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The slang term for our mental health professionals has a rather grim history.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
‘Venomous’ versus ‘poisonous.’ ‘Hominin’ versus ‘hominid.’ Scientific terms can be confusing to non-specialists—so here's how to use them correctly.
Erin McCarthy|
Legal eagles like adding “Esquire” to their letterhead. But does it actually carry any meaning?
Jake Rossen|

Words

If you can decode ’Dwindle Skillet,’ consider yourself a true Disney fan.
Ellen Gutoskey|
It’s time to brush up on your vocabulary.
CaLea Johnson|
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
Nausea and vomiting are the bane of many a pregnant person’s first trimester. And despite the name, the symptoms aren’t just limited to the morning.
Sam Hindman|
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
If you’ve ever Googled any of these words to figure out the difference between them, you are far from alone.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Brushing up on some boring window terminology could mean the difference between life and death. (Seriously.)
Jake Rossen|
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|

Grammar

You know this rule, even if you don’t know you know it.
Michele Debczak|
Lots of languages have distinct plural forms for ‘you.’ Wouldn’t it be useful if English had one too? Spoiler alert: It does. Several, in fact.
Arika Okrent|
From the NASA mistake that made an interplanetary rocket explode to the bible with a very naughty misprint, these typos are an ode to proofreaders.
Jennifer M Wood|

Slang

Cutting down on syllables is just one reason ‘cop’ became synonymous with ‘police officer.’

Names

If you need name inspiration for your own pup, take a cue from pet owners across the country.
CaLea Johnson|
Find out what names Americans were giving their babies in the year 2000, and how they compare to today's most popular names.
Ellen Gutoskey|
These names show up in Disney movies and shows, and they also happen to be some of the most popular baby names today.
CaLea Johnson|
Nickname origins can be tricky—but this one is actually pretty straightforward. (And it doesn't involve pegs.)
Ellen Gutoskey|

Best of Language

It can be shocking to realize that we are able to follow rules that no one ever taught us explicitly.
Arika Okrent|
English, the language of Shakespeare and the internet, is often touted for its flexibility and adaptability. But with great flexibility comes great inconsistenc
Brett Reynolds|
You're going to be astonished how many of these you hopefully already know, but I'm sharing them because many millions of people don't. It's not Aw-ree, for instance, it's ah-wry (awry)
Alvin Ward|
We’re taking Strunk and White and grammarians everywhere to task in the latest episode of The List Show.
mentalfloss .com|

Spelling

From the Vatican’s “Lesus” medal to Beanie Babies to the Civil War coins that declare “shoot him on the spoot.”
Arika Okrent|
English spelling can be frustrating and confusing, but there are things you can do to help make the task of getting it right more manageable.
Editorial Staff|
Would you recoil in terror if spell-check ever stopped working? Fear not: You're in good company.
Mark Mancini|

Pronunciation

If you ask for a “jye-roh” in Greece, prepare to get some funny looks.
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