Every once in a while I stumble on an interesting collective noun, usually for animals: a parliament of owls, a knot of toads, an exaltation of larks. I have heard an "awkward" suggested as an ...

The phrase “a murder of crows” has survived more than five centuries of English usage, tracing back to a printed book from ...

Why is Christian Science in our name? Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and we’ve always been transparent about that. The church publishes the ...

I’m mystified by the origin of animal groups’ names, like a murder of crows or a congregation of alligators. I am not looking for a complex, scientific reason. I understand the classification of ...

Sign up for the daily CJR newsletter. Half a dozen graceful giraffe crossed in front of the safari vehicle. “That’s a kaleidoscope of giraffe,” the safari ...