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Pay attention next time you see this hand gesture on the road—it could save you from an accident (or a speeding ticket).

Fall is here, and you’re getting hungry. Feast on this cornucopia of etymologies for seasonal veggies straight from the garden.
John Kelly|
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
Ever wonder how to pronounce that creamy, tangy sauce on your gyro? Turns out, there‘s more than one way.
CaLea Johnson|

Words

Is your new pet’s name on this list?
CaLea Johnson|
Which musicians are a language learner‘s best friend?
CaLea Johnson|
The prying tool's distinctive name may come from its resemblance to a certain bird's beak. (Or not.)
Jake Rossen|
Johnson defined ‘oats’ as “a grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people”—but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the slights, barbs, and quips in his dictionary.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Let’s get to the bottom of the top pronunciation blunders in every state.
CaLea Johnson|
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
From ‘Odder Items’ to ‘Contemporary Kin,’ these terms are technically synonyms of famous TV show titles. How many can you get right?
Ellen Gutoskey|
Where to find them—and how to say them correctly.
Paul Anthony Jones|

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

‘Through thick and thin’ wasn’t always figurative. Here’s how Chaucer and other medieval writers used the phrase.

Names

If you’re looking for baby name inspiration, these titles have a strong sense of place.
CaLea Johnson|
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|

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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