Tabs on Writing

When someone contests against a defendant in court, that person is called the plaintiff. If the case is ruled in favor of the defendant, however, then the plaintiff may wear a plaintive, or anguished/melancholy/regretful expression on his face. After all, he is the one who is the claimant, or complainant. Yes, each of these words come [...]

The Greek word “pathos” can be translated as ” that quality or property of anything which touches the feelings or excites emotions and passions, especially that which awakens tender emotions, such as pity, sorrow, and the like.” We have however, several subtleties in English to differentiate the spectrum of these emotions. While sympathetic implies compassion and sensitivity, [...]

Spring has officially arrived on the calendar, so all of nature here in Atlanta is in full bloom. The Bradford Pears have already shown the finery of their white-blanketed boughs, and the pinks, fuschias and purples of the loropetulum bushes are boasting a great season. The dogwood are starting to open, each week bringing its own stage [...]

Having worked with architects and building products companies, I often heard the words palladian and palladium mispronounced and used interchangeably. A palladian window, for instance, is an architectural design promoted by renowned, 16th centruy architect, Andrea Palladio. Typically, the window has three parts with the center being larger than the two sides, and each with an arch. [...]

As we move forward toward the end of the month of March, I began to think about the fact that the English language has several words indicating space or direction, most of which end with the suffix “-ward.” For example: Upward Toward Backward Forward Homeward Inward Onward Sometimes these words carry an optional “s” that changes the pronunciation, but [...]

A few stray words in the English language seem to be more often used in the plural rather than in their singular form, for example, data (datum) and alumni (alumnus/alumna). Another such word is criteria, that is, the parameters or standards by which a decision or judgment is made. The little-known, lesser-used singular version is criterion. According to [...]

As a blogger and writer, I love words and the history of words as my readers well know. Such a passion or study of word origins is called etymology. Those who study insects and bugs delve into entomology, which is the branch of zoology that deals with insects. If you ever are confused about these two words, try to remember [...]

Soon we will be enjoying relaxing summer evenings on the porch or swing, listening to the sounds of the season: the chirp-chirp-chirp of the cricket late at night; the “hoo-hoo” of the hoot owl at dusk; and, during the day, the cicada mating song, the loudest noise made by any insect in the world. Did you know that there are [...]

 The ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, is called the “Father of Modern Medicine.” To this day, doctors take a form of his Hippocratic Oath as a declaration of medical ethics. While the dictum, “Do no harm” is often mentioned as part of the oath itself, it was actually written by Hippocrates in a separate opus. Should a doctor not live [...]

My internet service provider happens to be Comcast.  They also purvey, or peddle, entertainment for TV and internet, as well as telephone services. Their purview, or range of competence, encompasses everything from movies, TV series, and sports packages to individual sporting events, such as boxing matches and international soccer games. Please note that many of these are pay-per-view events. [...]