Author Archive
Articles by Merrill Perlman | Email the Author
Multiples choice
Some singular help with plural possessives
By Merrill Perlman Aug 27, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Last week we dealt with some possessive questions when there were plural possessors. Now we’ll deal with other possessives, which... More
Pluralistic
Those pesky possessives
By Merrill Perlman Aug 20, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Two of the longest sections in most grammar and style guides concern how to form plurals and how to form... More
Lucky strike
Not all fortunes are good
By Merrill Perlman Aug 13, 2012 at 03:03 PM
As Evan Jenkins wrote here in 1997, “fortuitous,” strictly speaking, does not mean “lucky”; it means “by chance.” So when... More
Language Corner
Author! Author!
By Merrill Perlman Aug 9, 2012 at 11:18 AM
People who write are “writers,” though many call themselves “authors,” especially if their products are books, or legislation. More and... More
Shhh! It doesn’t matter
A “moot” discussion
By Merrill Perlman Aug 6, 2012 at 04:28 PM
The silence is deafening. All over the Internet and printed publications, people are making “mute points”: • A press release... More
Bell curves
Lots of “ring” words
By Merrill Perlman Jul 30, 2012 at 03:00 PM
“You must be a ringer,” the journalism instructor told the student, who insisted that, though he had many years of... More
Memorializing
What to call those piles of flowers
By Merrill Perlman Jul 23, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Bob Kamman, a regular correspondent, writes: When unexpected deaths occur that are newsworthy, what often happens is that people leave... More
En-gendered
Terms for sexual identity
By Merrill Perlman Jul 17, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Dealing with gender identity these days is a tricky business. And while we prefer to use “sex” to describe biological... More
Sentimental journey
Evaluating a ‘journeyman’
By Merrill Perlman Jul 9, 2012 at 03:00 PM
The article’s headline promised a story “on the life of a journeyman musician.” It discussed a man who has been... More
Your choice
Alternating between alternatives
By Merrill Perlman Jul 3, 2012 at 06:50 AM
Cities that have hard winters have no “alternative” and must repair roads in the summer. And when they do, they... More
Par for the course
Putting golf terms in context
By Merrill Perlman Jun 25, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Let’s say you’ve just arrived from another planet, with a mastery of English, but little exposure to the popular sport... More
Digging in
The etymology of a “clawback”
By Merrill Perlman Jun 19, 2012 at 06:50 AM
“Jamie Dimon: JPMorgan Will Likely Claw Back Pay From Responsible Executives,” the headline said. Dimon, JPMorgan’s chief executive, was telling... More
Out of range
Everything from 1 to z
By Merrill Perlman Jun 11, 2012 at 03:02 PM
We love to “range.” When describing a new shopping mall, for example, an article might say: “It has everything from... More
Empty pockets
A phrase with several meanings
By Merrill Perlman Jun 5, 2012 at 06:50 AM
Max Crittenden posted on Language Corner’s Facebook page: I’m seeing some peculiar usage (misuse, to my mind) of the phrase... More
Language Corner
Basis Points
By Merrill Perlman May 31, 2012 at 06:50 AM
“On a case-by-case basis.” “On a regular basis.” “On an urgent basis.” Each of those base expressions, from The Associated... More
That’s that, part two
Keeping a reader on the right path
By Merrill Perlman May 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Last week we talked about the use of “that” after a verb of speech, like “said,” “acknowledged,” etc. This week,... More
That’s that, part one
A word used too often, or not enough
By Merrill Perlman May 22, 2012 at 06:50 AM
“President Obama said Wednesday he would go to Europe.” Is Wednesday the day he is going to Europe? Or the... More
Logue jam
A catalog of dialogues
By Merrill Perlman May 16, 2012 at 06:50 AM
“Catalogue” can also be spelled “catalog.” “Dialogue” can also be spelled “dialog.” But “monologue” is rarely spelled “monolog.” The Americans... More
No fun
Noun? Verb? Yes. Adjective? Well …
By Merrill Perlman May 9, 2012 at 12:00 PM
The journalism professor was not having much “fun” explaining things to her feature-writing students: “I know so fun is wrong... More
Organically Grown
The DNA of new words
By Merrill Perlman May 1, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Language evolves. New words and concepts show up and catch on—“app,” “smartphone,” “podcast”—or die from disuse or dysfunction—“Y2K,” “newsreel,” “rad.”... More
‘See you on the other side’ - Meet Jessica Lum, a terminally ill 25-year-old who chose to spend what little time she had practicing journalism
#Realtalk: This is the best moment to be in journalism - The old stuff isn’t coming back, but that’s okay
Streams of consciousness - Millennials expect a steady diet of quick-hit, social-media-mediated bits and bytes. What does that mean for journalism?
Sticking with the truth - How ‘balanced’ coverage helped sustain the bogus claim that childhood vaccines can cause autism
An ink-stained stretch - Can Aaron Kushner save the Orange County Register—and the newspaper industry?
This is the best moment to be in journalism (25)
The WSJ editorial page hits rock bottom (19)
What was James Rosen thinking?
How much of Rosen’s trouble is of his own making?
Cat Fall: A modern tragedy
Max Fisher and the problem with foreign-affairs blogging
“I hope my nudity doesn’t bother you. We’re completely committed to openness here”
CJR's Guide to Online News Startups
Uptown Messenger – Hyperlocal news for a neighborhood in New Orleans
Who Owns What
The Business of Digital Journalism
A report from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Questions and exercises for journalism students.
