Profile avatar
janfreeman.bsky.social
Mostly retired editor/writer/Boston Globe language columnist; author of centenary edition of Ambrose Bierce's "Write It Right" (Walker, 2009), whose subtitle is too long for this space. Not the Massachusetts poet who shares my name.
407 posts 407 followers 139 following
Getting Started
Active Commenter
Posts 8 Comments 42

Just learned that LifeStance, private equity owner of my therapist's group, wants a $70 penalty because I called to reschedule an appt. only 47 hours and 47 minutes in advance, not a full 48 hours. Mass. health care is already in crisis thanks to owners who bled Steward dry. When will we learn?

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

This is what I need to see first thing every day, just to keep my spirits up.

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

Wow, an actual earthquake here in Boston! Takes me (way) back to my Southern California years…

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

A rare sight: Once upon a time, there was skating every winter on this little bit of the Charles River (and on longer sections of the river, too, according to local lore). But in the 20 years we've lived in the neighborhood, the number of skateable days has steadily dwindled.

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments

Aiming this at @fritinancy.bsky.social because her word mavenry includes fashion mavenry, but would welcome all answers: What is the point of drop(ped) shoulders, i.e. sleeves with the shoulder seam placed several inches down the arm? Does it save money, and if so how (vs., say, raglan sleeves)?

submitted 50 days ago • 1 comment

From today's comics, a good prompt for an editorial New Year's resolution: Don't fall for the notion that you have to use "fewer" (instead of "less") any time you spot a number in the neighborhood. It depends on what the number is doing there, and "10 items or less" is perfectly good English.

submitted 52 days ago • 1 comment

Out shopping the other day, I was greeted for the first time (and second, and third) with "Welcome in!" I asked a saleswoman how long she'd been using it, and she said maybe 10 years. Apparently it's in pockets all over the US, & sometimes employer mandated. A blend of "welcome" and "come in"?

submitted 60 days ago • 1 comment

"Covering about two-thirds of the ring makes an asymmetrical wreath look modern, not unfinished." 🤨

submitted 64 days ago • 2 comments