grammar

To

Niall O'Donnell 2 Comments

How do you pronounce that word? Continue reading →

I Cannot Sanction Your Buffoonery

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Yesterday I wrote about how the word confessor can refer either to someone who hears or makes a confession. While the word might seem unusual in this regard, there are a surprising number of words in the English language which have contrary meanings. Consider the following sentences: Continue reading →

Confess!

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I was reading The Devils of Loudon this afternoon, when the word confessor made me stop for a moment.

Hang on, I thought, logically you might assume a confessor is someone who makes a confession, who confesses to something. A teacher teaches, a writer writes, so logically a confessor confesses, no? Continue reading →

Kangaroo Words

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I learned recently about the existence of kangaroo words: words that contain the letters of a synonymous word (in the correct sequence) within themselves. Continue reading →

Jogging

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I heard this word today, and I realised how strange it sounds. Especially when you could also say running. And I continued thinking: does jogging, the exercise, have anything to do with jogging your memory? Let’s see. Continue reading →

Themself

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I saw a video this morning entitled “Cute Dog Walks Themselves” (it’s a Sunday, I’m not busy). As is probably the case for you, the title seemed a little strange.

Dog, singular.

Themselves, plural.

The two shouldn’t really go together, should they? Continue reading →

…And Called it Macaroni

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You might know the song “Yankee Doodle,” even if you’re not American. One line might sound a little strange to you:

Stuck a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni.

Why macaroni? Continue reading →