Wordplay: The old “ye olde”

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. If you want to make something look, y’know, old and classy and stuff, what’s better than adding an e to the end of it? Think how much extra you pay to stay in … Continue reading Wordplay: The old “ye olde” →

Wordplay: Assimilation by the mutants

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. Every so often, someone asks, “If it’s one foot and two feet, and one tooth and two teeth, why isn’t it one book and two beek? If we have louse and lice, and … Continue reading Wordplay: Assimilation by the mutants →

Wordplay: Contronyms: To sanction or to sanction?

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. There are some words in English we may not know whether to sanction. They are so impregnated with meaning that their meaning may seem impregnable. If you try to hold them fast, you … Continue reading Wordplay: Contronyms: To sanction or to sanction? →

Wordplay: Because language

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. We have a beautiful opportunity to watch language change in action: English is gaining a new preposition. Really? Yes. Because change. Because language! Do you find that jarring? Folks, this is how your … Continue reading Wordplay: Because language →

Wordplay: When intransitives go transitive

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. We’ve all learned that there are two kinds of verbs: transitive and intransitive. Transitives take a direct object—“I fry an egg”—and intransitives don’t—“My stomach aches.” But that’s not the whole story. In fact, … Continue reading Wordplay: When intransitives go transitive →

Wordplay: Tittle-ating jottings from the Bible

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. The King James Version of the Bible gives us two English words that usually travel together: jot and tittle. We find them in Matthew 5:18: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven … Continue reading Wordplay: Tittle-ating jottings from the Bible →

Wordplay: Are some words truly untranslatable?

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. What’s English for Schadenfreude? Schadenfreude, of course. Words are like Barbie dolls or trading cards or Hummel figurines or camera lenses or kitchen gadgets: if we see one that fills a spot that … Continue reading Wordplay: Are some words truly untranslatable? →

Wordplay: The new birds

Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. Imagine going out for a stroll in the woods with a friend who loves birds. You hear a bird’s song. “What’s that?” you ask. “I don’t know,” your friend says; “I don’t recognize … Continue reading Wordplay: The new birds →