linguistic evolution

Misuse or Abuse?

Niall O'Donnell 8 Comments

As we’re getting closed to Hallowe’en, I’ve been seeking out horror books, films, and TV programmes. This is why I’ve been watching The Haunting of Hill House recently on Netflix. It’s OK so far, but not particularly scary, and not in the same league as the novel it’s based on or its 1963 film adaptation. 

Before the last episode I watched, there was an interesting phrase in the content warning during the credits: drug misuse. Odd, I thought, that sounds much less natural than drug abuse, which is a much more common phrase. Why would they say that? Continue reading →

Accidentally or Accidently

Niall O'Donnell 3 Comments

The other day I was walking past a sign which contained the word tragically. I had to stop and look at it, really look at it, because I was convinced that it was misspelled.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on why though. It certain looked too long (and that might have been due to the kerning), but every letter seemed to be in the right place. Continue reading →

Forgive and Forget

Niall O'Donnell Leave a comment

A neat little phrase, in that the two verbs go well together in terms of meaning, but also how they look and sound. But is that just a coincidence? Continue reading →

Hippopotamus

Niall O'Donnell 6 Comments

I already told you about this word, whose meaning you probably knew about anyway: it’s one of those interesting bits of trivia that’s often thrown about. Continue reading →

Sent to Outer Mongolia

Niall O'Donnell 4 Comments

Outer Mongolia and Timbuktu are often used as shorthands in English for somewhere remote and inaccessible. But why exactly do we use these two places specifically? Continue reading →

Springfield

Niall O'Donnell 4 Comments

Springfield is a particularly common toponym in the English language, especially in the United States. Continue reading →

No One Will Believe This of Vast Import to the Nation

Niall O'Donnell 4 Comments

This line, the final one of William Carlos William’s poem “Pastoral,” has always been fixed in mind.

It’s an effective and arresting line, poetically speaking, which is the main reason. But it was also the first time I’d seen the word import used in that way. Continue reading →