Friday, August 21, 2020

5 Reasons Why You Should Read Album Liner Notes

5 Reasons Why You Should Read Album Liner Notes I love reading album liner notes. You know, the fine print on the inner sleeve of a vinyl record or inside the booklet that comes with the CD. I love liner notes because they contain information about musicians and bands that is rarely found in biographies or magazines. Here are five reasons why you should read album liner notes. 1) The Thank You List Almost all album liner notes contain lists where the musicians thank those who have been important to the making of the album or people who have supported them in their careers. Here you will find parents, significant others, friends, producers, and record company staff. When I started reading album liner notes in high school, a person who was often thanked on the albums I bought was business manager extraordinaire Sharon Osbourne, today perhaps best known to the general public as co-host of CBS’s The Talk. Then there are musicians like Jack White who on his latest solo album Lazaretto has taken the thank you list to a whole other level. Covering two entire pages of the CD booklet, White’s list includes everyone and everything from God and his children to bricks, plaster, unforeseen enemies, and John C. Reilly. 2) Discover Unknown Talents Liner notes reveal information about the talents of musicians in a way rarely addressed in interviews. In the liner notes to Muse’s album The Resistance, I was surprised to find that not only is singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy the main songwriter, he is also responsible for the orchestral arrangements, as well as being the one playing Fredric Chopin’s Nocturne in E flat major so beautifully at the end of the song “United States of Eurasia.” 3) Learn New Things The album cover of Muse’s album The 2nd Law features an amazing image. When I first saw it, I thought I was looking at a fiber optics cable. In the liner notes, I learned that the image is a neuron in the human brain, photographed by the Human Connectome Project at UCLA. And what does the album title allude to? The Second Law of Thermodynamics, of course. This law is explained in one of the song lyrics. Speaking of album covers, it was only through reading the liner notes to Leonard Cohen’s album Various Positions that I found out that the album cover is a Polaroid photograph that Cohen took of himself. 4) The Personal Tributes Alice in Chains is a band that has seen two of its founding members succumb to drug abuse. If you read the liner notes to their latest album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, interspersed among the lyrics you will find the birth dates of all current and past members in a subtle and touching tribute to those who are no longer with the band. 5) The Essays Liner notes can also contain essays written by someone who knew the musicians when the music on the album was recorded. One such essay is found in the liner notes of the album Live in Japan by Sleepy John Estes with Hammie Nixon. Written by Steve Tomashefsky, the essay tells the entertaining story of two elderly blues men traveling to Japan for a tour, only to realize that they forgot all their chewing tobacco in the States. The essay also tells the story of how Sleepy John Estes signed the touring contract with an X, never having learned how to write. And how Tomashefsky was the one who paid for Sleepy John Estes’ funeral in 1977. At the time of his death, Tomashefsky tells us in his essay, the legendary blues musician didn’t have enough money for his own remains to be buried.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Understanding White Supremacy

Historically, white supremacy has been understood as the belief that white people are superior to people of color. As such, white supremacy was the ideological driver of the European colonial projects and U.S. imperial projects: it was used to  rationalize unjust rule of people and lands, theft of land and resources, enslavement, and genocide. During these early periods and practices, white supremacy was backed by misguided scientific studies of physical differences on the basis of race and was also believed to take intellectual and cultural form. White Supremacy in US History The system of white supremacy was brought to the Americas by European colonists and took firm root in early U.S. society through the genocide, enslavement, and internal colonization of indigenous populations, and the enslavement of Africans and their descendants. The system of slavery in the U.S., the Black Codes that limited rights among newly freed blacks that were instituted following emancipation, and the Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation and also limited rights combined to make the U.S. a legalized white supremacist society through the late-1960s. During this period the Ku Klux Klan became a well-known symbol of white supremacy, as have other major historical actors and events, like the Nazis and the Jewish Holocaust, the apartheid regime of South Africa, and Neo-Nazi and white power groups today. As a result of the notoriety of these groups, events, and time periods, many people think of white supremacy as an overtly hateful and violent attitude toward people of color, which is considered a problem mostly buried in the past. But as the recent racist murder of nine Black people at Emanuel AME church has made clear, the hateful and violent breed of white supremacy is still very much a part of our present. Yet, it is important to recognize that white supremacy today is a multifaceted system that manifests in myriad ways, many not overtly hateful nor violent—in fact often quite subtle and unseen. This is the case today because U.S. society was founded, organized, and developed in a white supremacist context. White supremacy and the many forms of racism it employs is infused into our social structure, our institutions, our worldviews, beliefs, knowledge, and ways of interacting with each other. Its even encoded into some of our holidays, like Columbus Day, which celebrates a racist perpetrator of genocide. Structural Racism and White Supremacy The white supremacy of our society is evident in the fact that whites maintain a structural advantage over people of color in nearly every aspect of life. White people maintain an educational advantage, an income advantage, a wealth advantage, and a political advantage. White supremacy is also evident in the way communities of color are systematically over-policed (in terms of unjust harassment and unlawful arrest and brutalization), and under-policed (in terms of police failing to serve and protect); and in the way that experiencing racism takes a societal-wide negative toll on the life expectancy of Black people. These trends and the white supremacy they express are fueled by the false belief that society is fair and just, that success is the result of hard work alone, and an overall denial of the many privileges that whites in the U.S. have relative to others. Further, these structural trends are fostered by the white supremacy that lives within us, though we may be wholly unaware that it is there. Both conscious and subconscious white supremacist beliefs are visible in social patterns that show, for instance, that university professors give more attention to potential students who are white; that many people regardless of race believe that lighter skinned Black people are smarter than those with dark skin; and that teachers punish Black students more harshly for the same or even lesser offenses committed by white students. So while white supremacy might look and sound different than it has in centuries past, and may be experienced differently by people of color, it is very much a twenty-first-century phenomenon that must be addressed through critical self-reflection, the rejection of white privilege, and anti-racist activism. Further Reading For detailed and riveting historical accounts of how white supremacy was wielded in pursuit of economic, political, cultural, and social domination by Europeans from the 1500s on, see  The World is a Ghetto  by sociologist Howard Winant, and  Orientalism  by postcolonial theorist  Edward Said.For information on how white supremacy historically affected indigenous populations, Mexicans and Mexican Americans, as well as immigrants from Asia, see sociologist Tomà ¡s Almaguers book  Racial Fault Lines:  The Historical Origins of White Supremacy in California.Sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva investigates this phenomenon at length in his book  White Supremacy and Racism in the Post-Civil Rights Era

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Marketing - 4467 Words

The marketing strategy comparison between HM (in UK )and Metersbonwe company CHENG YI PSB Academy Abstract Clothing brand chain has been a trend over the world, which has gained much profit for the clothing retailers, such as HM, ZARA, CA and so on. They are very good at using their special marketing strategies to manage their brands. While in China, there are many brands try to use this manage model, whereas, they are still inexperienced, whose marketing strategies should be improved. So it is worthy to study. This paper introduces what marketing strategy is, and how important it is. It uses an international brand-HM in UK and a Chines local brand Metersbonwe for example, by comparing their marketing strategies†¦show more content†¦Today, there are 3,000 franchised stores locate all over China. In 2008, the total sale of it is 7 billion RMB, which ranking first among all the local and international casual wear brands in domestic market. Over 8,000 new designs of styles will be sold in every market annually by the Metersbonwe internationalized design team. Meanwhile, there are mo re than 10 thousand employees working in this company nowadays. Purpose and Scope The purpose of this article is that to study the marketing strategies of international clothing brand chains (use HM in UK for example) and find out why they are successful then give suggestions to Chinese clothing chain stores (Metersbonwe) to expand in of UK. From this article, I want to find out: Why is HM successful? What type of clothes do HM and Metersbonwe sell? What are the pricings of HM and Metersbonwe’s clothes? Where do they sell their products? How do they promote their goods? What kind of strategies can be used to help Metersbonwe expand its aboard business? Comparison between HM and Metersbonwe Product Strategy HM company (in UK). HM Company has a clear understanding of their product philosophy, which decides their product strategy directly. â€Å"Fashion and quality at the best price† has been their philosophy from they established, so the style ofShow MoreRelatedMarketing Analysis : Marketing And Marketing966 Words   |  4 Pagesreflect back over these last five weeks I now have a clearer view of marketing and how it affects not just the consumers of the world and the companies with their marketing managers, but how it affects me. Yes, I am a consumer who clips coupons, budgets my finances, and looks for sale items and this marketing class has taught me that marketing is more than selling or advertising. Marketing managers have a difficult job, as marketing involves identifying, meeting and satisfying the needs of customersRead MoreMarketing Analysis : Marketing And Marketing1486 Words   |  6 Pagesthis day and age, marketing plays a pivotal role in the business environment. 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Product orientation still be used by some senior executives and thisRead MoreMarketing : Marketing And Relationship Marketing Essay1359 Words   |  6 PagesIntegrating Marketing With the shift in the external marketing environments, Apple has also shifted its marketing strategy. It personalizes marketing through experiential marketing and relationship marketing. â€Å"Experiential marketing promotes a product by not only communicating a product’s features and benefits but also connecting it with unique and interesting consumer experiences† (Strategic Brand Management, P. 181). Customers can easily experience a sense of community every time they walk in intoRead MoreMarketing Analysis : Marketing And Marketing1770 Words   |  8 PagesWhat is Marketing? A plethora of individuals seem to be misinformed about marketing. Several of these individuals believe that marketing is just advertising. Others will tell you that marketing is all about sales, insinuating that all marketers are just salesmen. Now these beliefs are both right and wrong. â€Å"How can they both be right and wrong at the same time?† you may be asking yourself. Well they are right, because marketing encompasses both advertising and sales. They are both wrong by assumingRead MoreMarketing Mix Of Marketing And Marketing1001 Words   |  5 PagesIn The cutting edge world of marketing dated back in the late 1950s, the four Ps were called the marketing mix, meaning that a marketing plan is a mix of four components. A company who has adopted 4P approach focuses on product, whereas company who has adopted the value approach focuses on value to the consumer. One of other marketing mix is the Value approach. This approach concentrates on delivering value to the consumers or customers, the 4Ps approach is evidently concentrated not on customersRead MoreMarketing Analysis : Marketing And Marketing1878 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Marketing research is the process that associates the consumers, customers, and end users to the marketer through information — information used to classify and describe marketing prospects and problems; generate, refine, and evaluate marketing actions; monitor marketing performance; and development understanding of marketing as a process. Marketing research identifies the information required to address these issues, designs the method for collecting information, manages and implements

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Dirty Facts About Media Essay Topics Exposed

Dirty Facts About Media Essay Topics Exposed Social networking is continually becoming an intriguing topic as a result of development and application of social networking sites by individuals globally. Celebrity endorsements on social media are always regarded as a great means to boost business appeal to a specific clientele. Social networking sites like Facebook is currently becoming the major resource for sharing news and updates. There are many different social networking sites it can be tough to discern the difference between them. Getting the Best Media Essay Topics Moral argumentative essay topics are a few of the simplest to get carried away with. The last region of the essay is the conclusion. Any superior essay needs a personal opinion. An argumentative essay requires you to choose a topic and have a position on it. In order to get a great customized media analysis essay, one ought to be utterly sure about perfect professional skills of the very best essay writers. So before writing your essay on social networking, determine which type of essay you're supposed to write, due to the subject of the essay can differ. There are a few critical things you want to know to be able to write up an outstanding essay. You don't need to find super technical with legal argumentative essays, but remember to do your homework on what the recent laws about your favorite topic actually say. Media Essay Topics Fundamentals Explained Expository or informative essay will ask you to supply an explanation of the specific notion of media. You may always ask expert essay writers to assist you. Satirical essay ideas might also be the cause of particular parallels with the nowadays situation. The same as professional creative writers for hire, it's necessary for you to brainstorm interesting and inspiring tips for y our essay to turn into interesting and distinctive. If you would like to ease your tension of looking for hours and hours for easy essays topic selection then you've reached at the appropriate place. Communication technology essay topics may include a variety of ideas. It is extremely important to have pauses. Naturally, it's possible to write of both sides, yet make sure opinion is clear. When you're picking your topic, bear in mind that it's much simpler to write about something which you currently have interest ineven in case you don't know a great deal about it. It's well-known that topic of on-line networking is full of cliches and it isn't hard to get trapped when quoting someone or repeating well-known facts. Because, like every type of writing, picking a topic that will be problematic that you develop will leave you stuck and frustrated. Social networking essays are hard to define since they are as complex as they are simple. To write a great media analysis essay doesn't mean to paraphrase information. Primarily, you must choose a topic from a selection of social media research paper topics. As stated earlier, media is an extensive concept which takes a particular topic to be debated in the media essay so you ought to be really careful when handling the topic selection practice. The Appeal of Media Essay Topics Social Media, like everything else on the planet, is certain to evolve in the next few years. Argue that public higher education has to be free for everybody. Media Essay Topics - Is it a Scam? As you wish to develop an exceptional topic or idea, you might feel stuck or make sure that what you already wrote is good enough. You must find a golden middle that means an intriguing topic with a fantastic potential for research. When picking your social problems topic, bear in mind that it's always far better to write about something you're already more or less acquainted with. The Debate Over Media Essay Topics When you compos e a social issue essay, it is crucial to clearly show your private view of the issue. It's important to select debatable argumentative essay topics since you need opposing points that you could counter to your own points. To begin with, your essay is supposed to deal with a particular social, psychological or anthropological matter. Especially, it's important that we understand and regulate using social networking by young children. Now days a one may use the social media and receive any type of data which he or she requires. Social media has far reaching effect on the youth, since they are the people who are most active on social media sites. Over the years they has become more welcome in schools. The Media Essay Topics Cover Up Social networking is widely utilized to make awareness for causes which are important for the society. They has become a massive part of our social interaction. They has created a gap between the generations. They has revolutionized many aspects of the modern world. This essay examines the effects of social networking at various levels on individuals and society. Although the majority of them hold master's and PhD degrees in several fields of study, they take various trainings and seminars in order to better their professional skills. The issues also have issues that exist around the world concerning gender. The ability of social media is rather high and has its effects on each and every person. All the main discussions about the Arab Spring took place on social networking platforms, and it played an important part in spreading the message outside the Arab countries. You still must compose a mass media essayand you must begin on it pretty soon in case you need to have it done before the deadline! Aggressive young folks utilize social media to enhance their status in school and other institutions. The Start of Media Essay Topics The reader ought to be impressed by the manner in which you defend your ideas. As a consequence, there are various suggestions to pick from, based on style of writing. Today, a great deal of individuals are using social media like Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler and so forth. The technology has also altered the way we communicate with different individuals.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Red-letter day free essay sample

It is widely noted that lots of traditional culture is disappearing along with the development of technology. The new generation of Chinese are not as well-mannered as their forefathers, and Western festivals are exerting a negative influence on traditional Chinese ones. Many ancient architectures and traditional ways of living have been deserted. It seems that the traditional culture and craftsmanship will be replaced in this modern era. The following reasons can account for the above phenomenon. Firstly, traditional technologies are always considered ineffective while the new sciences are always highly efficient, because modern science and technology facilitate both our daily and academic life a lot, with which we can save much money and time. Secondly, we can’t neglect the negative effects of globalization it has on culture and society. In this globalized world, cities are becoming clones of each other, and people are converging into fake stereotypes; gone are the unique cities that carry so much history and culture in every corner. We will write a custom essay sample on Red-letter day or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lost are the enriching cultural differences and specificities that make a society uniquely what it is. Morocco looks like Spain,London looks like Paris, which looks like Madrid. Restaurants serving this or that country’s traditional food are drowned out by the huge fast food chains. Beautiful traditional clothing is lost between the new bulk-made looks created by the big brands, people look alike, eat alike and dress alike whether they’re in New York, New Delhi or Morocco. Thirdly, it is costly to protect the traditional culture, especially the maintenance and repair of the historical buildings. In my opinion, traditional culture show where we came from and help us to understand ourselves better. In a recent TED talk a marine scientist brought out that people have a hard time looking at the past. He used pictures to show how big trophy fish were a few decades ago. And how people in general dont like to look back because it will make them face the reality of today. Many cultural traditions enrich our lives, and while some traditions might have been detrimental and have been done away with, others are beautiful and deserve to be practiced and preserved for future generations to enjoy. Human culture and traditions are subject to change as they are passed down the generations its like an inter-generational game of Chinese whispers. Some traditions that are inhumane, discriminatory or environmentally damaging should be allowed to die out, but many traditional arts and craft, folk tales and histories, environmental protection and survival techniques should be preserved as a valued aspect of human development as a link to our past and as the pointer to our future. The preservation of knowledge is never a waste. As oil runs out we may need to revert to some of our old ways to survive. Although traditional culture is an ancient heritage, it couldnt keep pace with the development of society. It is the tide of history that the traditional culture and technology will no doubt be eliminated in the end. In older anthropology textbooks, culture was identified with the products that a particular society produced: not just material artifacts, but also institutions, beliefs, concepts, values, and guidelines for behavior. All these translate into an observable pattern of behavior. In the old definition, a culture was the sum total of all these things. The behavior of people, along with everything that they produced: shrines, food, housing, burial rituals, and so forth, while taking account of the intricate network of relationships between all these cultural products. The new generation of Chinese are not as well-mannered as their forefathers, and Western festivals are exerting a negative influence on traditional Chinese ones Human culture and traditions are subject to change as they are passed down the generations its like an inter-generational game of Chinese whispers. Some traditions that are inhumane, discriminatory or environmentally damaging should be allowed to die out, but many traditional arts and craft, folk tales and histories, environmental protection and survival techniques should be preserved as a valued aspect of human development as a link to our past and as the pointer to our future. The preservation of knowledge is never a waste. As oil runs out we may need to revert to some of our old ways to survive.

Friday, April 3, 2020

Tolkiens Middle Earth Essay Example For Students

Tolkiens Middle Earth Essay In a discussion of great literary minds of the twentieth century, there is one name that always stands out. J. R. R. Tolkiens classic story Lord of the Rings is the measuring block by which all other fictional works of the twentieth century are compared. His engrossing characters, beautiful descriptions, and intriguing plot have enraptured generations of avid readers. The most endearing quality of the epic is Tolkiens ingenious use of archetypes, most notably the quest hero. Frodo Baggins possesses all of the qualities of a quest hero: courage, loyalty, and an unwavering sense of duty and responsibility. Frodo possesses loyalty and a willingness to act under the direction of others who may know better than he, even when he doesnt understand what it is he is being asked to do. He agrees to keep the ring in his possession after Bilbo leaves the Shire, he even accepts Gandalfs demand that the never use it, even though he has seen Bilbo do so many times. Frodo even accepts the horrible t ask laid on him by Elrond to bring the ring to Mount Doom deep in the heart of Mordor, the one place that he should fear above all others. I will take the Ring, he said, though I do not know the way (Tolkien 324) Frodo is willing to take this responsibility on himself, he doesnt even realize that he has no idea where to even begin his task.The hobbit is undyingly loyal to his comrades, even when their own minds lead them astray. We will write a custom essay on Tolkiens Middle Earth specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Boromir corners Frodo and proceeds to beg, demand, and then attempt to take the ring from him. Even though Frodo could have given in to Boromir, indeed he even wanted to be rid of his burden, he knew that the ring was his alone to bear, and that it would destroy the proud Boromir if he were to use it. He knows his place in the company, and he is determined to never let his companions down through his own weakness. Frodos strongest quality is his unnaturally strong sense of responsibility. Even when separated from the rest of the company, and with only his faithful friend Sam Gamgee at his side, Frodo presses on, finding a way into Mordor, something no sane person would ever want to do. No matter how desolate his situation became, no matter how hungry, tired and injured he was, Frodo never wavered from his goal. His face was grim set, but resolute. He was filthy, haggard, and pinched with weariness, but he cowered no longer, and his eyes were clear. I purpose to enter Mordor, and I knowno other way. Therefore I shall go this way, I do not ask anyone to go with me. (Tolkien 289)Frodo always swore to finish what he started. Gandalf put the ring into his care, so he believed that the destruction of the ring was his duty. He had to undertake this impossible quest for the good of a world that looked at his race as a joke of a species. Frodos own companion, his dearest friend Sam, eagerly wished for his master to turn away from his dreadful task. Sam begs and pleads with Frodo, does all he can to try and sway his master, always trying wanting to turn Frodo away from Mordor and certain death. But the determined hobbit will not be swayed, Heres the gate, and it looks to me as if thats about as far as we are ever going to get! (Tolkien 288) Still Frodo pressed on, he knew in his heart that he had to complete his quest, no matter the odds against him. .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 , .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .postImageUrl , .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 , .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4:hover , .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4:visited , .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4:active { border:0!important; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4:active , .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4 .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u81c00f95368eb6eebfc56f9e5d9eacb4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Importance of Education to My Life EssayProbably Frodos most heroic quality is his inhuman, or rather, inhobbit courage. Again and again he presses on in the face of danger. Whether under attack by one of the nazgul, the giant spider Shelob, or the obsessed Smeagol, Frodo perseveres. He always manages to defeat or escape from certain death, carrying on his all-important task. Frodos quest changes him in this respect. At the beginning of his journey, Frodo appears as nothing but a scared little hobbit, grateful for Aragorns protection. By the time of his struggle with Gollum on Mount Doom, he feels

Sunday, March 8, 2020

The Quasi-adjective Couple

The Quasi-adjective Couple The Quasi-adjective Couple The Quasi-adjective Couple By Maeve Maddox Many English speakers cringe to hear the following construction: Jack has a couple tickets for the play. Counting myself among the cringers, I prefer the standard construction: Jack has a couple of tickets for the play. I prefer the latter usage because I cant accept couple as an adjective describing tickets. To me the dropped of comes across as slovenly speech. As a noun couple means a union of two. It had its origin as a hunting term for a leash for holding two hounds together. In modern usage it often means a man and woman united by love or marriage. Well, now it can also mean a man and man or a woman and a woman etc. As a verb couple means to tie or fasten together in pairs, or to join or connect in any way. The OED offers two main entries for couple, one as noun and one as a verb. The adjectival use is noted under the noun entry: quasi-adj. a couple more (..), two more (colloq.). All of the OED examples given for this colloquial use of couple are used with the word more: Just you hang on for a couple minutes more a couple more cops to hold them at a decent distance I wonder if I could dictate a couple more letters Its going to be a couple more months..before we decide what to do. The dropping of the of in expressions in which couple is followed by a word other than more is described as a U.S. colloquialism. The spelling coupla is also documented and given an entry as a U.S. colloquial form of couple of. One of the examples is from the writing of English writer Dorothy Sayers: 1934 Nine Tailors III. II. 276 Hed had nothing to eat..for a coupla days. It seems to me that the spelling coupla has a certain merit. At least it sounds like an adjective, whereas a couple tickets just sounds incorrect. Merriam-Webster Unabridged treats couple as a genuine adjective meaning two and gives the examples a couple more oaths and a couple nights ago. If couple in these examples means two, I wonder why the article a would be necessary: a two more oaths; a two nights ago. No amount of carping will alter the fact that the a couple tickets construction is here to stay, but you wont catch me using it. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 English Grammar Rules You Should Know15 Types of DocumentsDealing With A Character's Internal Thoughts