Language Ninja Archives - Words by a Pro https://old.wordsbyapro.com/tag/language-ninja/ Tue, 13 Jun 2017 17:01:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-WBP-FAVICON_7-32x32.jpg Language Ninja Archives - Words by a Pro https://old.wordsbyapro.com/tag/language-ninja/ 32 32 Questions for a Language Ninja: How Do I Give My Résumé Some Undeserved Pizzazz? https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-language-ninja-give-resume-undeserved-pizzazz/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-language-ninja-give-resume-undeserved-pizzazz Tue, 13 Jun 2017 16:59:38 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=2128 The weather is warm, the sky is the color of a bottle of Bombay Sapphire, and The Language Ninja is taking a break from her poolside Mango Colada Cooler to address some pressing language issues. She will then take a well-deserved nap. Let’s get cracking! Q: I’m currently looking for a new job, but I’m […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: Overused Words and Slaying that Content https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-language-ninja-overused-words-slaying-content/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-language-ninja-overused-words-slaying-content Wed, 05 Apr 2017 22:22:14 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1968 Q: What would you say are the most overused words from the past year? I nominate “pivot.” Yes, the word “pivot” – a word that was previously only used in osteopathic and Jazz dance applications – has been tossed around quite brutally, particularly on cable news channels. The Ninja agrees that as an indication of […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: Does Being “Turnt” Require Antibiotics? https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-language-ninja-turnt-require-antibiotics/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-language-ninja-turnt-require-antibiotics Tue, 27 Dec 2016 22:05:04 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1905 The Language Ninja explains the meanings of a newfangled millennial slang term. Welcome to the final Language Ninja column for the year 2016, which – and I’m sure many of you will agree – will certainly be regarded as one of the top 20 worst years in the history of humankind. (We lost David Bowie […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: Ain’t “Ain’t” Proper? https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-language-ninja-aint-aint-proper/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-language-ninja-aint-aint-proper Wed, 12 Oct 2016 00:44:46 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1830 Q: If there’s a place in the linguistic world for the words “sexting”, “twerk”, and “totes”, why can’t we finally accept “ain’t”? It’s been in common usage for centuries. When will “ain’t” finally be recognized as a legitimate word? A: Art and popular culture will never stop trying to elevate “ain’t” from its lowly state. […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: Is a Lamb a Who, a That, or a Chop? https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-language-ninja-lamb-chop/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-language-ninja-lamb-chop Tue, 21 Jun 2016 22:43:25 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1712 Welcome to the first Language Ninja article of what is sure to be a blazing hot summer! Ninja’s beat the heat tip: Switch out your heat-absorbing black shinobi shōzoku for a light-reflecting bodysuit made of mirrors. She’s pretty sure you can find one on Etsy. Now that the practical advice is out of the way, […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: Why the Dash do I need a Semicolon? https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-for-a-language-ninja-why-the-dash-do-i-need-a-semicolon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-for-a-language-ninja-why-the-dash-do-i-need-a-semicolon Wed, 02 Mar 2016 03:18:49 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1615 Q: Why are the rules of punctuation so strict? When is it appropriate to us a comma? When should one use a comma as opposed to a semicolon, or an em-dash, or parentheses? What is the difference between a semicolon and an em-dash, anyway? What is an em-dash, and how did it happen? A: The […]

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]]> Ignorant? Stupid? Both? Questions for a Language Ninja https://old.wordsbyapro.com/ignorant-stupid-both-questions-for-a-language-ninja/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ignorant-stupid-both-questions-for-a-language-ninja Wed, 16 Dec 2015 00:14:23 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1536 Q: Can you describe the difference between “ignorance” and “stupidity”? I often wonder about the distinction when reading your posts. A: The Language Ninja is literally and figuratively sputtering with rage at your insult disguised as a query. She concedes, however, that it is elegantly framed. Well met! The Ninja will use parabolic shorthand here: […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: The Passion of the Manfriend https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-for-a-language-ninja-the-passion-of-the-manfriend/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-for-a-language-ninja-the-passion-of-the-manfriend Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:57:10 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1319 Q: My 81-year-old grandma has been dating a man her own age for a few years now. They’re not planning on getting married, but they are a “couple.” How should I refer to him? “Boyfriend” just seems weird, and grandma just calls him Larry. A: The Ninja agrees that “Manfriend” has an unsavory ring to […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: Conquering Mispronunciation https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-for-a-language-ninja-conquering-mispronunciation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-for-a-language-ninja-conquering-mispronunciation Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:06:51 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1278 Hello, and welcome to Questions from a Language Ninja! This is where the Ninja does her level best to answer complex linguistic queries, despite the fact that her qualifications come exclusively from her extensive experience in writing ransom notes. Let’s get started!  Q: Occasionally, I’ve found myself mispronouncing words with which I thought I had […]

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]]> Questions for a Language Ninja: Putting the Fun Back in Etymological Fundamentals https://old.wordsbyapro.com/questions-for-a-language-ninja-putting-the-fun-back-in-etymological-fundamentals/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=questions-for-a-language-ninja-putting-the-fun-back-in-etymological-fundamentals Tue, 14 Jul 2015 17:19:59 +0000 https://old.wordsbyapro.com/?p=1239 Hello, and welcome to the latest edition of “Questions for a Language Ninja,” the only Q & A language usage column where nearly every response to burning linguistic queries is: “It’s all good, man,” at least when those queries arrive in the middle of an otherwise lazy summer. Let’s get started.  Q: I often hear […]

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