I Would if I Could . . .
Some people might consider the distinction between could and would to be only a matter of degree of politeness (would…
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Are You Getting the Just Deserts You Deserve?
Sometimes we think bad people should get what they deserve, but we shouldn’t liken that punishment to eating day-old pastries….
Can You Distinguish What’s Distinct?
So many words in the English language sound similar, so we often think they mean the same thing. Such is…
Denizens and Their Labels
What do you call someone who hails from Delaware or Detroit? Are there really official terms for these things? Although…
A Couple of Things You Should Know
Traditionally, the word couple has been used as a noun meaning “two things.” As a noun, it requires the use…
Deduce or Induce? It’s Elementary, Watson …
Whether or not Sherlock Holmes ever said “Elementary, Watson” is debatable. What’s not in question is Holmes’s keen powers of…
Here Lies—An Epithet or an Epitaph?
Here are a couple of closely related words that you don’t want to confuse: epitaph and epithet—especially when it comes…
Joint Ownership
Let’s talk a bit about joint possession and the proper way to express this. Possession can get a bit tricky, and…
Do Yourself a Favor and Learn about Reflexive Pronouns
I sometimes see writers misuse reflexive pronouns—pronouns that have the suffix self (or selves) tagged on. For example, note these…
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