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

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'Yule' Love These New Books About Words Nov 19, 2025

Stuff your stockings this holiday season with these lively new books about language. Jess Zafarris r... Read More

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Step Relatives Are a 'Step' Above Nov 12, 2025

Q: I'm curious about the origin of "step" in "stepfather," "stepson," et al. — M.J.D., Baton R... Read More

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Do Apostrophes Depart for the Holidays? Nov 05, 2025

This month, we observe Veterans Day ... or should that be "Veterans' Day" or even "Veteran's Day"? I... Read More

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We're Haunted by Linguistic Fossils Oct 29, 2025

When I was 8 years old, my parents told me that they'd purchased tickets in the orchestra for a Broa... Read More