You may already know that what we in the U.S. call “soccer,” most of the rest of the world refers to as “football.” But do you know why we call it soccer when almost no one else does? Is it just some cowboy American…
Don’t Be a Blatherskite – Learn This Amazing Word!
Blatherskite – “A person who talks at great length without saying much of sense.” Basically, a blatherer. What a great word. Definitely my favorite word du jour. Do you know what makes this word even better? The amazing route it…
Theseus THE Pig + Helen of Troy
If you’re a fan of Greek history, you’re probably familiar with the story of Theseus and the minotaur. But did you know that the word “academy” traces its roots all the way back to that story? To be more specific,…
The Juicy ‘Tell-All’ Novel That Changed The WORD
The WORD, get it? Haha, wordplay. You tend to hear the word “anecdote” in two contexts these days. Either it’s a fancy stand-in for “story,” or it’s a disparaging adjective, as in, “you only have anecdotal evidence.” But did you…
Behind the Times (Working Title)
One of the coolest trips I’ve ever taken was visiting the Lily Library in Indiana, which housed most of the notes, outlines, and manuscripts for the Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss books by Elizabeth Peters. Peeking behind the scenes at…
‘Crazy’ Moon Words + A Writing Tip
We’re all probably familiar with the legends of werewolves and madmen emerging from the dark on a full moon…but did you know that this legend is so pervasive, it actually made an impact on the English language? Yes, my friends….
Why the Months Make No Sense
Have you ever looked at the calendar and thought, “Well, that makes no sense”? October starts with “oct,” but it’s not the 8th month. November starts with “nov,” but it’s not the 9th month. December starts with “dec,” but it’s…
A College Admissions Trick You Won’t Believe
I’ve been scouring the latest college admissions research lately (so you don’t have to!), and holy moly, did I find a gem. Buried 100-odd pages into Who Gets In and Why by Jeffrey Selingo, there’s an absolutely mind-blowing college admissions…
‘Ahead of Her Time’ Curriculum
Want to use Ahead of Her Time with your students? Great choice! (Psst…free ebook download here) The book is already designed to sneakily boost students’ vocabulary, so the educator’s guide focuses on other topics you might want to explore in…
How to Write the Perfect Common App Essay (Formula!)
With college admissions season in full swing, it’s time to talk about one of the most important components of the application: your essay. A requirement of the Common App, the essay is what makes you a person in the eyes…