I used to like spicy food much more than I do now. I was never a fanatic about it — chomping on a ghost pepper has never been on my bucket list. But there are people out there who will jump at any chance to experience new levels of mouth pain whenever they hear about a new, more powerful … [Read more...]
Are You Rifling or Riffling?
A hypothetical 400-page bill is brought forward in Congress, and voting on the bill is expected to happen in only one hour. Legislators don't have enough time to read and absorb the entire thing, so they scan through it quickly, looking for specific phrases and keywords just to get the gist of what … [Read more...]
Wakanda, Vibranium, and the Dilemma of Newly Prominent Allusions
Pop-culture references are commonplace. Chances are you know what it means to turn to the Dark Side or go to warp speed even if you’ve never seen the term-propelling properties. But what about emerging pop-culture references—like the fictional nation of Wakanda, the expression of solidarity … [Read more...]
Clarifying the Language of the Declaration of Independence
As Americans across the country take a day off work to cook out with friends, watch fireworks, and complain about the hellish heat, one hopes they will each take a moment to reflect on the reason for the holiday: the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in … [Read more...]
Confusables: Metal, Medal, Mettle, and Meddle
Today we’re tackling two to four homophones. Why the qualification? To some English speakers, the words metal, medal, mettle, and meddle are all pronounced identically, or nearly so. But to others, depending on dialect and accent, they are not. In any case, at least two of these words will be … [Read more...]
From the AP Stylebook: Writing about Immigration
Last week, the 2018 AP Stylebook went on sale, and I gave you a peek at the guidance offered in its new “Polls and Surveys” chapter. This week, I highlight some of the Associated Press guidelines for writing accurately and dispassionately about another hot topic: immigration. DREAM Act vs. … [Read more...]
Chiasmus: X Marks the Spot
John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech on January 20, 1961, inspired a generation of young people to a life of public service and self-sacrifice. The speech ended with what is perhaps the most well-known chiasmus in history: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your … [Read more...]
11 Layers of Nonsense
Into every copyeditor’s life, a little rain must fall. Setting aside the literal rain that drives us back under the covers of a Monday morning, the metaphorical rain of a copyeditor’s career comes in the form of horrible manuscripts. We’ve all had to deal with them: The manuscripts that are so … [Read more...]