Dear Language Nerd, Why did people used to use “f” instead of “s”? Like at the top of the Bill of Rights, where it says “Congrefs of the United States”? -Lawrence Duncan *** Dear Lawrence, It’s not really an “f,” though it certainly looks like one. Let’s zoom in on that header: It’s a stretched-out […]
Dear Language Nerd, I’m reading a book on Shakespeare’s sonnets that keeps referring to “iambic pentameter,” but hasn’t really told me what that is. Little help? -Austin Korrins *** Dear Austin, A syllable is just one vowel-marked sound An iamb though is two, first weak then strong They make a certain rhythmic bouncing pound: ba-DONK […]
Dear Language Nerd, My English Second Language teacher last year always said to us, “Do you know the secret way to learn the irregular verbs? … Memorize them all!” Ha ha ha, right? But is there a better way? From Andrew *** Dear Andrew, I won’t lie, you’re going to have to do some memorizing. […]
Hello Language Nerd, I’m on my way to Mexico City in a few days, and I don’t know a word of Spanish. Can you help? Peter P. *** Dear Peter, Spanish is not one of the languages the Language Nerd has studied, but you’re in luck — I’m wandering through Mexico at the moment myself, […]