Editor's Corner

Dear Editrix,

The other day, I responded to my coworker saying something like, “We need to get down to brass tacks.” My coworker responded with a blank stare. I use the phrase “getting down to brass tacks” all the time. Can you define and discuss this for those unfamiliar with the phrase?

Dear JR,

I know the two of us belong to a similar generation, so I’d be happy to go through this. It is definitely an idiom that would be tough to figure out if you had never heard it before.

“Getting down to brass tacks” means getting down to the basic, most important details of a situation. From The Grammarist, here are some synonyms:

· Cut to the chase.

· Get down to business.

· Get down to bedrock.

· Get down to the nitty-gritty.

· Roll up one’s sleeves.

The origin of the phrase is uncertain. Some say it came from the brass tacks haberdashers used when measuring cloth for hats. Others say it came from reupholstering furniture. Still others say it came from preparing President Lincoln’s coffin (but they used giant silver tacks for that). Nobody really knows for sure.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Good morning, folks! One of my favorite contributors of ideas for Editor’s Corner sent me a Facebook clip of a new word (at least to me): zarf. A zarf (plural: zarfs or zarves) is a cup holder. Here is a zarf that you may be familiar with:

Growing up in Seattle, where coffee is king, I expect I would know this. Then again, when I was making espresso for one of my first employers, we didn’t have zarves. I would say it is because they are fairly new, but actually they are more than 800 years old.

Let’s look at the zarves of Turkey. In Turkey, the word for zarf is zarflar. In Arabic, it is zuruuf. From Wikipedia:

It was around the 13th century in Turkey, when coffee became popular as a beverage. The serving of coffee in Turkey was a complex, ritualized process.

It was served in small cups without handles…which were placed in holders known as zarf…(meaning "container" or "envelope") to protect the cup and also the fingers of the drinker from the hot liquid.

Cups were typically made of porcelain, but also of glass and wood.

Some of these zarfs were ostentatious, made of silver, gold, copper, brass, ivory, bone, tortoise shell, precious gems, and stones. They were filigreed, engraved, and painted. In the 1800s, Geneva started making “zarf sets” for the Islamic world, made with enamel which was bright and decorative.

Here are some historical zarfs from the Facebook clip:

This one was considered “plain”:

Here is one with a porcelain cup on the side:

This one, with Turkish motifs:

A bejeweled example from the Ottomans:

One that is probably worth more than our home:

And finally, a zarf set from Geneva:

Maybe next time I go to Starbucks, I’ll ask for my coffee in one of the more traditional zarfs!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Hello, my friends! A few weeks ago, one of you told me you had to look up the term hat trick. At first, I thought I knew what it was, but then I realized that I was thinking of the term rim shot (for drums). My husband informed me that a rim shot is the “ba dum tsh” drummers play at the end of a joke, and it’s called a sting. I’m so confused.

So, the term hat trick (or hat-trick), is related to sports. It’s a trifecta of sorts, and it means different things, depending on which sport you are talking about. In general, “a hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.”

Here are some details from Wikipedia:

The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries. Fans held a collection for Stephenson, and presented him with a hat bought with the proceeds. The term was used in print for the first time in 1865 in the Chelmsford Chronicle.

Since then, hockey, baseball, soccer, rugby, water polo, and other sports have adopted it.

Here are a few details for you.

Baseball

In the past, baseball referred to a hat trick as “striking out three times in a game.” Striking out four times in a game is even worse, or a bigger failure, so the term for that was the golden sombrero. These days, the hat trick is more often used for hitting three home runs in a game and having celebrants throw their hats on the field (similar to the ice hockey tradition).

Soccer

On to football (soccer) which has some special types of hat tricks that I wanted to make note of.

The flawless hat trick (called lupenreiner) is a term Germans and Austrians use when a player scores three goals in a row before the half-time break (and probably when they score three goals in a row in the second half of the game). Wikipedia was not very clear on the flawless hat trick.

This next one, the perfect hat trick, would be amazing to see. This is also a soccer feat (though it would be cool to see an American football player do it with field goals). The perfect hat trick is when a player scores three ways in one match:

• One right-footed goal
• One left-footed goal
• One headed goal

I know, we’ll never see it in American football. 😊

Next time you hear someone talking about a hat trick, let me know what the player did and what sport you were watching!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Dear Editrix,

I was watching Judge Judy, and she called someone in court a “Rip Van Winkle.” Many in the court did not know what story she was referencing or why she’d call the person that. Can you let us know who he is?

Dear Reader,

Since I didn’t remember the story Rip Van Winkle, I sought the wisdom of the internet. I don’t have space for the whole story, so I’ll give the short version and some insight on the story and its morals.

From Wikipedia:

Rip Van Winkle is a short story by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America who meets mysterious Dutchmen, imbibes their strong liquor, and falls deeply asleep in the Catskill Mountains. He awakes 20 years later to a very changed world, having missed the American Revolution.

There is a lot in the story about how lazy he was, what a nag his wife was, how he went into the mountains to avoid responsibility, and what had changed after his 20-year sleep. I found the following information on the story’s morals…but I don’t remember which website the information comes from.

Wikipedia is a good resource if you have questions or want to read the story, though.

Now, for the morals:

· Change is unavoidable:

Rip’s 20-year sleep demonstrates that life moves forward with or without an individual, and change is inevitable.

· Embrace freedom:

Rip’s return to his village, where he finds everything different, suggests that casting off old bonds and embracing a new reality can lead to a brighter future.

· Live in the moment:

The story encourages readers to be active members in their own lives and appreciate every moment, rather than passively waiting for things to happen.

· Hard work and responsibility are valued:

Rip’s lack of work ethic is portrayed negatively, contrasting with the industriousness valued by his community, implying that hard work and responsibility are essential for a fulfilling life.

· Tradition vs. modernity:

Rip’s story reflects the transition from America’s colonial past to its modern identity, highlighting the changes that occurred after the Revolutionary War.

Being an old fan of Judge Judy, my guess is that she was referring to the individual in her court as someone lazy or who was avoiding hard work. Either that or they were passing out after drinking too much Dutch liquor!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

A couple of weeks ago, my significant other sauntered into the bedroom and started whispering sweet nothings in my ear. As he edged closer, he said, “What is the problem with people? Why don’t they know the difference between past and passed?!” Okay, maybe he needs to work on his technique. “Write it down. I’ll deal with it later,” I said, and then put the pillow on my head.

We all have our peeves, and this is one of his. I found a good article about it, but I don’t want to put it all down here, so I’ll do my best to condense the information.

I love this first part from Grammar-Monster.com:

The Really Quick Answer: "Passed" is the past tense of "to pass." For everything else, use "past."

And that’s it!

No, of course I wouldn’t do that to you, but that is the quick answer.

Here is the longer answer. When we’re writing, we “talk” through it in our heads. As we type out what we “hear,” homonyms are easily misspelled when our fingers are busy. (Remember, homonyms are words that sound the same but are spelled differently [they’re, their, there]). If someone said “passed” when they meant “past,” you wouldn’t hear a difference in the pronunciation.

So, let’s look at some examples, and maybe a helpful hint if you are someone who does this. [Note: This is one
of those things that spell check doesn’t always catch.]

The verb pass means to “move, go, proceed, depart, die.” Different forms of the verb are passed, passing, and passes. Here are some examples of passed, the past tense of “to pass”:

• Bobo passed through the garden, looking for the balloon man.
• The fairgoers accidentally passed by the best exhibit: pig races.
• Once the red car passed the finish line, the audience erupted with applause.

There are other uses of “passed,” but we are just going to cover the basics right now. And past is a little trickier, because it can be used as an adjective, preposition, noun, and adverb. Usually it means “a time before the present.” Here are examples of each use:

Past

• (adjective – ago, elapsed) The past few months, I’ve been feeling particularly energetic.
• (preposition – after) The train is leaving at half past six.
• (noun – time before the present) I always try to make sensible decisions now, so that I don’t regret the past.
• (adverb – go beyond a point nearby) Sylvie was standing in front of the house, but her friend Poppy walked past, without as much as a “hello.”

When in doubt, remember Grammar-Monster’s quick tip from above: "Passed" is the past tense of "to pass." For everything else, use "past."

I hope that helps. For information, see these Editor’s Corner articles from the past:

• https://episystechpubs.com/2012/07/18/editors-corner-passed-and-past/
• https://episystechpubs.com/2015/06/17/editors-corner-past-and-passed/
• https://episystechpubs.com/2016/11/07/editors-corner-the-past-has-passed/
• Editor’s Corner: Past, Passed, and Puppy | Editor’s Corner

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Five or so years ago, I sent out an article on malaphors. I wanted something funny for today, so I dug up another list of malaphors, which are described as “…an informal term for a mixture of two aphorisms, idioms, or clichés (such as "We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it"). Another name for the term is “an idiom blend.” These are from Atkins Bookshelf.

• A loose tongue spoils the broth.
• Don’t judge a book before it’s hatched.
• Every cloud has a silver spoon in its mouth.
• From now on, I’m watching everything you do with a fine-tuned comb.
• He is a little green behind the ears.
• He received a decease and desist order.
• He was watching me like I was a hawk.
• He’s a wolf in cheap clothing.
• He’s burning the midnight oil from both ends.
• He’s like a duck out of water.
• I can read him like the back of my book.
• I have a lot of black sheep in my closet.
• I hope he gets his curve ball straightened out.
• I shot the wind out of his saddle.
• It sticks out like a sore throat.
• It will be a walk in the cake.
• It’s all moth-eared.
• It’s as easy as falling off a piece of cake.
• It’s like looking for a needle in a hayride.
• It’s time to grab the bull by the tail and look him in the eye.
• It’s time to step up to the plate and lay your cards on the table.
• I wouldn’t be caught dead there with a ten-foot pole.
• I wouldn’t eat that with a ten-foot pole.
• I’ll get it by hook or ladder.
• People are dying like hotcakes.
• Take a flying hike.
• That train has left the frying pan.
• The crutch of the matter.
• The fan is gonna hit the roof.
• These hemorrhoids are a real pain in the neck.
• They’re diabolically opposed.
• Until the cows come home to roost.
• Until the pigs freeze over.
• We could stand here and talk until the cows turn blue.
• We have to get all our ducks on the same page.
• You can’t change the spots on an old dog.
• You can’t teach a leopard new spots.
• You can’t go in there cold turkey with egg on your face.
• You could have knocked me over with a fender.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Dear Editrix,

I was talking to someone today and got a little confused. When do I used nobody, and when do I use no one? And what about anybody and anyone? Please shed some light on this!

Excellent questions, my dear reader. Let’s start with the easier set of words: nobody and no one. Nobody and no one are singular pronouns, and they mean “not any person.” You can use them both the same way. Here are some examples:

• Nobody wanted to volunteer for cleanup duty.
• No one offered to walk Barnaby’s dog, Sasquatch, because Sasquatch is an out-of-control St. Bernard.
• Nobody knew the secret ingredient to Señor Kiki’s guacamole.

If you hear somebody say, “There’s no body in the casket!” well, that’s not a pronoun, that’s a disaster.

Now for anybody, anyone, and any one. These words represent different parts of speech, so I’ll go through them in two groups.

Anybody and anyone mean “any person.” They are both pronouns, just as nobody and no one are. They are also fairly interchangeable, as you can see in my examples:

• Pink Floyd asked, “Is there anybody out there?”
• The power was out when J Fuzz walked into the house and asked, “Is anyone home?” Mr. Kittles meowed, happy to see his dad’s outline in the dark.
• Do you know anyone who performs alterations? I need my ball gown sewn up.

Now for the standout: any one. Forget about pronouns, these two words together are referred to as an adjectival phrase. You cannot use this in place of anyone or anybody. Any one means “any single member of a group.” For example:

• Have any one of you ever eaten haggis? How about vegetarian haggis?
• Would any one of your grandparents like to go to Wonkaville with you?

And if that’s not enough, five years ago I put this together, with some similar topics: Everyone.

(It’s June gloom in San Diego, so I’m adding some summer here.)

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Dear Editrix,

I was talking to someone today and got a little confused. When do I used nobody, and when do I use no one? And what about anybody and anyone? Please shed some light on this!

Excellent questions, my dear reader. Let’s start with the easier set of words: nobody and no one. Nobody and no one are singular pronouns, and they mean “not any person.” You can use them both the same way. Here are some examples:

• Nobody wanted to volunteer for cleanup duty.
• No one offered to walk Barnaby’s dog, Sasquatch, because Sasquatch is an out-of-control St. Bernard.
• Nobody knew the secret ingredient to Señor Kiki’s guacamole.

If you hear somebody say, “There’s no body in the casket!” well, that’s not a pronoun, that’s a disaster.

Now for anybody, anyone, and any one. These words represent different parts of speech, so I’ll go through them in two groups.

Anybody and anyone mean “any person.” They are both pronouns, just as nobody and no one are. They are also fairly interchangeable, as you can see in my examples:

• Pink Floyd asked, “Is there anybody out there?”
• The power was out when J Fuzz walked into the house and asked, “Is anyone home?” Mr. Kittles meowed, happy to see his dad’s outline in the dark.
• Do you know anyone who performs alterations? I need my ball gown sewn up.

Now for the standout: any one. Forget about pronouns, these two words together are referred to as an adjectival phrase. You cannot use this in place of anyone or anybody. Any one means “any single member of a group.” For example:

• Have any one of you ever eaten haggis? How about vegetarian haggis?
• Would any one of your grandparents like to go to Wonkaville with you?

And if that’s not enough, five years ago I put this together, with some similar topics: Everyone.

(It’s June gloom in San Diego, so I’m adding some summer here.)

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

With all the recent chatter about AI, I was wondering, “What can AI do for me?” I needed ideas and inspiration for Editor’s Corner. I have a couple of questions from readers, which I’ll get to soon, but today I asked AI to provide me with 100 terms with surprising backgrounds and etymologies.

Copilot® choked. I thought I broke it, but about five minutes after I typed my question and said “please,” I got my list. It was not 100 words—it was about 25 words repeated four times. Thanks, AI!

I recognized several of the words from other lists I’d seen. But then I saw “gargoyle,” and it won my heart. Here are a few of the words and their etymologies. As soon as I had my list, I did my due diligence and verified the words at the Online Etymology Dictionary.

Enjoy!

gargoyle (n.)

"grotesque carved waterspout," connected to the gutter of a building to throw down water clear of the wall… "carved mouth of a rain spout, a gargoyle," from Old French gargole, gargoule "throat;" also "carved downspout," in the form of a serpent or some other fanciful shape, also from Medieval Latin gargola, gargulio (see gargle (v.)).

Two gargoyles from Notre Dame.

nightmare (n.)

c. 1300, "an evil female spirit afflicting men (or horses) in their sleep with a feeling of suffocation," "goblin that causes nightmares, incubus." The meaning shifted mid-16c. from the incubus to the suffocating sensation it causes. Sense of "any bad dream" is recorded by 1829; that of "very distressing experience" is from 1831.

[KC – I don’t love that nightmares were originally from evil
females afflicting men, but I do love that these spirits also inflicted
horses. Who on earth decided that? I understand that dogs might have nightmares, but I’ve never seen a horse sleeping, so I cannot confirm or deny that statement.]

alibi (n.)

1743, "a plea of having been elsewhere when an action took place," from Latin alibi (adv.) "elsewhere, somewhere else."

disaster (n.)

"anything that befalls of ruinous or distressing nature; any unfortunate event," especially a sudden or great misfortune, 1590s, from French désastre (1560s), from Italian disastro, literally "ill-starred," from dis-, here merely pejorative, equivalent to English mis- "ill" + astro "star, planet," from Latin astrum, from Greek astron "star".

The sense is astrological, of a calamity blamed on an unfavorable position of a planet, and "star" here is probably meant in the astrological sense of "destiny, fortune, fate." Compare Medieval Latin astrum sinistrum "misfortune," literally "unlucky star," and English ill-starred.

Hmm. Unlucky stars and nightmares. What is on AI’s “mind”? I think I’ll stick with my own ideas and imagination and see what comes my way.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

It’s almost summer, people!

I knew it was going to be an exciting season when I looked out the window the other day and saw three hummingbirds, a woodpecker, and a giant tortoise! At first, I thought the tortoise was Franklin, from down the street, but Franklin is bigger.

I later found out that our visitor is named Ulysses, and he’s looking for love in all the wrong places, as he goes through puberty. I also quickly read up on what they like to eat, and gave him some dandelion greens, carrots, kale, and a piece of chocolate. No! I’m kidding about that, but he chowed down on the salad makings and I led him back to his house after all the neighbors came to see him.

This has nothing to do with words, definitions, lessons, or grammar, though. But looking at the photo of the “mother-in-law” plant he knocked over and trampled, I am reminded of some plants that say “summer” to me. Here are a few of them and their etymologies for you! (Thanks to Merriam-Webster, though the flower photos are from searching the internet.)

Tulip

The name of the cup-shaped tulip comes from the Turkish word tülbent which means "turban." The flower got its name from the resemblance of its overlapping petals to the folds of fabric in a turban, a headdress worn chiefly in countries of the eastern Mediterranean and southern Asia.

Hydrangea

The hydrangea, a popular flowering shrub, gets its name not from the shape of its flowers or leaves, but from the shape of its seed pods: from Greek hydr- meaning "water" and angeîon meaning "vessel, container," the name refers to the cup-like capsules that hold its seeds.

Dandelion

Though widely considered a pesky weed, the name dandelion has a majestic meaning: it comes from Anglo-French dent de lion which literally means "lion’s tooth" because of its sharply indented leaves. [KC – I happen to know a tortoise who would be glad to help you if you have any problems with these weeds!]

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/