Articles about Usage

There's some pretty terrific vocabulary associated with bleak situations. So grab a gherkin and savor these words related to pickles, muddles, and other forms of trouble. Continue reading...

The lingo of our National Pastime may not strike you as particularly fascinating at first, but dig a little deeper and you'll appreciate how many baseball terms also apply to life in general. Continue reading...

For many, Labor Day and its three-day holiday weekend signals the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. But Labor Day is also a time to recognize those who toil and slog through their jobs. Here are some vocabulary words inspired by hard work. Continue reading...

One of the controversies surrounding President-elect Trump has been the separation (or lack thereof) between his previous life as a businessman and his future career as president. Yet the Constitution prohibits him from accepting any emolument. The soon-to-be president's actions may be limited by this word, so let's examine it in detail. Continue reading...

When I recently heard a news reporter say that "China doesn't want a failed nuclear state on their doorstep," I was taken by surprise. Did China seriously want North Korea to succeed in their nuclear ambitions? Continue reading...

Last year, I turned to Vocabulary.com to enliven my approach to teaching the words of To Kill a Mockingbird. Continue reading...