You might be wondering why young people are calling each other a type of women’s underwear.But “brah,” is really a version of “bro,” a term with which…

Metaphorical language is powerful.We use it to make the unfamiliar familiar and to make us see the familiar in a different light.A reporter may speak of…

I was intrigued immediately by the way the people of Hong Kong describe themselves.Through all the coverage of the Umbrella Movement of 2014 to the more…

The word “play” comes up when accessing music, on streaming services, and, constantly, with video games.Play is pervasive: an actor plays a role; the ump…

When smartphones and online text editors no longer auto-corrected “gonna” and “kinda,” I knew I had to fight back.It’s not that these constructions are…

With the rise of esports, we see also the re-emergence of the e-prefix.Esports are, as the name implies, video games played competitively and for paying…

For some reason, the word “hoax” has been on my mind a lot lately.“Hoax” is a word with a storied past. Famous examples range from faux autobiographies of…

When you hear this, the term “OK Boomer” will probably already be fading from public view.As you may recall, the term was briefly noteworthy as a way for…

As an English teacher, I warn students away from Wikipedia. Yet the way it builds meanings and information collectively, from users rather than only…

There is nothing wrong with numbering off talking points while speaking publicly. It helps listeners keep track of what you’re saying, helping the…