Blog Posts for June Casagrande

Now THAT'S Etymology

June Casagrande — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:58:41 -0700

I've never found word origins very interesting. Every once in a while, I'll wonder how we ended up with a word like "shampoo," so I'll look it up to see that it comes from a Hindi word meaning "to massage."But for the most part, in those moments when I'm feeling both intellectually curious and energetic enough to do something about it, I'd much rather learn about chemistry ...

Great Moments in Copy Editing

June Casagrande — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:33:23 -0700

"Admission is $17 for adults, $10 for children 5 to 12. One child per adult under 5 is complimentary."

Headline du Jour

June Casagrande — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:09:23 -0700

"Americans concerned about heart health, but not proactive enough to prevent it."http://www.physorg.com/news173942032.html(Thanks to reader 8'FED for that.)

It's 11 p.m. -- Do You Know Where Your Chicken Is? (Or: Do You Think I'm Anastos Boy?)

June Casagrande — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:29:10 -0700

Longtime New York TV newsman Ernie Anastos recently told a colleague, on air, something that sounds a whole lot like "keep fucking that chicken." The context makes it more baffling. It seems he may have been trying to express something akin to "Keep up the good work."I've never understood the mindless banter of local broadcast news nougatnoggins. But this is a step ...

Incentivize This

June Casagrande — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:28:02 -0700

I try not to get irked by words like "incentivize." I understand why other people do, but I figure there's no use in letting acceptable usages get under my skin. Best to save my energy for stuff like "enthused" in quotation attributions. ("'It's a great deal,' Thompson enthused.")But over the weekend, I heard an "incentivized" I just cannot let stand. I was ...

Alice Munro Bows Out of Prize Nomination

June Casagrande — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:14:34 -0700

Alice Munro has withdrawn her story collection "Too Much Happiness" from consideration from the Giller Prize because, according to her publisher, "She has won twice and would like to leave the field to younger writers." I thought the folks at Red Room would appreciate that. Here's the full story.

Interesting Relative Clause Placement

June Casagrande — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:48:07 -0700

Copy editing somewhat-green writers is starting to affect me. On several occasions lately I have found myself mentally editing the sentences of someone talking on TV or radio. Not a good sign.That may be why I found this sentence in today's New York Times so striking. Then again, maybe the sentence is striking. It's from a review of Big Fan starring Patton Oswalt (whose standup comedy I love, ...

Copy Edits du Jour

June Casagrande — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:41:11 -0700

It's as enticing as the caramel topping on a candied apple. (changed to)It's as enticing as a caramel apple.* * * *Autumn is a great time to enjoy the region's ambient weather.(changed to)Autumn is a great time to enjoy the region's weather.

Words that Should Get a Divorce (One in an occasional series on words whose relationships have grown tired)

June Casagrande — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:55:46 -0700

short and shriftOn some level, I like the expression short shrift. But I just can't condone such unhealthy codependency. Like trove and amok, shrift is devoted to a partner that doesn't return the loyalty. On any given day, short can be seen running around all over town with everything from sell to order cook to man's disease.This case of codependency is so bad that shrift has pretty much lost ...

The Grammar-Blind Leading the Grammar-Blind on Standardized Tests

June Casagrande — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:14:50 -0700

Here are a few grammar questions from a sample ACT college admissions test I found online.2. As a result of his method for early music education, Shinichi Suzuki (has been known as one) of the world's great violin teachers.A. has been known as oneB. had been known as oneC. is seen as oneD. is being seen as oneE. has been one16. Each night when night came (and the temperature fell,) my parents lit ...