What it really means when you can’t remember a word
A failure to remember a word need not be seen as a general memory problem.
February 9, 2020
Arika Okrent
Linguist, author of In the Land of Invented Languages. I use word-power to clean between your gyri.
13 grammar rules that changed since you were in school
If you were educated in the 1950s, '60s or '70s, here are some usages that you may be surprised are fully acceptable today.
February 3, 2020
The most important linguistic trends of the 2010s
These trends will help define the decade we're about to leave behind.
December 18, 2019
Words that survived by getting fossilized in Christmas tradition
These words might be obsolete by now if they hadn’t been included in Christmas songs and celebrations.
December 11, 2019
To gift or not to gift. Is ‘gift’ really a verb now?
'Gift' as a verb is following the same path blazed by the word 'donate,' which at one point drove people nuts.
December 10, 2019
Why “no problem” has become a big problem between generations
A subtle change in language has led to a generational divide.
December 3, 2019
11 charming old slang words you can use this Thanksgiving
Old dialect terms for turkey parts to bring back this year.
November 26, 2019
There are 6 types of reminiscing — but only 3 are good for you
Just remembering and telling stories doesn’t necessarily confer any benefits, and in some cases can even do harm.
November 11, 2019
How the Postal Service got us to change the way we address letters
Unlike the campaign to adopt the metric system, this actually worked.
November 5, 2019
How your online language gives away your age
When it comes to online communication, different generations use language quite differently.
October 23, 2019
12 words about to reach retirement age (that remain essential)
These words first came on the scene in 1955 and will soon turn 65.
October 16, 2019
Sometimes maddening, sometimes beautiful: The specific ways aging affects language
A new book argues that changes perceived as negative might have an upside.
October 10, 2019
The creative ways other languages handle grandparent names
It’s a special bond, and humans have found ingenious ways to highlight its importance linguistically.
October 7, 2019
How late can you start studying a language and still become fluent?
The results of a recent study are encouraging.
September 18, 2019