About Rob Kyff

Rob Kyff

Rob Kyff

Rob Kyff is the language columnist for the Hartford Courant, as well as a teacher, editor and writer. His column  appears regularly in several newspapers across the country.

A native of Armonk, N.Y., Kyff earned a BA at Amherst College and an MA in American Studies at the University of Minnesota. In Minneapolis, he served as director of public information for a social-service agency and edited the employee magazine for a national retail chain.

He has taught English and history at Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford since 1977 and also served as the school's director of public affairs, editor of its alumni magazine and advisor to the student newspaper.

His essays have appeared in many newspapers, including the Washington Post,

Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe and Baltimore Sun, and his articles have appeared in Reader's Digest,American History and Northeast. He contributed to

Speaking Freely -- A guided Tour of American English from Plymouth Rock to Silicon Valley, published by Oxford University Press in 1997.

He has published two books: Word Up! - A Lively Look at English (Writers Club Press, 2000) and Once Upon a Word - True Tales of Word Origins (Tapestry Press, 2003).

He lives in West Hartford, Conn., with his family.

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Reviewing the Jive of Two-Oh-Two-Five Dec 17, 2025

Our language this year was hardly a heaven; In parlance of teens, it was 'no cap' '6-7.' Cliches were prolific; here are just a few: We 'joined conversations,' and 'narratives' spewed Of 'finding our spaces' and 'journeys' 'transcendent' While viewin... Read More

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Murder on the 'Orientate' Express Dec 10, 2025

Q: Is "orientate" a valid word? I always thought it was just "orient," but I hear people say things like "I have to orientate myself." - A. LaCroix, New Britain, Conn. A: "Orientate," which first appeared in English around 1850, is a needless variant... Read More

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It's a 'Word'-erful Life Dec 03, 2025

Many of us enjoy Frank Capra's classic film "It's a Wonderful Life" each holiday season. But we sometimes overlook the delight and emotional punch provided by its nifty nomenclature, clever wordplay and surprisingly harsh language. Did you know that ... Read More

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When Words End in 'O,' Their Plurals Spell Woe Nov 26, 2025

When Vice President Dan Quayle "corrected" a student's spelling of "potato" to "potatoe" back in 1992, people laughed. But some of us might have trouble spelling its plural form. Is it "potatos" or "potatoes"? Here's a "simple and handy rule": A noun... Read More