What exactly is a planet? Controversy over this question led to Pluto’s redefinition, along with a brand-new English word. And:... more

There was a time when William Shakespeare was just another little seven-year-old in school. Classes in his day were demanding... more

How hot is it? Well, poet Dylan Thomas found lots of memorable ways to describe a heat wave. In one... more

The adjectives canine and feline refer to dogs and cats. But how does English address other groups of animals? Plus, cabin fever has been around much... more

An ambitious effort to install poetry in national parks around the United States features the work of beloved poets in beautiful spots.... more

Cat hair may be something you brush off, but cat hair is also a slang term that means “money.” In the same way, cat beer isn’t... more

If you make a beeline for something, you’re taking the shortest route possible. You’re also mimicking bee-havior! After a bee... more

Have you ever googled your own name and found someone else who goes by the very same moniker? There’s a... more

Names don’t always mean what you think they mean. Main Street in San Francisco is named after businessman Charles Main,... more

One secret to writing well is . . . there is no secret! There's no substitute for simply sitting down... more