The Word Guy

The Word Guy

The Word Guy

Teacher, writer, editor and language columnist Rob Kyff is an expert with words. Through his weekly columns in several publications, a multitude of published books, as well as in his classrooms, he shares his language and grammar tips and provides fun facts about the evolution of the English language.

Recently Published

...
'Soc' It to Me, World Cup! Jun 17, 2026

As the World Cup tournament got underway last week, a reader asked me why this sport is called "socc... Read More

...
Word Fiends Have an 'Ax' To Grind Jun 10, 2026

I get by with a little help from my fiends — word fiends, that is. In a recent column about th... Read More

...
Do You Have a Knack for Nicknames? Jun 03, 2026

For 15th-century Florentine artist Paolo di Dono, the bird was the word. He loved feathered creature... Read More

...
A Useful Conjunction, Albeit an Old One May 27, 2026

Frank Resnick of New Britain, Conn., writes, "Can the antique-sounding conjunction 'albeit' still be... Read More