Archives

1. 

   “Race” vs. “Ethnicity”: Why These Terms Are So Complex

   by Alyssa Pereira Historic protests against racial inequality. National debates over offensive names of sports team names and conflicts over the place of Confederate monuments in our culture. Arguments about border walls, language barriers—rising tensions over immigration despite an increasingly diverse populace. In this cultural moment, the concepts of race and ethnicity have never been more important to grasp. They’ve also never been so complicated …

2. 

   voluntold

   "Attendance at the fundraiser is completely voluntary, but you're strongly advised to attend." "I need a volunteer. How about you?" "I already told everyone you'd be happy to help clean up." If you've been told…
3. 

   no pun intended

   No pun intended is a humorous parenthetical comment used to acknowledge one has made a pun or other bit of overly cheesy or clever wordplay—sometimes unintentionally, sometimes not.
4. 

   allosexual

   Allosexual refers to people who do not identify as asexual — that is, people who regularly experience sexual attraction, regardless of their sexual orientation. Asexual, in contrast, refers to people who experience no or little…
5. 

   Zoom mom

   A Zoom mom is the “soccer mom” of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Due to stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures, the Zoom mom instead actively used video conferencing programs like Zoom for work, parenting, and…
6. 

   beta

   As they say, nice guys—and betas—finish last. Beta is a slang insult for or describing a man who is seen as passive, subservient, weak, and effeminate.
7. 

   ABAR

   ABAR stands for anti-bias anti-racism. It is principally used to refer to educational programs, notably implemented in Montessori schools, that instruct young children about social justice and racial inequality. The acronym ABAR gained greater use…
8. 

   What Do The Latin Phrases And Symbols On The Dollar Bill Mean?

   Whether you call it a buck, a single, a one, or a bill, the linen and cotton-blend currency resting in your wallet at this very moment contains a smorgasbord of images, symbols and Latin phrases—some hidden in plain sight. What do they mean and, once deciphered, can they unlock a series of veiled messages from our forefathers? Where does the word dollar come from? The …

9. 

   How Many Words Are There In The English Language?

   How many words are in the English language? It would seem like a simple question, but the answer is anything but. New words are entering the language all the time. In 2019, no one could have predicted what has become a defining word of 2020: COVID-19. At the same time, existing words evolve. What’s the first thing that comes to mind with tweet? A bird or social …

10. 

    Why Do We Use Uppercase And Lowercase Letters?

    Learning to write is a major milestone, and your little one will inevitably have some questions about why we do things the way we do during the process. We’re here to help you answer them. For example, a beginning writer might want to know how the letter W developed (why is it called double-U?) and why Q so often needs U. Another question sure to pop up …

11. 

    “Capital” vs. “Capitol”: Do You Know Where You’re Going?

    Capital and capitol are both commonly used in political contexts and are separated by just one letter, making them frustratingly easy to confuse. When it comes to these two terms, it’s important to note that one has a number of meanings while the other refers to a certain type of building. What is a capital? Capital has many definitions. It can mean “the wealth owned …

12. 

    ChAdOx1 nCoV-19

    ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 is a potential vaccine for the coronavirus. Early results from trials show that the vaccine is safe and produces an immune response against the virus that causes COVID-19. Another name for ChAdOx1 nCoV-19…