Monthly Archives: March 2011

Gadhafi? Qaddafi? Kadafi? The spelling mystery revealed!

Posted on March 31, 2011 by

You say Moamar el Gaddafi. I say Moammar Khadafy. Somebody says Moamer El Kazzafi?! According to an ABC news blog, there are at least 112 ways to spell the Libyan leader’s name. With the continuation of the United States’ and … Continue reading →

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“Lead” versus “led”

Posted on March 25, 2011 by

Lesson: the verb “lead” in the past tense   lead: a verb that means “to take charge” and “to show the way” lead: a metal   In the past tense, the verb lead acts just like the verb bleed. For … Continue reading →

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Tsunami: An etymological perspective

Posted on March 22, 2011 by

While on vacation last week, I joined you in watching the tragedies in Japan unfold. Being a news junkie, and a periodical journalist, I spent many hours glued to the TV watching updates on the tsunami. It was difficult to … Continue reading →

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Funny Spanish idioms

Posted on March 10, 2011 by

Dear Grammar Party readers,   Next week I will be sunning myself on the beaches of Cabo San Lucas. And while I will probably still be thinking about grammar, since I am a nerd, there will be a one-week hiatus … Continue reading →

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The effect of this English query has deeply affected me

Posted on March 9, 2011 by

Lesson: effect versus affect   In English, being the difficult language that it is, one letter can change a lot. Perhaps the two biggest pests of this problem are effect and affect. Interchanging their meanings is one of the most … Continue reading →

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