mock duels, cheap enough to consider disposable, and a fun part of your Padawan's training.
When to use an apostrophe with pronouns, when not to, and why.