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A reader recently sent the following question to the “Ask a Question” page of this blog:Msgr. Pope: Why did the Catholic Church recently alter the language of the New American Catholic Bible in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 19 by replacing the word “fornication” with the word “illegal” in regard to marriages impacted by adultery?I want to answer this question. But I would also like to lead by expressing a pet peeve when it comes to the New American Bible and it’s handling of the Greek word πορνείᾳ (porneia). For it is the meaning of  this Greek word that underlies the question of...

Heading the list was the expression 'at the end of the day', which was followed in second place by the phrase 'fairly unique'. The tautological statement "I personally" made third place – an expression that BBC Radio 4 presenter John Humphreys has described as "the linguistic equivalent of having chips with rice." Also making the top 10 is the grammatically incorrect "shouldn't of", instead of "shouldn't have". The phrases appear in a book called Damp Squid, named after the mistake of confusing a squid with a squib, a type of firework. The researchers who compiled the list monitor the use...

In the battle of the sexes, women's magazine editor Cynthia Good said this was a skirmish she had to fight. Across Atlanta they stood, orange signs with black letters that read "Men At Work" or "Men Working Ahead." Sometimes, the signs stood next to women working alongside the men. Good demanded Atlanta officials remove the signs and last week, Atlanta Public Works Commissioner Joe Basista agreed. Score one for gender equality, Good said Wednesday. "They get it," Good said about the city in a telephone interview. Public Works officials are replacing 50 "Men Working" with signs that say "Workers Ahead."...

A pet peeve (or pet hate) is a minor annoyance that can instill great frustration in an individual. The term originated from the word 'peeve.' A 'peeve,' meaning something that is particularly irritating or annoying, is a relatively recent word. Its first printed usage was in 1911. The term is a back formation from a 14th-century word: 'peevish,' meaning ornery or ill-tempered. Pet peeves involve complaints about specific behaviors, rather than general complaining. Pet peeves often involve specific behaviors of someone close such as a spouse or significant other.  These behaviors may include those of disrespect, those involving manners, personal hygiene,...

Dog Killed After Delivering Love Letter Mon Jan 13, 2:30 PM ET By JOHN HALABY, Associated Press Writer AMMAN, Jordan - A Jordanian couple who kept up a secret relationship by using a dog to carry their love letters were revealed when the woman's brother discovered one of the notes, sparking an argument in which the pet was killed. The tale had a bittersweet ending, a friend of the couple reported Monday: The woman's father agreed to let the couple marry. The proposal came in the last letter delivered by the man's 3-year-old German shepherd, Big Joe. "They keep saying,...