Your mom asked you to pick up shelled pistachios at the store, but you’d better ask whether she wants nuts still in their shells or those with their shells already removed. Because the word shelled ...

Words that also mean their opposites — they have been called “contronyms,” as well as “antagonyms” and “Janus words” — are curious creatures, and while many languages have a few of them, few are ...

A recent headline declared that the United States had sanctioned Iranian oil supplies. Many readers weren't sure what the newspaper meant, since “sanction” is a contronym - a word that can also mean ...

Here’s an ambiguous sentence for you: “Because of the agency’s oversight, the corporation’s behavior was sanctioned.” Does that mean, “Because the agency oversaw the company’s behavior, they imposed a ...

Here’s a little finger exercise. Make a circle with the fingers on your left hand by touching the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb. Now poke your head through thatcircle. If you ...

There are certain words we use at work that we simply don’t (or shouldn’t) use at home. I have never said synergy to my children. I have never (ever) referred to a request I’ve made of my wife as a ...