Author Archives: The dutty is "the ground," the foundation, the earth--just like words are part of the foundation on which I build my life.

About The dutty is "the ground," the foundation, the earth--just like words are part of the foundation on which I build my life.

Reason for being: To tell stories and help writers and others with a message to put their best word forward.

A Museum for Lovers of Words? This I’ve Got to See!

Posted on June 5, 2018

A new museum (yes, another one) is coming to Washington, D.C. and will open December 2019. It promises to immerse visitors in the wonders and rewards of words and language arts. It’s called Planet Word. And, its mission is to … Continue reading →

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Are Writers Who Use Abbreviations Just Lazy?

Posted on June 1, 2018

  An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. An acronym is one type of abbreviation that uses the initial letters of a group of words. Abbreviations and acronyms have been used ever since man started writing, … Continue reading →

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Sympathy or Empathy: Finding a Way to Understanding and Healing

Posted on April 26, 2018

Sympathy means feeling sorry for someone, feeling pity for their circumstance, enough to send them a condolence card and some flowers. If someone’s house burns down, you feel sympathy for the person and their family and this may move you … Continue reading →

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Oral or Verbal: What’s the Difference?

Posted on April 10, 2018

  Today, I was working on editing a script and came across the use of oral. I pondered whether it would have been more appropriate to use verbal. After some investigation, I concluded that they may be used interchangeably. English is defined by … Continue reading →

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Janus words: Two-faced creatures

Posted on March 26, 2018

A recent Merriam-Webster blog sheds light on one of the many ironies of the English language. The phenomenon of Janus words. According to Wikipedia, Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He has … Continue reading →

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Consider This Before You Write or Text

Posted on February 26, 2018

it’s or its? If it is a contraction of it is, then it should be it’s. So: It’s time for us to get a new bell.   If it is the possessive (a pronoun that indicates that something belongs), then … Continue reading →

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Daydreaming of summer in winter

Posted on February 23, 2018

The invigorating feeling of ice-cold lemonade running down the back of your throat, after gardening all morning in the sun. The funky, happy notes of Hugh Masakela’s flugelhorn as you jam to “Grazin’ in the Grass,” while barbequing chicken on … Continue reading →

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