Some of the words are cutesy (kerfuffle, jubilee). Others are onomatopoeic, with a similar sound to the idea they’re describing (meow, clink, squeak). Some are bizarre sounding (for example, syzygy: ...

Big words, business jargon, and hyperbole intended to pump up your language only have the opposite affect. Check yourself before using any of these. There’s no such word as “irregardless.” The word ...

We sprinkle these expressions into everyday conversation like linguistic confetti: catchy little turns of phrase that make our language colorful and familiar. We “bite the bullet” when the moment ...

We all have words and phrases that get under our skin. For me, I can’t stand the word ‘fluids.’ It paints a picture that I would rather not see. We often hear how the word ‘moist’ makes people feel ...

A Janus word or phrase has two meanings, each the opposite of the other. Janus words are named after the two-faced Roman god of archways and doors, Janus. There are many such words in English, the ...