Euphemisms—tactful words and phrases used in place of less pleasant ones—have been employed as rhetorical and literary devices for centuries. (The word is derived from the Greek for “good-speaking.”) ...

Across cultures, the need to prevent hurt feelings or embarrassment justifiably takes precedence over clarity Short sharp terms make big points clear. But people often prefer to soften their speech ...

People are always social. But not all animals are. Most animals live alone, most of the time. In roughly just 2% of insect species, 9% of birds, and 3% of mammals, animals live in groups. The rest ...

This week’s column deals with a three-part query sent in by a reader: Sir, the title of your column last week was Eve-teasing is a euphemism used only in India (Dec 8). Is it correct to use the ...