The words and phrases of an economic downturn fill our newspaper and Web site these days. One such phrase prompted a reader to write that we were "butchering" the language.

Take a look at some of the top words for 2008.

As President-elect Barack Obama and his staff prepare for the new administration, the word "vet" has come up often in news reports.

I ran across the word "doorstepped" in a story about a British
journalist today. I didn't understand what it meant even in context. So I looked it up.

Oxford University researchers have released a top 10 list of irritating phrases. The link is to a British newspaper story that uses "comprises" correctly, by the way.

One word that makes me cringe lately is "enormity." Television journalists speak of the "enormity" of President-elect Barack Obama's tasks once he is inaugurated. I suppose usage is changing, but I still think "enormity" refers to great wickedness, not to great size or importance.

Do the words hornswoggle, mollycoddle and whippersnapper make you giggle? They are among the 100 Funniest Words in English, according to one list. I am partial to No. 71: namby-pamby. I especially like how William Shatner sneers it in a Priceline commercial. Some words that aren't on that list but are suggested on a list at Inherently Funny: conniption, persnickety and poppycock. Do you have other suggestions?

AlphaDictionary also has a list of the 100 Most Beautiful Words in English. Loquacious, peccadillo and serendipity are on that list. Here is another list of beautiful words, and here is a list of 70 of the most beautiful words as determined by a survey. What do you think are the most beautiful words in English?

A new book examines the words and terms that English has borrowed from other languages.