Category Archives: word play

Author’s “Voice” ~ What is It?

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Writers often hear another author warn them about losing their “voice.” But what exactly is “voice”? In reality, there are so many theories on this question that I could be here for years debating them all. I am of the … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, literature, publishing, reading, word origins, word play, writing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Doublespeak: Favorite Euphemisms or How I Learned Something of “Poppycock”

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Euphemisms? We learn them in the most peculiar ways. I recall as a child that my mother was very upset with me when I used the word “poppycock.” You see, I thought myself quite sophisticated to learn a new word … Continue reading →

Posted in euphemisms, word origins, word play, writing | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Early History of the Oxford English Dictionary

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

Several times per week, I am looking at the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) for word origins or synonyms or a variety of other searches. Yet, until recently, I had not thought much about this fabulous resource’s beginnings. It took from … Continue reading →

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Misuse of Words Driving Me Crazy!

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Regina Jeffers

Of late, the news media has been driving me a bit batty with the various reporters misusing words either in their oral reporting or the blips crossing our screens. Do you, too, have a pet peeve when it comes to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, word play, writing | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

The Craft of Reading, a Guest Post from Leenie Brown

Posted on June 24, 2019 by Regina Jeffers

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors on May 7, 2019. I loved it so much, I thought I would share it with you here.  As an author and passionate lover of writing and storytelling, I often spend time studying … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, books, Guest Post, reading, reading habits, Vagary, word play, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

George Wickham: How Jane Austen Masterfully Uses a Minor Character to Drive the Main Plot

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Regina Jeffers

How a Minor Character Controls the Story’s Action: Jane Austen’s Use of George Wickham On Monday, I interviewed our favorite Austen bad boy, Mr. George Wickham. Actually, I held a celebrity intervention, but as an afterthought to that momentous event, … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Britain, Jane Austen, language choices, Living in the Regency, Regency era, word play, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Go Through Fire and Water ~ English for Students tells us, “Go through fire and water means to face any peril. This phrase originally referred to the medieval practice of trial by ordeal which could take the form of making an accused … Continue reading →

Posted in etymology, word origins, word play | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on March 6, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Jumping the Broom/Broomstick – This is a ceremony dating back to the 1600s and derived from Africa. Dating back to slave days, jumping the broom together has been part of weddings for couples who want to honor that tradition. It also … Continue reading →

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The Lovely World of the English Language ~ Do You Know These Idioms?

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Are you like me? Do you wonder from where a particular phrase originates? I am often in a position to search out a phrase or a word to determine whether it is too modern for my writings set in the … Continue reading →

Posted in word origins, word play | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Are You Familiar with These Words and Phrases?

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Bell the Cat ~ To hang a bell around a cat’s neck to provide a warning. Figuratively, the expression refers to any task that is difficult or impossible to achieve. This explanation comes from Phrase Finder. This expression ultimately derives from the … Continue reading →

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