Category Archives: Ideas and Opinions

MY YEAR OF NEW WORDS, Part 8 – EPONYMS

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Ed Battistella

July is the month added by Julius Caesar (and August, naturally, by Augustus Caesar), which is why September, October, November and December and not the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth month, as they should be based on their Indo-European roots. … Continue reading →

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The Secret Languages of English, a guest post by Kristy Evans

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Ed Battistella

The Secret Languages of English Many Americans, particularly those of a younger generation and vernacular, have most likely at one time or another learned or at least heard an alteration of the English language that was used for the purpose … Continue reading →

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The Arguments of Jonathan Swift, a guest post by Cat Seaton

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Ed Battistella

It’s the End of the Term So This Paper is 100% Sassafras Or, The Arguments of Jonathan Swift: Or, More Aptly: Jon Swift Claims to Care about English but is Actually Just Asking for Money Swift is a clever man. … Continue reading →

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Literary Ashland 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Ed Battistella

What’s new for 2013 on Literary Ashland? More interviews of course. Perhaps some book reviews if I finally join Goodreads. There will also be some follow up on the 2012 Non-word of the Day—outtakes, explanation and commentary on words, non-words … Continue reading →

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Non-words for November

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Ed Battistella

Here are the Non-Words for November. One more month to go. Thanks to Becky Bartlett for cudgedit and to David Brown for the idea behind chronosomnia. hensive, adj. able to be grasped or held, metaphorically or physically. 1 Nov uningratiate, … Continue reading →

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nanoNaNoWrMo

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Ed Battistella

It’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWrMo), where people try to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. I’m not participating because (a) I’m not a novelist, (b) I have a day job, and (c) I’ve got a bunch of … Continue reading →

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What does “clean” mean?

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Ed Battistella

Over the summer, my wife and I visited Don Aslett’s Museum of Clean in Pocatello, Idaho. It’s a six-floor 75,000 square foot museum devoted to the art of cleaning. The Museum is the brainchild of Don Aslett, the founder and … Continue reading →

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Book reviewing, wrap up

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Ed Battistella

As I write this wrap up to the book reviewing series, I’m also beginning a book review, so it’s an opportunity to see if I can practice some of the wisdom of the wonderful guest posts, from Tod Davies, Jeff … Continue reading →

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Authors, Editors and Reviewers on the Art of Reviewing, Part 5: E. B. Strunksdotter

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Ed Battistella

E. B. Strunksdotter (a pseudonym) works in the book reviewing profession. Ed Battistella has asked me to tell you “ what makes a good book review.” My humble opinion on the matter follows. • Accessibility/clarity–Jargon is the enemy of clarity. … Continue reading →

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Authors, Editors and Reviewers on the Art of Reviewing, Part 4: Michael Erard

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Ed Battistella

From Michael Erard author of Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners, (Free Press, 2012) and Um…: Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean (Pantheon, 2007). I think the best review is a … Continue reading →

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