¶ 1410 Posted at 01.40 PM ⇒ No Comments ( words )

Think of a different word whenever you want to label something controversial. I'm kind of thinking it's a weasel word.

¶ 1455 Posted at 10.03 PM ⇒ No Comments ( words )

Don't use words lightly lest you cheapen them.

¶ 1530 Posted at 04.46 PM ⇒ No Comments ( issues | words | media )

Can we all agree not to use the word unleashed in reference to things not on leashes?

¶ 1589 Posted at 03.12 PM ⇒ No Comments ( words )

I have invented a term for a design pattern I have found frequently in my house: load-bearing trim.

¶ 1622 Posted at 10.47 PM ⇒ No Comments ( words | house )

brownberry, [broun'-bār-ē], -verb (intransitive), -berr·ied, -berry·ing.

1. to use an Internet-connected messaging device while moving one's bowels: Elzar brownberried in the upstairs bathroom to help pass the time while he processed his lunch.

¶ 1660 Posted at 11.52 AM ⇒ No Comments ( words )

I've always found it awkward to describe ratios as "n times fewer." Having a multiple when describing a smaller value doesn't seem right. For example, if one value is 2 and the other is 8, one might describe the first value as 4 times fewer. I've always preferred saying it one fourth as much, or describing the second value as 4 times more.

Actually, I don't like that either because of the use of "more" and "fewer." Those seem additive and subtractive rather than multiplicative. Consider "20 oz more." That means adding 20 oz to whatever the base amount is. "4 times more" implies you have your base to which you add 4 times the base, for a total of 5 times the base. I'm sure that is at least occasionally the intent, but it doesn't appear to be the usual meaning when using that phrase.

I prefer using "as much" instead, which is multiplicative rather than additive. "4 times as much" is clearer. That's another reason why "4 times fewer" seems awkward; you take 4 times your base and subtract it, leaving -3, which usually makes no sense at all.

¶ 1715 Posted at 07.49 PM ⇒ No Comments ( words | numbers )

When someone gets a gender-neutral gift for your older daughter so that it can also later be used by your younger son.

¶ 1736 Posted at 05.33 PM ⇒ No Comments ( words )

It's "yin and yang," not "ying and yang."

¶ 1737 Posted at 07.30 AM ⇒ No Comments ( fyi | words )

I have no news or analysis to add to recent reports of dangers from certain kinds of plastics used in food and beverage containers. However, I do have a linguistic contribution to make that I am rather proud of: polydeathylene.

¶ 1741 Posted at 08.17 PM ⇒ No Comments ( words | science! )