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Feb 8, 2026
This week’s themeWords formed in error This week’s words trialogue marquee roister serried runagate How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Is it a noun or a verb? Both! 
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AWADmail Issue 1232A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageSponsor’s Message: ONEUPMANSHIP 3.0 is “a rollicking excuse for mad, mutually-abusive annihilation.” One Up! -- guaranteed to turn your whole family into “greedy, self-serving punks.” Wise Up! will “ruin Christmas and friendships” or your money back. All our fun and games are BOGO today only. Shop now. From: Eva Thomas (thomasej umich.edu) Subject: Hopefully My PhD dissertation was on the development of Standard English, and I learned in my research that language changes constantly as a result of its users. I had many academic colleagues who angrily disagreed with the claim of my dissertation that much of what becomes Standard is a result of how ordinary people are speaking and writing, not just from Chancery English or the upper classes. The historical documents proved my claim. The purists among us are always going to be a bit behind. Eva Thomas From: Tom Tyson (ttyson125 gmail.com) Subject: Hopefully Regarding “hopefully”, another favorite (mis)use of mine is this: “The Optimist Club will be meeting hopefully at 5 pm.” Tom Tyson, Sheboygan, Wisconsin From: Paul Castaldi (paulcast55 verizon.net) Subject: “Hopefully” Springs Eternal! In a 1981 Barney Miller episode, “The Psychic”, an NYU linguistics professor and English scholar is arrested for tearing down a sign for Aunt Sally’s Kosher Style Pickles because it was an offense to the language, with words like crun-crun-crunchiest. During his stay in the precinct, the professor takes various cast members to task for misusing or abusing words -- including chastising Captain Miller himself for improper use of... yes, hopefully. (video, around the 6-min mark) Paul Castaldi, Havertown, Pennsylvania From: Tobias Baskin (baskin umass.edu) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--trialogue The train was never in the station. According to Joseph Williams (in his book Style, Lessons in Clarity and Grace), the prohibition against using hopefully to show the writer’s hope was invented by grammarians. He calls such rules (there are lots) folklore. He writes: “This ‘rule’ dates from the middle of the 20th century. It has no basis in logic or grammar and parallels the usage of other words that no one complains about, words such as candidly, frankly, sadly, and happily.” Evidently, there was never a time when writing “Hopefully, the nun prayed” to mean “I hope the nun prayed” was incorrect. This is not about language evolving, but about a few people making a living by trying to constrain language. Happily, they fail although unhappily, they create a lot of friction. Tobias Baskin, Amherst, Massachusetts From: Michael Herzog (herzogm98 gmail.com) Subject: trialogue Not to be picky, but shouldn’t the trialogue be AMONG the Israelites, Moses, and God, not BETWEEN them? Michael Herzog, Naples, New York From: Benjamin Avant (benjamin benjaminavant.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--trialogue I remember that in 1987 when Pope John Paul II visited the US, a popular novelty item was the pope soap on a rope. (I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to buy one.) Benjamin Avant, Dallas, Texas From: Kent Rhodes (krho1 aol.com) Subject: Popefully As the white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, Chicagoans awaited popefully that their favorite son would appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Kent Rhodes, Charlotte, North Carolina From: Brett Pruit (brett.a.pruit gmail.com) Subject: Love your work. Response for extra credit The head of the GOP popefully lectured Americans on their moral responsibilities regarding abortion. Brett A. Pruit, San Antonio, Texas From: Tom Hawley (t.hawley comcast.net) Subject: Words In the Jan 21 edition of The Economist, a report on happenings in Minneapolis says, “Happily, protesters showed restraint,” I don’t think they showed restraint in a happy manner, but rather one is happy to report that they showed restraint. The word that’s at the top of my list for having a misunderstood origin is outrage. It frequently tries to suggest that there is rage or raging out involved. Its origin has no connection with rage. It is derived from the French outre, which means beyond. Tom Hawley, Lansing, Michigan
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From: Jürgen Bast (jurgen.bast recht.uni-giessen.de) Subject: trialogue In Brussels’ European quarter and its academic satellites, trilogue (instead of trialogue) refers to informal negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission on draft legislation. The error is the same and has been codified in all 24 official languages of the EU. Jürgen Bast, EU lawyer from Giessen, Germany From: Eric F Plumlee (ericfplumlee hotmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--marquee The German language also seems to have adopted the word Markise. This is what we call the awning (the fabric type which is cranked in and out by hand) that shades our patio on hot summer days. Eric Plumlee, Niederlenz, Switzerland From: Belén Abad (belenabad hotmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--marquee In Spanish the origin is the same but we call it marquesina and that’s a little marquise. Belén Abad, Madrid, Spain From: Harry Grainger (the.harry gmail.com) Subject: Marquee Marquee is also the name for the rectangular shape dragged by a cursor to enclose a part of an image on a computer screen. Harry Grainger, Poole, UK From: Steve Benko (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Subject: Marquis and other titles Here’s my shot at filling out your alphabetical list of royal titles (and descriptors): Aristocrat, Archduke Baron/Baroness Count/Countess, Czar, Caliph, or these days, Crony Duke/Duchess, Dame, Despot, Dalai Lama, Defender of the Faith Earl, Emperor/Empress, Emir Factotum Grand Duke, Generalissimo Highness, Holiness Idiot Son Janissary King, Kaiser, Khan Lord/Lady Marquis(e), Majesty, Monarch, Maharaja, Moghul Nawab, Nincompoop Prince/Princess, Pharaoh Queen Royal Highness, Rajah, Rex Squire, Sultan, Sheik, Shah, Sovereign, or these days, Sycophant Tsar, Thane, or Tech Bro Usurper Viscount, Viceroy, Vizier Wizard (Imperial variety) Xcellency Your Highness, Your Majesty, Your Grace Zombie (to describe high American officials and majority-party legislators these days) Steve Benko, New York, New York From: Ross Paul (rpaul uwindsor.ca) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--marquee My favourite use of British aristocratic terms came in the BBC radio program I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again where an Earl received an OBE and thus became an Earlobe. Ross Paul, Vancouver, Canada From: Ben Silverman (bajabensilverman gmail.com) Subject: roister Willard Espy was closely associated with the ghost town Oysterville, Washington, and lived there. He wrote a wonderful family history book called Oysterville. He once said, “I do not roister with an oyster.” (I interviewed him more than 40 years ago.) He hated oysters. The longtime editorial page editor (about that same time) of The Wall Street Journal was named Vermont Connecticut Royster. He made it into another wonderful book: Remarkable Names of Real People. It’s a hoot. (Names can be even more interesting than words.) Ben Silverman, Playas de Rosarito, Mexico From: Steve Royster (RoysterSB gmail.com) Subject: roister A near aptonym, at least when I was younger. Steve Royster, Alexandria, Virginia From: Bryan Todd (bryansink yahoo.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--serried A word that looks alike but has a different origin is serrated, which came from the Latin word for saw-toothed. It’s related to the Spanish word sierra. You might think a row of California mountains look pressed close together, but the word depicts them more as a saw. Bryan Todd, Lincoln, Nebraska From: Allen Roberts (aroberts arts.ucla.edu) Subject: serried As an 8th-grader, I played a “wand’ring minstrel” in a junior-high production and sang of how the Mikado’s mighty troops, “in serried ranks assembled, never quail (or they conceal it if they do).” A mere 66 years later, I would happily burst into such song should you so desire! Allen F. Roberts, Cloverdale, California From: John Nugée (john nugee.org.uk) Subject: Serried Another example of misunderstanding is the word sauteed. It’s the past participle of French sautée which is already a past participle of sauter (to jump). As in sauteed potatoes. It sometimes even comes with the acute accent still there, as in sautéed, which makes no sense in either language. John Nugée, London, UK From: Marlene Long (via website comments) Subject: runagate My mother, from central Pennsylvania, calls anyone who’s been out running around all day, including me running errands, a runnygate. Marlene Long  
Subject: marquee and trialogue It’s not the first... or last time I’ve called upon Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, to illustrate the total embarrassment that is an out-of-touch, self-absorbed wannabe monarch, DJT. Here, unbeknownst to Trump, he has top billing, along with an apropos film, Shame, complimenting the much-anticipated coming feature attraction. Let the film follies begin! 
Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams
Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks Trialogue A trialogue’s what we now try, My cousin, my sister, and I. Three faces are seen On each person’s screen, If nothing high-tech goes awry. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) On and on went the long trialogue: “For vacation, we might fly to Prague,” Said the husband. The wife Declared, “Not on your life!” And the child said, “Let’s buy a frog.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “I’m afraid that I might die a cog; I should quit and perhaps try a blog,” In his cube Joe daydreamed. “I heard that!” his boss screamed. “We’re alone here! There’s no trialogue!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Marquee “The people are dying to see A movie that’s all about me. And so they should know Just where they should go, Melania’s on the marquee.” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Hey, look there! Just whaddaya see? That name lit up on the marquee? You’ve heard of it, yes? (Giggle!) Betcha can guess! It’s moi! Yeah, you all, that guy’s ME! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) His name up in lights, all can see. For an ego that’s huge as can be. So that now when you enter The Kennedy Center, It’s Trump up there on the marquee. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Want your name on a theater marquee? Well then, beauty and talent are key. But you also need luck, A thick skin, lots of pluck, And the latest couture from Paree. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Roister Will I roister? Will I have a ball? That’s not in my daybook at all! Maybe getting good eats, Or more time ‘neath the sheets; Big doin’s have started to pall! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) Nancy lived like a nun in a cloister, And she never was one who would roister. But I’ve heard people say She got carried away On the day that she’d sampled some oyster! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Said the nun, “I don’t fit in the cloister. I like to have fun, and to roister.” Now out on her a$$, She hoisted a glass, As a true, yes, she knew, roister-doister. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Said the priest to the nuns in the cloister, “Last night, was I hearing you roister? You’re married to Jesus!” “But Father, to please us, Come hither,” they said. “Have an oyster.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Serried When their desks are all serried, it’s true: It is tempting to cheat, and some do. Kids shoulder to shoulder Should each get a folder As a shield that one cannot look through. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Those soldiers were stunning, you know? Their serried ranks, row after row Couldn’t help but impress -- Their expressions! Their dress! We won’t soon forget today’s show! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) The Rockettes with their serried kick line, Are precision all say is divine. And their great dance routine, Is a joy to be seen. A particular fav’rite of mine. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “Your body has long since been buried; Now your soul ‘cross the Styx will be ferried,” Said the boatman. “This place Gives you no private space, As Lord Hades likes everyone serried.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Runagate The runagate packed up her duffel. “I hate summer camp!” did she snuffle. “Mom’s cooking I miss; I’m sick of all this!” And so she set off with a shuffle. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “I was honored to be Donald’s running mate, Then Jan 6 turned me into a runagate,” Said Mike Pence. “I kissed bυtt All those years, and for what? I’ve been thinking of that a whole ton of late.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “Every time I climb onto this stick to roll it, it sinks to the bottom,” said the frustrated lumberjack. “Trialogue,” suggested his friend. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) After the rolled-up newspaper he put in the fireplace burned too quickly, the wife said, “Why don’t you trialogue?” -Jim Ertner, Greensboro, North Carolina (jde31459 gmail.com) When William Tell missed the marquee tried again, despite the pleas of his terrified son. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Roister the stew,” said Dale Evans when they stopped on the trail for dinner. -Janice Power, Cleveland, Ohio (powerjanice782 gmail.com) “A-roister-s a good aphrodisiac?” asked the questioner. “Vunderful!” answered Dr. Ruth. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Is shooting peaceful protesters really neces-serried-onald?” asked the world. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) During her downhill runagate led to Lindsey Vonn’s big crash. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) Caught with performance-enhancing drugs, Garg was disqualified from the marathon, touching off the Runagate scandal. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Life without industry is guilt, industry without art is brutality. -John
Ruskin, author, art critic, and social reformer (8 Feb 1819-1900)
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