nathanbierma.com archive » in ‘Eclectic Encyclopedia’

‘Meta’-morphosis: It’s everywhere

Nathan Bierma — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 20:00:18 +0000

Too much meta. That’s what Sam McManis wrote earlier this year in the Sacramento Bee, talking about the just-released movie “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story.” The movie is “a movie about making a movie of an 18th Century comic novel that was about the conventions of novel writing,” McManis explained. “How very meta it [...]

‘Co-’ offers an alternative for families that are in ’step’

Nathan Bierma — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 20:00:41 +0000

More than 10 years ago, sisters Kathy McGrath and Jeannie McDonald encountered a dilemma when introducing the members of their new stepfamily. “We found ourselves dealing with awkward situations when introducing someone: `This is my dad’s wife,’” McGrath said. “There was always a hesitation in our voice. Saying `stepmother’ and `stepson’ never seemed to convey the [...]

Despite White House theme, days numbered for ‘merry’

Nathan Bierma — Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:00:10 +0000

The White House theme gave a boost to a word that has been lagging lately in the English language: "merry." As with our Christmas ornaments, we pick "merry" out of our closets this time of year, blow the dust off it, and put it on prominent display in anticipation of Dec. 25. After that, we put it back in a box and keep it in storage for the next 11 months.

Sentence diagramming finds way back into some hearts

Nathan Bierma — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 20:00:36 +0000

Sentence diagramming is the long division of English. It involves a bewildering array of lines and diagonal branches. It is loathed as an elementary school chore. And it is presumed to be obsolete.

Enjoy reading and writing? You have alphabet to thank

Nathan Bierma — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 20:00:44 +0000

What would you say was the most influential invention in human history? The wheel? The light bulb? How about the alphabet? We tend to take it for granted, but the alphabet was a human invention. Without it, we wouldn’t read books and newspapers or write shopping lists and e-mails. We would have to rely on recitations and [...]

Newscasters speaking in ‘-ing’ are creating a tense situation

Nathan Bierma — Wed, 10 Nov 2004 20:00:37 +0000

Milk sales are up, reported NBC's Peter Alexander last month on "Nightly News." What Alexander said was this: "America's favorite drink at home now becoming a popular choice for families on the go." Not "is becoming," but "now becoming." This strange syntax is getting more common on television news.

Political words for bigwigs and fat cats

Nathan Bierma — Wed, 27 Oct 2004 20:00:31 +0000

Political language is often stuffy and dull, but it can also be clever, creative and cruel. Here are some of the cliches and coinages that have spiced up American politics, from the new book “Hatchet Jobs and Hardball: The Oxford Dictionary of American Political Slang” (Oxford, $25) by lexicographer Grant Barrett. $(document).ready(function(){ $('#bookad').load('/includes/bookads/173.html'); }); also-ran: from horse [...]

Slogan puts Bulls in the thick of it

Nathan Bierma — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 20:00:39 +0000

The Chicago Bulls' slogan for their current season-ticket campaign is "Through Thick and Thin!"

Fact or fiction? ‘Solecism’ history sounds Greek to me

Nathan Bierma — Thu, 19 Aug 2004 20:00:14 +0000

The Word of the Day that turned up in my e-mail inbox was “solecism,” meaning a breach of grammar or etiquette. It comes from the Greek word “soloikismos,” for “speaking incorrectly.” I learned this from Merriam-Webster’s free service for word buffs; you can sign up at www.m-w.com, but I warn you, it launches endless etymological expeditions. Here’s [...]

At the end of the day, ‘back in the day’ just means ‘past’

Nathan Bierma — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 20:00:55 +0000

CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien once owned a lavender Citroen, she recalled on the air June 10. "Wow! That was back in the day," her guest remarked. "That was so back in the day it's not even funny," O'Brien replied. "I don't want to talk about it anymore." Which "day" we are talking about is not always clear, but there has been a lot of going back to it lately.