Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:20:44 EST
Articles and Lists
When you present a list of items introduced with an article, ensure that the article is appropriate for every item in the list: …a plate, bowl, or cup. If one or more items needs a different article, use the appropriate article for each item: …a domestic cat, an alley cat, or a wild cat.
Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:24:49 EST
Pretense
The noun pretense means an assertion or a claim. Over time, the term has acquired a connotation of dishonesty. Pretense ultimately derives from the Latin verb Praetendere, which means to place in front, to spread before, to extend, or, figuratively, to allege.
The verb to pretend also derives from praetendere.
Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:18:46 EST
The national animal of Scotland is the unicorn.
The official animal of this blog is Bigfoot.
Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:40:09 EST
Guy
Guy in the sense of fellow is an American coinage of the mid-19th century. The term derives from a British guy used to disparage a shabbily dressed man. This guy probably derives from Guy Fawkes of Gunpowder Plot infamy.
Guy, the proper name, is, of course, French. Guido is the Latin language version. The proper name is ultimately Germanic in origin: witu, which means wood, or wit, which means wide, so the original ancient guy came from a wooded area, or he was a massive fellow.