What’s Wrong with Alright?
The question is, why do so many people write alright when every English dictionary and style guide say that the only correct spelling for this word is all right? As of this writing, alright occurs...
View ArticleWhy is W Called ‘Double U’?
Do you ever wonder about the names of letters? Generally, they are straightforward: A is ay, B is bee, C is see, and so on. But there is one very peculiar name: W = Double U. Did you ever wonder why?...
View ArticleSilent E Look Out for Silent GH!
Maureen Koplow, responded to my comments on the word benight, with a three part question, one part philosophical, the other two linguistic. I have already expended most of my philosophical powder on...
View ArticleDoubling up on Consonants
David Myer wrote the following from somewhere, I take it, out in Australia: “So, what is a gammy leg? Usually used in Australia (and in UK as far as I can remember) to indicate a leg affliction that...
View ArticleImproving Conversational Skills
Marnie Kaur recently raised a question I’ve heard many times before. This time I will share my thoughts on it with everyone within eyeshot of this blog. “I have always been fascinated by words. Having...
View ArticlePloughing Through Draughts
Or is it “Plowing Thru Drafts?” Donald Shark was curious about the spelling of a Good Word we ran last year. Here is what he wrote: “In my submission of the word fraught [for consideration as a Good...
View ArticleRoomy, Rheumy and English Spelling
I seldom write about the English spelling system. When I taught linguistics, I always told my students to never feel guilty about making spelling errors, they are not the writer’s fault. English has an...
View ArticleQuadrigraph Sighting
Often writing systems lack a letter for a sound and that lacuna is covered by a digraph, two letters representing one sound, like English SH and CH. German has a trigraph, SCH which stands for the same...
View ArticleThe Best Ways to Build Vocabulary
James Van Hoof recently wrote: “Earlier this morning, I listened to a podcast of Dr. Katherine Albrecht interviewing you recently on her radio show. I enjoyed listening to your comments and insights on...
View ArticleDo Blonds or Blondes Have More Fun?
Tom Schomer writes: “Is there a preferred spelling for the word blond(e), and why does it have two possible correct spellings?” It was borrowed from French and, like fiancé versus fiancée, one...
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Marshaling the Skills to Spell ‘Martial’
A long-standing friend of Dr. Goodword, David McWethy, dashed off this note to me about a week ago under the subject: “Gunsmoke, starring James Arness as Martial Matt Dillon”. He was clearly...
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