Spelling Word of the Day: you give me fever
January 31, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right is from the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, as photographed by Deneka Peniston.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
Spelling Word of the Day: I’m a muse, I’m a muse!
January 30, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right is from the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, as photographed by Deneka Peniston.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
Tom Swiftie Week: The Denouement
January 29, 2010
Today is the final installment of Tom Swiftie Week. But it need not be the end of your own (perhaps newfound) adverbial pun obsession!
To recap, Tom Swifties — named after the titular character in a series of bombastically written novels, as pictured at right — are phrases in which a sentence spoken by “Tom” is paired with an adverbial pun.
Today, as yesterday, I’m turning it over to magician Eric Walton, whose lexical abilities, I hear, make female lexicographers swoon at lexicography conferences. Here are some Swifties by Eric!
And now, in my opinion, the mother of all Tom Swifties:
- “The science is clear: global warming is real and human activity is the cause,” said Tom allegorically.
Spelling Word of the Day: a cap is a shoe is a petticoat
January 29, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right of Williamsburg Spelling Bee contestant David Z. is by Deneka Peniston.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
Tom Swiftie Week: Now With Prestidigitation!
January 28, 2010
It’s Day Four of Tom Swiftie Week!
To recap, Tom Swifties — named after the titular character in a series of bombastically written novels, as pictured at right — are phrases in which a sentence spoken by “Tom” is paired with an adverbial pun.
Today I’m turning it over to magician Eric Walton, whose Tom Swiftie production this past week has far outstripped my own. Here are some Swifties by Eric!
Spelling Word of the Day: “below an earl and above a baron” is, quite frankly, one of my favorite places to be
January 28, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right is of contestant Trent Williams at the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, as photographed by Deneka Peniston.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
Tom Swiftie Week: Tom Swift and His Atomic Adverbs!
January 27, 2010
It’s Day Three of Tom Swiftie Week!
To recap, Tom Swifties — named after the titular character in a series of bombastically written novels, as pictured at right — are phrases in which a sentence spoken by “Tom” is paired with an adverbial pun.
So here are a few more of mine. Feel free to post your own in the comments!
Spelling Word of the Day: edibles, foodstuffs, comestibles
January 27, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right is of contestant Tim Pence at the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, as photographed by Deneka Peniston.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
Tom Swiftie Week: It All Ends In -Ly
January 26, 2010
It’s Day Two of Tom Swiftie Week!
To recap, Tom Swifties — named after the titular character in a series of bombastically written novels, as pictured at right — are phrases in which a sentence spoken by “Tom” is paired with an adverbial pun.
So here are a few more of mine. Feel free to post your own in the comments!
Spelling Word of the Day: quick, perform the property-transfer ceremony!
January 26, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right is from the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, as photographed by Deneka Peniston.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
“Fear the Boom and Bust” a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem
January 26, 2010
I’ve always been a fan of didactic rap; as a guest writer on Jewcy, I commented on this.
Enjoy…
Tom Swiftie Week
January 25, 2010
I became aware of Tom Swifties via an article in this month’s Mensa Bulletin, a publication I have recently questioned for its editorial choices.
But Tom Swifties — named after the titular character in a series of bombastically written novels, as pictured at right — are so fun that I decided to write some, my gentleman consort decided to write some, and I decided to publish them here all week long!
Abridged from Wikipedia:
A Tom Swifty (or Tom Swiftie) is a phrase in which a quoted sentence is linked by a pun to the manner in which it is attributed.
“Can I go looking for the Grail again?” Tom requested.
“We just struck oil!” Tom gushed.
“They had to amputate them both at the ankles,” Tom said defeatedly.
“Hurry up and get to the back of the ship,” Tom said sternly.
As the examples illustrate, the standard syntax is for the quoted sentence to be first, followed by the description of the act of speaking.
There are a few more rules about Tom Swifties — a few require a name other than “Tom” in order to work, and some people think that Swifties that don’t end in -ly aren’t “real” (for instance, the Mensa article, by Richard Lederer, contained the quite satisfying pun, “I’m wearing my wedding ring!” said Tom with abandon.)
In any case, here are a few of mine. Feel free to post your own in the comments!
Spelling Word of the Day: sugar and spice and everything nice
January 25, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right is from the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, as photographed by Deneka Peniston.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
Spelling Word of the Day: a nest on a cliff
January 24, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo of Season Ten Williamsburg Spelling Bee winner Wilson Southerland is by Eric Walton.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.
Spelling Word of the Day: I declare this coup to be official!
January 23, 2010
Every day of 2010, I’ll be posting a spelling word here for those who would like some spelling bee practice. Photo at right is from the Williamsburg Spelling Bee, as photographed by Eric Walton.
Start the audio file to hear the word, definition, and etymology. Once you’ve spelled the word for yourself, click “Read More” to see the answer.



