All Verbal Energy
Health insurance and the paradox of care鈥楥are鈥� began as an emotion but now is an activity accounting for nearly a fifth of the United States economy.
Everybody into the pool 鈥� or the scrum?A look at Washington鈥檚 vocabulary for ways of making officials available to the media 鈥� or not.
Long-suffering suffragettes still in whitePolitical 鈥榳omen in white鈥� at the US president鈥檚 address to Congress prompt thoughts on the link between 鈥榮uffering鈥� and 鈥榮uffrage.鈥�
Observation and the new planets next doorThe discovery of a whole family of new-to-us planets is a reminder how observatories have evolved over time.
Winter slow-walks in the halls of powerA new(ish) term of art for resistance that moves at a stately pace.
When lexicography is a political actMerriam-Webster鈥檚 鈥榯rending now鈥� words: the vocabulary of a new era in Washington.
Staying in touch with our mother tonguesThoughts on language rights and language learning as International Mother Language Day is observed.
Make a name for yourself with onomasticsUnraveling the mysteries of proper names.
What鈥檚 in a name? Sometimes, a number.A look at how some odd place names may 鈥� or may not 鈥� have come to be.
How holy a grail can rhubarb really be?Does a term borrowed from Arthurian legend get maybe too much of a workout in the news media?
In a new year, two kinds of latenessAfter year-end remembrances of the dear departed, a look at why we call them 鈥榣ate.鈥�
Distances we keep, and the ones we bridgeA look at three idioms for different kinds of 鈥榙istance鈥� 鈥� literal and figurative.- How well do you know words?
If you've read 'Verbal Energy' over the past year, you'll have all the answers.
How the elites lost their election鈥楨lite鈥� has become such a pejorative over the last while; let鈥檚 take a look at its roots and its word kin.
That glow from Denmark 鈥� all in our heads?A little hygge may be just what we need as we head into the northern winter.
What the commonwealth still requiresWhen civilization seems to be under pressure in the 鈥榩ost-truth鈥� era, the public library helps hold things together.
Whirling around on the gig economyWe don鈥檛 know the roots of 鈥榞ig,鈥� but its sound symbolism suggests a certain resilience 鈥� which we鈥檙e all going to need.
American speech mapped, in vivid colorData cruncher extraordinaire Josh Katz has turned the responses he got to his fascinating online dialect quiz into a new book.
Some grace notes on ThanksgivingBefore the holiday, a look at the roots of our vocabulary of gratitude.
So what鈥檚 wrong with a little rigging?A look at the many meanings of a useful little word 鈥� and those of its evil twin.
