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Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Language » Page 2

Language

The Odd English Language: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

By Steve Laubeon May 16, 2016
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I came across an odd fact the other day. There is a two-letter word in English that has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is ‘UP.’ It is listed in the dictionary as an adverb, preposition, adjective, noun, or verb! (click here for the Oxford English dictionary link and keep scrolling down the page) There are over 30 definitions of the word!

I cannot claim total originality for what follows (I think variations of this have circulated before) but it sure is fun to explore for us word lovers!

At first it is easy to understand the word UP, meaning toward the sky or a higher position, but think about all the other ways we use this word.

You wake UP

At a meeting, topics come UP

Political candidates are UP for election

Your smile can brighten UP a room

A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP

You line UP for tickets

People speak UP or take UP a cause

And if a person is speaking too softly we ask them to “speak UP!”

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

With the right skill you can fix UP the old car

It is UP to someone at work to write UP a report

You call UP your friends

Please look UP your friends in your address book

Unfortunately, you can take UP with the wrong crowd

You work UP an appetite

At dinner time you warm UP leftovers and then clean UP the kitchen

Don’t forget to lock UP the house

A disaster strikes and you must pick UP the pieces

By clicking a thumbs-UP you can say you “like” something online

After the rain we say the sky is clearing UP

But if has not rained for a while we say it is drying UP

The bad kid in class always stirs UP trouble

You think UP excuses

Someone must open UP a store in the morning but remember to close it UP at night

A Pixar movie is called “Up”

Time to wrap this UP.

So, if you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

 

 

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Category: Craft, Editing, Fun Fridays, LanguageTag: Language

The Sound of Words

By Karen Ballon February 10, 2016
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One of the things I love most about working with words is that I will never reach the point where I can say, “There, now. I’ve learned it all.” Love, love learning new things. Especially when it’s something I can share with all of you. So, have you ever heard of phonesthesia or sound symbolism? Basically, it’s the idea that the sound of a word plays into it’s perceived meaning. That there are …

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Category: Communication, Craft, Creativity, Editing, Humor, LanguageTag: Language, words

Tools to Tackle Grammar Gaffes

By Karen Ballon October 7, 2015
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Oh my. We all have our peccadillos when it comes to English, don’t we? If I addressed them all, we’d be here til next year. So I’ll just give you the cheats…uh, tips I use most often. —Don’t be afraid of me. Poor ol’ me has been sorely maligned, as it should be when used incorrectly. Usage such as “Jim n’ me will be happy to talk with you” stirs images of uneducated, backward folk who …

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Category: Grammar, LanguageTag: Grammar, Language

When Trying to Sound Intelligent Backfires

By Karen Ballon September 30, 2015
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So, I’m at a writers’ conference—a professional setting, yes? With folks who are clearly well educated, especially about the use of words, yes?–and this is what I hear: “Just give Jim and I a call, and we’ll talk it over.” Cringe. Then came a recent commercial on TV, where a supposed doctor was saying, “This product has been tested by myself and others in the medical field.” Good grief. I …

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Category: Craft, Grammar, LanguageTag: Grammar

Not All Words Are Created Equal

By Karen Ballon July 29, 2015
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Twice in the last few weeks something happened that got me thinking about how very careful we need to be when revising, either our own work or someone else’s. First, during a worship team practice, the leader changed the words of a song from “You give and take away,” referring to God, to “You give me all I need.” When I asked why she’d changed the words, she …

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Category: Art, Language, TheologyTag: Editing, Language, Theology, words

The Power of a Single Word

By Steve Laubeon July 27, 2015
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According to various sources there are about one million words in the English language. Approximately 750,000 of them are technical or scientific. That leaves us with 250,000 words with which to communicate. But the Oxford English Dictionary Unabridged has only 170,000 words in it. And I doubt any of us know all of them or use them. According to the TestYourVocab.com website the average person …

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Category: Art, Language, Theology, Writing CraftTag: Language, words

Mispronounce at Your Own Peril

By Karen Ballon October 1, 2014
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I’ve been spending some time with friends in Missouri. Since I’ve been here, I’ve learned a few things. In some areas, the state we’re in is “Mi-zur-ee.” In other areas, “Mi-zur-uh.” “That hound won’t hunt” means “you’re not getting away with that, young lady.” “Even a blind sow can find an acorn once in awhile” means “anyone can get lucky once in awhile.” “The sow found an acorn!” …

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Category: LanguageTag: Language, pronunciations

What Language Do You Speak?

By Karen Ballon June 4, 2014
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Are you born again? Have you been slain in the Spirit? Have you walked the aisle to receive the baptism of the Saints? Are you washed in the blood, blessed by grace, favored for your labors? Have you testified, been sanctified, and placed a hedge of protection around yourself? Do you covet prayers? Are you blessed with singleness? Do you know folks who are lost, caught up in the world, …

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Category: Communication, Craft, Creativity, Karen, Language, TheologyTag: Communication, Faith, Language, Theology

Misused Words and Phrases

By Karen Ballon May 29, 2013
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The English language is full of persnickety quirks, the most despicable of which are buzz words. Words and phrases we’ve decided work better than plain speech. Why say what you mean when you can just toss out a phrase that says what you want, but in such a vague and convoluted manner than people spend so much energy figuring it out that they can’t challenge you? Genius! Or how about those words …

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Category: Craft, Creativity, Humor, Karen, Language, Writing CraftTag: Grammar, Humor, Language

Modern Speech

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 9, 2012
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A couple weeks ago we discussed local flavor in expressions. It got me to thinking that I grew up in an era where no one thought anything of saying, "He should be shot," or "My father is going to kill me," for minor infractions. One of my friends noted that if a teenager said that today about her father, someone would call Social Services. After the Columbine tragedy that left so many dead or …

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Category: Craft, Language, Tamela, Trends, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Grammar, inclusive language, Writing Craft
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