Making words work better
One of the curiosities of English is why this diminutive creature has become a byword for impulsive herdlike behaviour, even mass hysteria. These appealing northern…
There’s something so very very English (or British) about marmalade. It’s not on the list of 100 English icons voted for by the public, but a…
Continue reading → Portuguese words in English: marmalade, mangoes, and maracas
Happy National Umbrella Day, a tutti quanti! Every February 10 marks this “national day” that probably passes most people by. But it’s a useful…
Continue reading → National umbrella day 2016: a Latin word borrowed by English