Places with strict and unforgiving rules make great settings for spooky stories. Think about all the books and movies set against the backdrop of a strict school, a rigid convent, or an oppressive family home. The unyielding rules contribute to an atmosphere that invites creepiness. The same is true for grammar—when rules are enforced arbitrarily, sometimes horror ensues. Especially when it’s Halloween and the moon is full.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Mexican Novels to Help You Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Guest Post by Alice E.M. Underwood
No matter where you are, Cinco de Mayo is a day to celebrate Mexico’s country, culture, and misunderstood military history. The holiday doesn’t mark Mexican Independence, as is commonly thought in other countries that break out the margaritas in honor of May 5—instead, it recognizes Mexico’s unlikely victory over the French in 1862.
But this isn’t a history lesson: it’s a literature lesson.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Scrabble Day the Writers’ Way
Scrabble enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to as April 13 – Scrabble Day – approaches. Scrabble, which involves forming words with a set number of lettered tiles on a grid-like game board, is one of the most popular word games in the world. It is available in 29 languages, and has become a household name for families and word enthusiasts everywhere.
For grammarians, playing Scrabble can be a fun way to enhance creativity and polish your spelling.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
5 Amazing Library Facts
We know that libraries are portals to amazing knowledge and insight, but libraries themselves are also pretty amazing. Here are 5 facts about libraries that will amaze you.
1. According to the American Library Association, 58% of adults in the United States have a library card.
2. The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library. It contains over 160 million items!
3. According to the American Library Association, students in the United States make 1.5 billion visits to school libraries during the school year.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
14 Expressions with Crazy Origins that You Would Never Have Guessed
Guest post by Anais John
You probably use tons of expressions, idioms, and slang phrases every day that don’t make literal sense. If you ever thought long and hard about why you say something a certain way, you could probably make a guess. However, some English expressions are so crazy and unusual that it is impossible to guess where on earth it originated from — unless you know the history.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Let Your Love of Poetry Bloom: 3 Poems about Spring
It’s spring, a season of hope and renewal! Celebrate spring with these three poems about the beauty of the season.
“Flower God, God of the Spring” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Flower god, god of the spring, beautiful, bountiful,
Cold-dyed shield in the sky, lover of versicles,
Here I wander in April
Cold, grey-headed; and still to my
Heart, Spring comes with a bound, Spring the deliverer,
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Words to Use When You’re Upset at Work
If work conflicts stress you out, you may be tempted to express your frustration with a few expletives. According to CareerBuilder.com, more than 80% of workers believe that “the use of curse words brings the employee’s professionalism into question.” What might this mean for you? If you are the employee, you could damage your chances of a promotion and seem less than mature in the eyes of your coworkers.