Reports

Why does it take so long for some ideas to get named and why are some still nameless? Find out how neologisms, sociolects and social contagion give a dazzling newness to old ideas.

If you’ve ever heard people talk about lip-singing instead of lip-synching, or order an expresso instead of an espresso, you’ve bumped into the very sensible mistakes we call “eggcorns”. Join us in examining these little adventures in creative confusion.

This instalment of Language Matters covers a subject that never gets old—expressions of age. From year-old to years old to years of age, let’s break down how and when to wield these timeless turns of phrase.

Have you ever wondered about the apple of your eye, the skin of your teeth, or your neck of the woods? This Word Stories instalment explains some idioms that refer in odd ways to body parts.

When we use “this”, “that”, “which” or “it” as pronouns to refer to a clause, we often create uncertainty. But there’s no need to avoid these pronouns if you learn how to identify and fix any ambiguities.

Games come and go, but sometimes they shape the language before they disappear. This Word Stories instalment examines idioms that are rooted in forgotten games.

“Hark! Who goes there?” In our modern world, echoes of our linguistic past endure. Discover the quaint charm of archaic-sounding English.

Some say May is the month of youth (for the Roman springtime goddess Maia). Others say May is the month of the old (for the “maiores” or “elders” of Rome). In this Word Stories instalment, we salute May by investigating words that evoke youth and age.