Light-hearted conversation with callers from all over about new words, old sayings, slang, family ex
Is there something inherent in English that makes it the linguistic equivalent of the Borg, dominati
An anadrome is a word that forms a whole new word when you spell it backwards. For example, the word
Books were rare treasures in the Middle Ages, painstakingly copied out by hand. So how to protect th
We take our voices for granted, but it’s truly miraculous that we communicate complex thoughts simpl
The new Downton Abbey movie is a luscious treat for fans of the public-television period piece, but
For rock climbers, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, the word send has taken on a whole new mea
So you've long dreamed of writing fiction, but don't know where to begin? There are lots of ways to
In Cockney rhyming slang, apples and pears is a synonym for “stairs,” and dustbin lids means kids. P
Unwrap the name of a candy bar, and you just might find a story inside. For instance, one chewy trea
National Book Award winner Barry Lopez had wise advice for young writers. First, read widely and fol
It's hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people disagreed over the best word to use when
What kind of book do people ask for most often in prison? Romance novels? No. The Bible? No. The mos
One way to make your new business look trendy is to use two nouns separated by an ampersand, like Pe
Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks strol
"What has a head like a cat, feet like a cat, a tail like a cat, but isn't a cat?" Answer: a kitten!
Many of us struggled with the Old English poem “Beowulf” in high school. But what if you could actua
Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an op
The edge of the Grand Canyon. A remote mountaintop. A medieval cathedral. Some places are so mystica
What’s it like to hike the Pacific Crest Trail all the way from Mexico to Canada? You’ll end up with
Your first name is very personal, but what if you don't like it? For some people, changing their nam
