Patrick's Place

Happy Belated Birthday? That's Not the Way to Say It! I freely admit that I've been doing it the wrong way. For years, I'd wish someone a 'happy belated birthday' if I was a day or two late.

Happy Belated Birthday? That’s Not the Way to Say It! #grammar

Are You a Device Hoarder? You Might Be Hurting the Economy! If you're the type who doesn't rush out and replace a device as soon as a new version is released, you have a new title: the device hoarder.

Are You a Device Hoarder? You Might Be Hurting the Economy!

Forget Everything You Thought You Knew About the Color Purple No, I'm not talking about the book or the film, 'The Color Purple.' I'm referring to the pigment, which scientists say doesn't really exist.

Forget Everything You Thought You Knew About the Color Purple

7 Misconceptions About Funerals Do you have to wear black to a funeral? Does a procession always end at a cemetery?

7 Misconceptions About Funerals

e.g. or i.e.? Let's Clarify These Common Latin Abbreviations #grammar www.patrickkphillips...

Fewer or Less? One of Grammar's Sorest Sore Spots There are some grammar debates that will never fully be settled. I suspect the argument over ‘fewer or less’ might be one of them.

Fewer or Less? One of Grammar’s Sorest Sore Spots

Some Restaurants Bemoan Solo Diners. Others Are Embracing Them Eating out alone is a growing trend, but it doesn’t have to be bad for business.

Some Restaurants Bemoan Solo Diners. Others Are Embracing Them

A Little Patience, Please: Gender Pronouns Can Be Confusing For people who are consciously trying to respect people's preferred gender pronouns, it might be nice if they could get a little grace.

A Little Patience, Please: Gender Pronouns Can Be Confusing

What Does Biweekly Really Mean? The Debate Continues If you ask most people what they think biweekly means, they might think it's an easy question...until they think about it.

What Does Biweekly Really Mean? The Debate Continues #grammar

Would You Trust AI to Boost Your Blog Archives? An AI-based plugin received an award for its ability to rejuvenate old posts from your blog archives to boost their relevance.

Would You Trust AI to Boost Your Blog Archives?

Big-Box Veterinary Medicine has Downsides For many, big-box veterinary medicine seems appealing. Health plans offer big discounts…but you lose something in the process.

Big-Box Veterinary Medicine has Downsides

Employers believe this is the age you're too old to hire. This is why they're wrong www.fastcompany.com/...

Is 'Dailing a Number' an Outdated Idiom? We've used the phrase 'dialing a number' for generations now, but some say its a phrase that is hopelessly out of date. Do you agree?

Is 'Dailing a Number' an Outdated Idiom? #grammar

If You Use AI to Blog, Should You Disclose AI Content? Bloggers have new artificial intelligence options to help them manage their sites. But if you use AI Content, should a blogger say so?

If You Use AI to Blog, Should You Disclose AI Content? #blogchat

Pet Insurance? Wellness Plan? How About Neither! I recently spent a few days researching prices for pet insurance and wellness plans. Here’s why I’m not doing either one.

Pet Insurance? Wellness Plan? How About Neither!

Anthropic's AI is writing its own blog — with human oversight | TechCrunch Anthropic has quietly launched Claude Explains, a new dedicated page on its website that's generated mostly by the company's AI model family, Claude.

Anthropic's AI is writing its own blog — with human oversight | TechCrunch

Drank or Drunk? Here's How to Handle Your Drink The verb 'drink' is irregular, which means that there will be times when you'll have to decide whether to use 'drank' or 'drunk.'

Drank or Drunk? Here's How to Handle Your Drink #grammar

Great to see so many familiar faces at the annual "Live Like Rick" Rickfast! #LiveLikeRick

Why Is the Dollar Symbol an ‘S’? The dollar sign, or “$,” is one of the most recognizable currency symbols in the world, instantly understood across languages and cultures. It also transcends currency, having become a widespread symbol in pop culture. Andy Warhol made a whole series of drawings and paintings of the dollar sign in the 1980s, while some modern artists have used the symbol in their own stylized names — think A$AP Rocky, Travi$ Scott, and Ke$ha. It’s also been used as a symbol of greed — critics of large companies might make their point by introducing the dollar sign into the name of a corporation.  Despite the ubiquity of the dollar sign, its origins are surprisingly complex, muddied by a lack of historical record and competing theories. Far from a simple design, the dollar symbol represents a fascinating journey through economic history, global trade, and linguistic evolution. ...Read More

Why Is the Dollar Symbol an ‘S’?

Could an Estimated Read Time Help Your Blog Posts? I recently decided to add a plugin here at this blog that provides an estimate of the read time required for each article I write.

Could an Estimated Read Time Help Your Blog Posts? #blogchat

The First 10 Movies I Bought from Amazon Prime From VHS to DVD and now to digital versions, I'm reluctantly and slowly building a small Amazon Prime movie library.

The First 10 Movies I Bought from Amazon Prime

Let's Look at the Southern Idiom 'I Hear Tell...' The English language has plenty of ways to trip up people. Idioms, and specifically regional idioms, like ‘hear tell’ is a great example.

Let's Look at the Southern Idiom 'I Hear Tell...' #grammar

Why Did Ronald McDonald Disappear? The McDonald’s mascot has been keeping a low profile for years. Some people think they know why.

Why Did Ronald McDonald Disappear?

Fading Friendships Might be Adulting's Toughest Challenge A popular Bible verse states that 'for everything there is a season.' Sometimes, fading friendships remind us how accurate the passage is.

Fading Friendships Might be Adulting's Toughest Challenge

Why We Call Them 'Buffalo Wings' Americans have a love affair with chicken wings. But Buffalo Wings, the spicier the better, carry a special appeal for many aficionados.

Why We Call Them 'Buffalo Wings' #grammar

Fowl Play: How the Turkey Got Its Name That curious-looking bird we know as the turkey is named after a country from which it did not come. Get ready for a strange tale.

Fowl Play: How the Turkey Got Its Name

Hate Turbulence During a Flight? Here's Some Bad News I've never been a fan of flying. Turbulence is one of the main reasons for that. There's now word that it's getting worse.

Hate Turbulence During a Flight? Here's Some Bad News

Survey Finds Most-Anticipated Thanksgiving Dinner Dish I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when I saw what a survey actually found to be America's most-anticipated Thanksgiving dish.

Survey Finds Most-Anticipated Thanksgiving Dinner Dish

Is Irregardless a Word? Yes, But Don't Use It. Every now and then, I'll see the debate pop up again: 'Is irregardless a word?' But the question misses a bigger grammar point.

Is Irregardless a Word? Yes, But Don't Use It. #grammar

Here's What's Not Safe for Dogs in Your Thanksgiving Meal Is Thanksgiving dinner safe for dogs? Parts of it are, but some ingredients could cause your pooch some serious distress.

Here's What's Not Safe for Dogs in Your Thanksgiving Meal