America

It’s pretty common to refer to the United States of America as simply America, or anyone or anything from the country as American. This however, can be somewhat controversial.

Continue reading

The Game’s Afoot

I had a really great idea today, at about 08.00am, while I was half asleep. I’ve no idea now what it was, just a vague sense that it was about some words with different meanings that have a shared etymology. Whatever it was, it was interesting (to me), but it’s gone now.

Continue reading

Cryptocurrency

You’ve probably heard this term a lot recently, referring to digital currencies such as Bitcoin. What does that prefix crypto- mean though?

Continue reading

Why is Peggy Short for Margaret?

What do these four women have in common?

Why, the fact that they all have the same name of course!

OK, they don’t really, but it’s not entirely inaccurate to say so. Why not? Read on…

Continue reading

Tonight, Tonight

Why do we say tonight in English? When you think about it, it’s fairly unusual. Last night makes sense, and so does tomorrow night. But tonight? Where does that come from?

Continue reading

Millennials

Are you a millennial? What even is a millennial?

Continue reading

Home

What makes a house a home?

I’m sure you all have very different and interesting answers to that question.

Continue reading