This Week: A Break in the Podcast & an Announcement + brake/break

brake/break
You brake to slow down; if your brakes fail and you drive through a plate-glass window, you will break it.


 
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We’re switching the podcast to a monthly show. We’ll return in about a month with episodes that feature guests and special segments, but in the meantime we invite you to peruse the archives.

This Week: A Gluten-Free Podcast + feint/faint

feint/faint
A feint, whether in chess or on the battlefield, is a maneuver designed to divert the opponent’s attention from the real center of attack. A feint is a daring move. Do not use this very specialized word in the expression “faint of heart” (or “faint at heart”), which implies timidity.


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On the podcast this week, we discuss medical terms, including EKGs, MRIs, CAT scans, and more.

This Week: Refills, Emergencies & More on the Podcast + Paul Brians' latest blog post + taunt/taut/tout

taunt/taut/tout
I am told that medical personnel often mistakenly refer to a patient’s abdomen as “taunt” rather than the correct “taut.” “Taunt” (“tease” or “mock”) can be a verb or noun, but never an adjective. “Taut” means “tight, distended,” and is always an adjective. “Taut” is also occasionally misspelled “taught.”

Don’t confuse “taunt” with “tout,” which means “promote,” as in “Senator Bilgewater has been touted as a Presidential candidate.” You tout somebody you admire and taunt someone that you don’t.

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On the podcast this week, we pick up on our discussion of terms related to politics and government. 

Paul Brians talks about Donald Duck and translating interjections in his latest blog post.

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This Week: Crusades, Demagogues, Stump Speeches & More on the Podcast + vapid/vacuous

vapid/vacuous
“Vapid” is used to describe something flavorless, weak, flat. Many people confuse this word with “vacuous,” which describes things which are unintelligent, lacking serious content. A boring speech may be vapid even though it’s learned, and a lively speech may be vacuous even though it’s exciting. A dull person may be vapid, but it is not standard usage to refer to a person as vacuous—only their speech, thoughts, etc., can be so described. To avoid the most common error involving these words, just remember that something vapid isn’t stupid, it’s bland.



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On the podcast this week, we pick up on our discussion of terms related to politics and government.

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This Week: A Modicum of Civility on the Podcast + unrest

unrest
Journalists often use this mild term to describe all manner of civil disorders, but it’s silly to call mayhem or chaos merely “unrest” when there are bullets flying about and bodies lying in the streets.


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On the podcast this week, we pick up on our discussion of terms related to politics and government.

Buy the book!