Howard Richler

Columnists

Word Nerd: The co-opting of the word “elite”

by Howard Richler × on October 4, 2017 at 6:20 am × 0 comments

Surely billionaire Donald Trump, who was born into a rich family, is also an elite?

Columnists

Word Nerd: What’s in a Word of the Year?

by Howard Richler × on July 24, 2017 at 7:12 am × 0 comments

We are constantly bombarded by new English words and meanings to words, so why not honour these innovations?

Reviews & Previews

Book review: A penetrating look at Sports Talk and how it’s enriched our lexicon

by Howard Richler × on July 3, 2017 at 7:27 am × 0 comments

I was surprised to find many new terms from the world of sports that in the last two decades have further
penetrated and enriched our lexicon.

Columnists

The Word Nerd: Let’s call the caliphate wannabes Daesh – because names matter

by Howard Richler × on June 19, 2017 at 9:44 pm × 0 comments

BBC News always adds the qualifier “so-called” when describing the Islamic State. As I find this usage clumsy, I decided to investigate why the BBC employs it.

Columnists

The Word Nerd: The Keys to QWERTY unlocked

by Howard Richler × on June 3, 2017 at 12:43 pm × 1 comment

Quiz: What common 10-letter word is composed solely of letters found on the top letter line of a typewriter?

Columnists

Word Nerd: Heavens, who were Betsy, Bob, and Fanny Adams?

by Howard Richler × on April 28, 2017 at 7:25 am × 0 comments

Have you ever come across an expression that you haven’t seen or heard in decades?

Columnists

The Word Nerd: Exploring the ever-changing and evolving meanings of words

by Howard Richler × on April 3, 2017 at 8:11 am × 0 comments

Senior Times reader Shirley Skeans Newell asks, “Can you give me your interpretation of the word “triangulation”? Yes, there is the old geometric definition but in psychiatric circles nowadays, it has interpretations. It can signify gossip as in two people talking about a third person or it is a situation […]