Nancy Rudel
Author's posts
Apr 08
Demonyms, or gentilics
Demons? No, put together the Greek demos meaning populace (demographics, demo and the suffix -onym meaning name (synonym, acronym). Demonyms, also known at gentilics, describe persons from a particular place. In English, the most common constructions add a suffix to the name of the locale: -ian, -(a)n, -ite, -er, -ish, -ine, etc. There are many …
Mar 30
Quotation
Mar 19
Book Review: How to Write an Obituary, A Step-by-Step Guide
Ms. Newberry’s guide fills a gap; I know of no other precise instructions for preparing, publishing, and preserving an obituary. Her book is written with a measure of sensitivity and focuses on making a difficult emotional process more manageable for the grieving. She provides a good collection of poems and Bible verses, a series of …
Mar 09
Save the Words
I found a great website, sponsored by Oxford University Press, where language lovers can adopt an endangered English word and pledge to keep it in use. It’s fun, silly, and entertaining. I am now the sponsor of interfation (noun): the act of cutting off another person while speaking. Clearly I have my work cut out …
Feb 28
Dictionary of American Regional English
A fifty-year project is nearing completion, with the final volume of the Dictionary of American Regional English due for publication this spring. The New York Times takes a look at the history, process, and product of the effort: Regional Dictionary Finally Hits ‘Zydeco’ The University of Wisconsin-Madison has fun matching games to quiz your regional …
Feb 26
Quotation
Feb 22
What does a copyeditor do?
Here’s a clear and precise explanation of each role in the publication process. Not every book/article/dissertation/essay/grocery list goes through the same editorial steps. There are variations according to the manuscript’s genre, project budget, and anticipated scale of distribution. A self-publishing writer of science fiction may be able to afford only a proofreader. A major newspaper …
Feb 13
Perscription or Prescription?
When unsure how a word is spelled, the best resource, of course, is a dictionary. But without one on hand, I often ‘sound out’ the word using the phonetics I learned in grade school. Here’s where I run into trouble with prescription, because I mispronounce it! Many Americans also say the word as if the …
Feb 05