The Word Nerd: The Keys to QWERTY unlocked
Quiz: What common 10-letter word is composed solely of letters found on the top letter line of a typewriter?
Bringing you the issues since 1986 Articles written by: Howard Richler
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Word Nerd: Heavens, who were Betsy, Bob, and Fanny Adams?
Have you ever come across an expression that you haven’t seen or heard in decades?
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The Word Nerd: Exploring the ever-changing and evolving meanings of words
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 […]
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Word Nerd: William Shakespeare is a man for all ages
It is fitting that the phrase “We all make his praise” is an anagram of William Shakespeare.
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Word Nerd: Politics plunders words from military, religion, even pirates
The language of politics has borrowed from other disciplines.
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Howard Richler on being nerdy with words in The Senior Times
Writing for The Senior Times for the last ten years has given me an opportunity to explore some of my favourite language themes.
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Word Nerd: The word of the year is an emoji, and it’s crying tears of joy
What qualifies as a word lexicographically has always been problematic.
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Word Nerd: The universe and English are expanding, fo’ shizzle
Please refrain from sexting while twerking. While it might be hyphy, fo’ shizzle it is both jank and meh.
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The Word Nerd: Greek myths return with a vengeance
We find in the works of great writers such as Shakespeare, Milton, and Dante many allusions to Greek mythology. This pattern continues into the early part of the 20th century in the writings of Joyce as well as in the terms Freud borrowed such as Eros, and the Oedipus complex. […]
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The Word Nerd: Feminist organized first Mother’s Day in 1908
Thanks to the efforts of American Ann Jarvis, Mother’s Day began as a way of honouring the sacrifices Mothers made for their children.
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