Language Corner
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
Climate Change
Weathering a climax
By Merrill Perlman Apr 23, 2012 at 12:57 PM
An extension of a federal highway program passed the House recently, over the objections of some Democrats. “Even as they... More
Viva La Difference
Comparatively speaking
By Merrill Perlman Apr 17, 2012 at 04:27 PM
Am I “different than” you? Or “different from ” you? And does it matter? “Different than is often considered inferior... 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)
The completist guide to Star Trek
Matt Yglesias watched every Star Trek movie and every episode of every TV show in the franchise
The uncomfortable questions not raised by Benghazi
The press and Congress are asking the wrong questions
Rob Ford in ‘crack cocaine’ video scandal
A video that appears to show Toronto’s mayor smoking crack is being shopped around by a group of Somali men involved in the drug trade
Why the underwear-bomber leak infuriated the Obama administration
The threat of even grander leaks
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.
