lilybramble

Do You Really Name All Those Cats?

People often ask this when they learn that we have 22 cats at Cedar Ridge. I usually ask the person whether they name all their children. Now, my son and daughter Robbie and Katie are exceedingly more important than any cats. (I would hope that would go without saying, but I’m afraid some people mightContinue reading “Do You Really Name All Those Cats?”

“Time Outs” or “Times Out”? A Classic Grammar Debate

If your sister has a husband, he is your brother-in-law. If two or more of your sisters have husbands, they are your brothers-in-law. This is an unusual example in English in which the adjective goes after the noun it modifies. We make the first word of the phrase plural since it is the noun. Similarly,Continue reading ““Time Outs” or “Times Out”? A Classic Grammar Debate”

Need a New Word? Ask a 5-Year-Old.

When my daughter was very young, she had no inhibitions about bending language to her will. She made up words when she found English lacking. Some of those words have become part of our family’s lexicon. Inventing English language words In particular, Katie knew that she was not to use “bad words” to express negativeContinue reading “Need a New Word? Ask a 5-Year-Old.”