I seem to be thinking a lot recently about words that can have two meanings.
Try, Try, and Try Again
Month: February 2018
I Put a Spell on You
At some point in the last few days I was writing about spelling, and a thought recurred to me: is it a coincidence that the verb to spell (as in, How do you spell that word?), and the noun spell (as in magic spell) are identical?
This time I’ve decided to pursue this line of inquiry, and the answer is basically: No, it’s not just a coincidence!
Why are they Called Romance Languages?
Breakfast
I’m having breakfast as I write this. There’s nothing terribly unusual about that: it is the morning after all. But do you know what that word breakfast means?
Alma Mater
What was your old school like? Have you ever gone back there, to your alma mater?
Word Stress
It’s Friday, we’re all tired after a long week, so let’s have a look at an old post that answers two questions:
Can a word have more than one stressed syllable?
Can a word have no stressed syllables?
This post is inspired by two common and related questions I often see posed online:
- Can an English word have two equally-stressed syllables?
- Can an English word have no stressed syllables?
Before answering (and mercifully, the answer to both questions is the same, and quite simple), let’s have a look at what word stress actually is.
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Mind your own Business!
If you’re very busy, what noun do you use to describe the state you’re in? Would it be… busyness? No, that doesn’t look or sound right, does it? It’s kind of uncanny, because it sounds like business, but it isn’t, and it looks weird with the Y before the suffix -ness.
English-Language Thoughts 