Author Archives: Robert Basil

Ricotta / Ree-goat

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Robert Basil

In Fairport, New York, where I grew up, there were lots of Italian American families, and I had many Italian American friends (still do). I married an Italian American from Liverpool, New York, and have a son from this marriage … Continue reading →

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“Sedulous aping”

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Robert Basil

 “Memory” – or memoria – is one of the five canons of classical rhetoric. Write Brett and Kate McKay in their excellent blog “The Art of Manliness”: Anciently, almost all rhetorical communication was done orally in the public forum. Ancient … Continue reading →

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“Epic translation success”

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Robert Basil

Read more at the always alert, amusing, and erudite Language Log.

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What would be on *your* “shadow CV”?

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Robert Basil

Regarding Devoney Looser’s ‘Chronicle of Higher Education’ article “Me and My Shadow CV: What would my vita look like if it recorded not just the success of my professional life but also the many, many rejections?” my friend Jonathan Mayhew … Continue reading →

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Where the three dots came from …

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Robert Basil

In a recent piece in The Guardian, “Unfinished story … how the ellipsis arrived in English literature,” Alison Flood describes the work of Cambridge University professor Anne Toner, who locates the origin of the ellipsis – “the mark of incomplete … Continue reading →

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New Sophos series: “What is …?”

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Robert Basil

Sophos, the esteemed network-security company, is starting a new series on its always erudite blog. It is called “What Is …,” and it promises to turn “technical jargon into plain English.” The inaugural post, written by Paul Ducklin, is called … Continue reading →

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Free musical scores

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Robert Basil

I prefer my classical-piano sheet music to be professionally edited, published, and printed. I like the help with fingering editors provide, and I like big easy-to-read pages in front of me. When I am experimenting with new (to me) composers, … Continue reading →

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Foreign loanwords in transition: What should they look like?

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Robert Basil

You might be surprised how often this comes up for professional writers and editors. Bryan Garner, the ace lawyer & editor & language authority, explains: The more arcane or technical a loanword, the more likely it is to retain a … Continue reading →

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On Poetry

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Robert Basil

My friend Jonathan Mayhew has been on a tear of late, publishing a series of manifestos on poetry in his wonderful blog, Stupid Motivational Tricks. Some snippets (but read the whole thing): Manifesto (1) Nobody knows what poetry is for. … Continue reading →

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The angry period. When texting.

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Robert Basil

Writes Clair Landsbaum in complex.com: It’s much easier to be aggressive over text because you’re not face-to-face with the person you’re talking to, and people are finding new ways to express that aggression via the humble period. A new study … Continue reading →

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