Author Archive
Articles by Merrill Perlman | Email the Author
Unpalatable
A plateful of similar words
By Merrill Perlman Mar 25, 2013 at 03:00 PM
The artists were being praised for their technique in which, the article said, they "use only pallet knives, not brushes."... More
Worldly goods
Badly needed reminders
By Merrill Perlman Mar 18, 2013 at 03:00 PM
English teachers used to drill into students that they did not "feel good." They "felt well." It was the corollary... More
Covetous
The difference between ‘jealousy’ and ‘envy’
By Merrill Perlman Mar 11, 2013 at 05:42 PM
The pope gets to wear nice red shoes, and a friend said, "I'm really jealous of those!" But, technically, she... More
Cardinal rules
A real ‘conclave’ is at hand
By Merrill Perlman Mar 4, 2013 at 04:24 PM
Betsy Wade was ecstatic. "At last!" she exclaimed. "For the next few weeks people will be using the word conclave... More
Language Corner
Wether or not
By Merrill Perlman Mar 1, 2013 at 12:00 AM
A "bellwether" is an indication of what is to come ("Are rising home prices a bellwether for the economy?") or... More
Its time
That ol’ apostrophe again
By Merrill Perlman Feb 25, 2013 at 03:00 PM
Of the many small errors that bedevil many writers--and enrage their teachers and editors--there is perhaps none so simple to... More
Brand extension
Why trademarks should be honored
By Merrill Perlman Feb 19, 2013 at 03:00 PM
Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City called for a ban on "Styrofoam" containers, saying in his State of the... More
Martial arts
A black belt in spelling
By Merrill Perlman Feb 11, 2013 at 03:22 PM
When a society gets out of hand, a government can try to "marshal" its forces to settle things. But the... More
Take too
It’s a matter of perspective
By Merrill Perlman Feb 4, 2013 at 03:00 PM
"It's going to rain, so take an umbrella," the weather forecaster says. "Shouldn't that be bring?" a correspondent writes. "I... More
‘Scare’ tactics
Quotes around single words
By Merrill Perlman Jan 28, 2013 at 03:00 PM
It's Journalism 101: go out and talk to people, then write down what they say. If you can't quote it... More
Little big, man
Small changes, big effects
By Merrill Perlman Jan 22, 2013 at 03:00 PM
Sometimes, it's the little things that count. Little things like whether to use "a" or "the," for example, or whether... More
… And so on
Explaining explanatory abbreviations
By Merrill Perlman Jan 14, 2013 at 03:00 PM
Today, we’re going to talk about what symbols, abbreviations, etc., to use when, i.e., you want to give a list... More
Our funny language
Puzzling English expressions
By Merrill Perlman Jan 7, 2013 at 03:00 PM
As we bid farewell to the holiday season (whatever you may celebrate), here are a few final presents to amuse... More
Language Corner
Like you were
By Merrill Perlman Jan 2, 2013 at 12:00 AM
Using “like” as a conjunction can earn you dirty looks from some quarters. The example most often cited by anti-conjunctionists... More
For word
Little word, big meaning
By Merrill Perlman Dec 17, 2012 at 03:00 PM
“For” is a handy word. As a preposition, it has many functions: Webster’s New World College Dictionary lists 20... More
Signposts for unfamiliar territory
How to help your readers navigate new words and ideas
By Merrill Perlman Dec 12, 2012 at 06:50 AM
A journalist’s job is to deliver information. Sometimes, though, that information needs explanation or context to make it clear. Maybe... More
Robbing ’hood
Words involving theft
By Merrill Perlman Dec 3, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Trying to teach journalists the finer points of law is nearly as hard as trying to teach them the finer... More
Whine lovers
Complaining with a British accent
By Merrill Perlman Nov 27, 2012 at 03:13 PM
People do a lot of whining. Lately, though, many publications seem to be spelling the complainers (or their complaints) differently.... More
Popularity contest
Words for the people
By Merrill Perlman Nov 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM
The article was discussing a survey on the popular view of marketers and politicians. “Both have a higher perception of... More
Of storms and ships at sea
Let’s not take them personally
By Merrill Perlman Nov 13, 2012 at 06:50 AM
We have names. Our pets have names. And so do hurricanes and ships. But, unlike us and our pets, hurricanes... More
Woman’s work - The twisted reality of an Italian freelancer in Syria
Sourcing Trayvon Martin ‘photos’ from stormfront - Not a good idea, Business Insider
Elizabeth Warren, the antidote to CNBC - The senator schools the talking heads on bank regulation
Art Laffer + PR blitz = press failure - The media types up the retail lobby’s propaganda
Reuters’s global warming about-face - A survey shows the newswire ran 50 percent fewer stories on climate change after hiring a “skeptic”
Barack Obama: ‘those old times aren’t coming back’
“It used to be there were local newspapers everywhere. If you wanted to be a journalist, you could really make a good living working for your hometown paper”
The Guardian’s editor opens up on Reddit
Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, answered questions in an Ask Me Anything
The (almost) lost speech of Justice Anthony Kennedy
How his insightful remarks about the Constitution inadvertently make the case for a Supreme Court “media pool”
Fox News sues TVEyes for copyright infringement
Says subscription service sells access to its content without permission nor compensation
CJR's Guide to Online News Startups
ACEsTooHigh.com – Reporting on the science, education, and policy surrounding childhood trauma
Who Owns What
The Business of Digital Journalism
A report from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Questions and exercises for journalism students.
