Big Questions Answered, How and Why

Confused as to why ‘will not’ gets shortened to ‘won’t’? Blame Old English.

Most contractions in English are pretty straightforward. Put it together, and shorten it up. But that isn't the case for ‘will not.’

A home on Sesame Street may have been affordable when the show premiered, but that's no longer the case.

Not something a driver wants to see in their rear-view mirror.

A professional dog trainer explains the instinctual reason driving the behavior and offers some expert advice on how to stop your dog from chasing cars.

Library binding is the best way to keep books in circulation.

A very, very specific set of standards can keep books from falling apart. But it's usually too expensive for consumers.

The tradition of giving misbehaving children lumps of coal predates the Santa Claus we know and love today.

Don't worry: It's not because sirens hurt dogs’ sensitive ears.

The literal meaning of ‘sic’ is ‘so’ or ‘thus.’ But the way writers use it is a little more nuanced.

Doesn't the traffic light itself already cover this?

The meaning of the “wait for green” traffic sign is less redundant than it seems.

Olive Garden makes good on its promise of unlimited breadsticks, but the deal does come with some unpublicized caveats.

(It might have something to do with sick days.)

The day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, has a rather sinister label: Black Friday. How did that happen?

The Guinness World Record holder for longest song ever is based on a 16th-century Indian poem.

Holiday tipping can be a little complicated.

You can, but the USPS actually prefers that you don’t. Here’s why.

Before you talk turkey this Thanksgiving, find out what we know about the phrase’s meaning and origins.

Those frilly paper caps on your turkey's legs have been called “turkey frills,” “turkey booties,” and even “turkey panties.” Here’s where they came from.

Dropping that ‘t’ sound is an example of what linguists call glottalization, or replacing a sound with a pause in the vocal cords.

Solariums are nostalgic for many customers, but Wendy's thinks they’re dated.

There’s no doubt about it—rotting food is gross.

The word ‘gross,’ which came to English from French, took on a variety of senses in English related to size. But the ‘gross of today is different from the ‘gross’ of the past thanks to teens.