LETTER: English language evolves in ‘delightful’ (and less delightful) ways
Published 7:00 am Saturday, April 4, 2026
Our English language is wonderfully flexible and constantly changing with the times. We don’t use laws to hold it steady, or to outlaw changes, as is done by other languages. Some recent examples of these delightful changes that I hear and read:
• Off-ramp is not restricted to freeways but has come to mean a way to end the war in the Middle East, as governments are now looking for an off-ramp.
• Runway is not restricted to airports but has come to mean a way forward with any project, such as “we have a clear runway for this project.”
• Guardrails are not limited to personal safety but have come to mean safety margins for any project to keep it from going sideways.
• Rough Seas is not strictly nautical but refers to problems being experienced with any endeavour.
• Silos are not just feed-storage but refer to a project with several aspects that are completely independent of the other aspects.
• Headwinds are not just bad for ships and planes but mean problems that slow any project.
• Gaslighting has nothing to do with old-fashioned street lamps but has come to mean a form of psychological abuse.
• On-boarding is not loading passengers onto a ship but means the extensive training of a new employee or participant.
• Ghosting has come to mean not getting a response when reaching out to someone.
• Detoxing is no longer diet-related but refers to taking a break from all digital media, phone, and laptop.
• Influencer is an online leader who sways opinion; and I recently heard the term “petfluencer.”
However, don’t get me started with the way that texting and social media have ruined spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. There ought to be a law!
Curt Jantzen, Delta