Voilà  is the French-derived interjection meaning, literally, look there. In English, it’s often used to call attention to a novel result or to something just completed. [Read more...]

The French loanword sans is a breezy (some might say pretentious) word for without. Careful writers who value simple and unaffected prose are likely to use without instead of sans, but sans isn’t wrong. Though it’s originally French, it has a long history of  use in English.  [Read more...]

For the noun meaning a brief account of one’s professional or work experience and qualifications, most English usage authorities recommend résumé, with the French accent aigu on both e‘s. This is good advice, but our guess is that the accented résumé is doomed to fade out of English sooner or later, and eventually we will have to use context to distinguish between this word and the verb resume. [Read more...]

The French loanword fait accompli translates literally to accomplished fact. In English, it’s a noun phrase meaning something that has been accomplished and cannot now be changed. Although it can refer to facts or conclusions, it’s usually used in reference to deeds. A fait accompli is irreversible. [Read more...]

In modern English, the Latin loanword ad nauseam—originally meaning, literally, to sickness—is an adverb meaning to a disgusting or ridiculous degree. It usually applies to an action being repeated so many times that one gets literally or figuratively sick of it. Be careful not to spell it ad nauseum. [Read more...]

The Latin loan phrase status quo, meaning literally the state in which, is used in English to mean the existing condition or state of affairs. The phrase usually serves as a noun, but it can also function as a phrasal adjective preceding a noun. [Read more...]

The Latin loan phrase ad hominem, meaning, literally, to the person, is short for argumentatum ad hominem, a logical fallacy in which one ignores the merits of an opponent’s argument and instead attacks the opponent’s personality or character. [Read more...]

The Latin loan phrase per diem, literally meaning per day, is used in English to mean by the day, per day, reckoned on a daily basis, or paid by the day. Although per diem is useful as a phrasal adjective preceding a noun, it usually bears replacement with English alternatives like a day or daily. [Read more...]