Mark Abadi

Recent articles

Shades of gray in grammar rules

Be clear. Omit needless words. Revise and rewrite. To any English student, these aphorisms should be familiar: They’re the commandments inscribed in “The Elements of Style,” the legendary manual that has shaped Americans’ understanding of language for decades. APR 13

Women initiate, like, change

Linguists have long recognized that women are the pioneers of language change. Women typically innovate linguistic changes, like a shift in vowel sounds, and men catch up half a generation later. APR 1

In defense of the Southern drawl, y’all

They’re the words you didn’t learn in English class. Honeyfuggle. Pinkwink. Schnickelfritz. They might sound like gibberish, but you can find them all in the Dictionary of American Regional English, a comprehensive guide to America’s regional and folk speech. FEB 29

Language is not a ‘mental cage’

Why are Greek people fatter than other Europeans? Why are some cultures more frugal than others? Because it’s built into their language. FEB 15

Column: The other benefits of being bilingual

What do you call someone who speaks several languages? Multilingual. What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks one language? American. FEB 1

What’s behind the name game?

We’ve all seen the effect “Twilight” has had on America’s teenage girls. DEC 6

A flurry of ways to say one thing

British singer Kate Bush released her new album Monday, and linguists everywhere held their breath. NOV 29

Voldemort can’t put a Dark Mark on Twitter

The argument that “kids these days” are degrading the English language is a tired one, but that doesn’t stop grown-ups from making it. NOV 10

What is so close, yet so far, Alex?

There were 14 students seated inside. Each shared a common goal: becoming a contestant on the Jeopardy College Championship. OCT 24

A column about, um, you know…

In newspapers across the country, there are two words people say hundreds of times a day yet almost never make it to print.
I’m not talking about vulgarities here. I’m talking about the harmless sounds “um” and “uh.” OCT 13

Winning elections with grammar

We all know politicians craft their messages carefully. As the saying goes, it’s not what you say but how you say it. SEP 27

Your questions on the economy

If there’s one issue on which every American seems to have an opinion, it’s the economy. This week, I’m answering your questions on America’s hottest topic. SEP 15

Column: The true fix to our nation’s woes

As Republican presidential candidates crisscross the country, Americans are asking themselves one question: What do we do with our opening-round Scrabble tiles? SEP 1

Few stores accept only cash

Four cups of yogurt lie abandoned on the top shelf of the freezer. No one has claimed them for three days. No one likely will. The occasion is par for the course at the Yogurt Pump, one of the few downtown Chapel Hill businesses that don’t accept credit cards. JUL 1

Boy Scout Bikers

Sophomore David Hare is spending his summer traversing the United States on a bicycle.

Consider it a twice-in-a-lifetime experience.

Three years after completing the 3,700-mile trek as a 15 year old with his fellow Boy Scouts, Hare is leading a group of local teenagers on the 70-day voyage from Aberdeen, Md., to Anacortes, Wash.
JUN 10

Chapel Hill Town Council considers holding shorter meetings

It wasn’t until 12:30 a.m. — five-and-a-half hours after it began — that last week’s Chapel Hill Town Council meeting adjourned.

But council members weren’t so drained at Monday’s meeting when, at 9:10 p.m., they discussed their final issue of the night: making their meetings shorter.

Seemingly interminable business meetings and public hearings, which begin most Mondays at 7 p.m. but sometimes drag on beyond midnight, could be taking a toll on the town and some of its officials.
APR 27

Emergency services stretched in Orange County

Local officials agree something needs to be done about the county’s emergency response.

As population steadily grows, Orange County Emergency Services doesn’t have the resources or the personnel to keep up with the rising demand for ambulances.

And the problem won’t clear up for at least another year.
APR 19

Chapel Hill sustainable growth committee may disband

The Sustainable Community Visioning task force, the committee assigned to manage Chapel Hill’s growing population, could be in its final days.
APR 12

Assembly of Governments discusses funding for county's EMS

Correction, 12:45 p.m. March 26: Due to editing errors, this story's original headline incorrectly stated that the Assembly of Governments planned to increase funding for the county's EMS department. The assembly discussed the option, but made no decision. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

MAR 26

Chapel Hill duplex fire leaves two dead

Firefighters found two bodies inside a Chapel Hill duplex after responding to a fire Friday night.

The Chapel Hill Fire Department was called at 9:59 p.m. to the blaze at 1819 Legion Road Ext. Five units put out the fire by 10:16 p.m., according to a fire department press release.
MAR 21

Recent posts

Strom buys New York apartment

Bill Strom, the former Chapel Hill Town Council member who resigned midway through his term this summer, purchased an apartment in New York Aug. 5, the (Raleigh) News and Observer reported Friday.

Strom and his wife, Jennifer, bought the Manhattan apartment four days after he resigned for $625,000, according to New York public records.
SEP 21

Herrera resigns from Alderman post

Carrboro mayor pro tem John Herrera, who earlier this summer declined to run for re-election, has resigned. In an e-mail sent to his fellow Board of Aldermen members, Herrera explained how his recent re-marriage will move him to Holly Springs, N.C., requiring his resignation.

SEP 13

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