Light-hearted conversation with callers from all over about new words, old sayings, slang, family ex
The anatomy of effective prose, and the poetry of anatomy. Ever wonder what it’d be like to audit a
This week on "A Way with Words": Grant and Martha discuss the L-word--or two L-words, actually: libe
The language and melodies of military marching songs connect grown children with their parents who s
Clean cursing for modern times, more about communicating after a brain injury, and 1970's TV lingo w
Novelist Charles Dickens created many unforgettable characters, but he’s also responsible for coinin
We have books for language-lovers and recommendations for history buffs. • How did the word boondogg
Are there words and phrases that you misunderstood for an embarrassingly long time? Maybe you though
Perfect sentences and slang that tickles your mind! A new book of writing advice says a good sentenc
If you want to be a better writer, try skipping today’s bestsellers, and read one from the 1930’s in
A caller with a 25-year-old parrot wonders: How much language do birds really understand? Plus, Knoc
If you catch your blue jeans on a nail, you may find yourself with a winklehawk. This term, adapted
Sending someone a care package shows you care, of course. But the first care packages were boxes of
Victorian slang and a modern controversy over language and gender. In the early 1900’s, a door-knock
In 1803, a shy British pharmacist wrote a pamphlet that made him a reluctant celebrity. The reason?
Silence comes in many forms. Writer Paul Goodman says there is, for example, the noisy silence of “r
A clever pun can make the difference between a so-so phrase and a memorable one. The phrase “the las
A stereotype is a preconceived notion about a person or group. Originally, though, the word stereoty
Sometimes it's a challenge to give a book a chance: How many pages should you read before deciding i
In deafening workplaces, like sawmills and factories, workers develop their own elaborate sign langu
Sensuous words and terms of endearment. Think of a beautiful word. Now, is it simply the word’s soun
