language evolution

X Marks the Spot

Niall O'Donnell Leave a comment

Yes, but why? Continue reading →

Dead Right!

Niall O'Donnell 1 Comment

I had another of my common hmmm, I wonder why… moments while writing yesterday’s post, specifically when mentioning the meaning of dead ringer. I understand that dead meant precise in that context, but I wondered why we use it with that meaning? Continue reading →

Out, Damn’d Spot!

Niall O'Donnell 3 Comments

I was thinking this morning that the word spot is one of those simple unassuming words that actually has a lot of quite different meanings, and can be used as verb and a noun.

I find it particularly interesting in that it began with a more abstract, poetic meaning, and later on came to be used in more mundane ways. Continue reading →

Dilettante

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I was thinking yesterday about how I’m a bit of a dilettante when it comes to music. I like a lot of acts and genres, but I couldn’t narrow my preferences down to anything very particular. Continue reading →

Capital or Capitol?

Niall O'Donnell 3 Comments

Usually, it’s capital that you need. But sometimes, and specifically right now if you’re in the United States, capitol’s the word you’re looking for. Continue reading →

The Most Unkindest Cut of All

Niall O'Donnell 4 Comments

At some point yesterday I came across the expression in the title of this post. I can’t remember where exactly, but it’s a pretty common phrase. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen or heard it, but this time, something seemed strange. Then I realised what it was: the most unkindest cut!? Continue reading →

Outro

Niall O'Donnell 12 Comments

While running today, I thought that the song I was listening to in the moment perhaps wasn’t best suited to being on my running playlist, because it had a long, quiet outro. Then I thought, Outro? Now that’s… Continue reading →