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Inventor Elijah McCoy is may or may not be "The Real McCoy."

Who Is 'The Real McCoy'?

The popularity of the surname McCoy makes it difficult to pinpoint one origin on the phrase, but here are the leading theories.

The Netherlands Is Asking the World Not to Call It “Holland” Anymore—Here’s Why

It’s part of a tourism campaign to take the heat off clogged vacation spots like Amsterdam and other popular cities.

One Word You Should Never Use In a Conversation

Those subtly apologetic follow-up emails could be weakening your original message—and affecting others’ impression of you, too.

An illustration of an ancient Yule celebration, as seen in the German newspaper Die Gartenlaube in 1880.

The Many Stories Behind the Origins of Yule

The word "yule" gets thrown around a lot during the Christmas season, but what does it even mean? Well, like so many of the holiday's traditions, its origins are a bit complex.

Our 35 Most Popular Stories of 2019

Mental Floss readers are a curious bunch, as evidenced by their favorite stories of 2019—which covered everything from how much those Beanie Babies gathering dust in your attic might be worth to the life of Rosa Parks.

Merriam-Webster Declares They Its Word of the Year

This year, the nonbinary pronoun "they" got a new dictionary definition and some high-profile endorsements.

What’s the Difference Between Crocheting and Knitting?

For one, dropping a stitch while knitting will probably upset you more than dropping one while crocheting.

Tatiana Volgutova/iStock via Getty Images

What’s the Difference Between Soup and Stew?

Two small but significant differences set your vegetable beef stew apart from your mom’s vegetable beef soup.

Rosetta Stone Is Offering Up to Half Off Language-Learning Software for Black Friday

Learn a new language and save money. Through November 27, shoppers can get up to half off on Rosetta’s programs.

Uitwaaien, or Outblowing, Is the Dutch Cure for the Winter Blues

After embracing the coziness of hygge this winter, try uitwaaien—the Dutch practice of doing physical activity in cold, windy weather.

Listen to a Gloriously Guttural Rendition of Frozen’s “Let It Go” Performed in Klingon

What better way to celebrate the upcoming release of ‘Frozen 2’ than with an epic Star Trek/Disney crossover?

5 Benefits of Sarcasm, According to Science

The benefits of a cutting remark can go beyond getting some laughs. Properly deployed, sarcasm can have real social rewards.

Oxford University’s Student Union Is Replacing Clapping With Jazz Hands

Noiseless, trigger-less jazz hands are the British Sign Language’s official expression for applause.

12 Surprising Facts About Viking Runestones

Standing tall in the Scandinavian countryside, Viking runestones bear messages from 1000 years ago in an alphabet called the Futhark. Read on for more little-known lore.

9 French Insults You Should Know

Why call someone an idiot when you can say they're as stupid as a suitcase without a handle? Here's a round-up of French insults you should know.

100 Words Turning 100 This Year

In February 1919, just a few months after World War 1 ended, a story appeared in the UK's Manchester Guardian called “World War No. 2.”

Vladimir Kokorin/iStock via Getty Images

What's the Difference Between Cement and Concrete?

The terms 'concrete' and 'cement' are often used interchangeably to describe hard, gray building material, but there is a difference.

'The Friends Effect' on Learning the English Language

Over the years, quite a few non-native speakers have learned English thanks to watching 'Friends' episodes over and over.

11 Secrets of Lexicographers

A degree in lexicography can actually hurt your chances of getting the job. Here are some more secrets from the people behind the dictionary.

12 Old-Fashioned Insults We Should Bring Back

From ‘poltroon’ to ‘slugabed’ and beyond, this list will surely add some color to your future squabbles.

What’s the Difference Between a Pirate and a Buccaneer?

Four hundred years ago, if you were a seafaring thief, the label that you received said a great deal—mainly about whoever it was doing the labeling.

It’s Official: Merriam-Webster Has Added They to Its Online Dictionary as a Nonbinary Pronoun

Two and a half years after the Associated Press OK’d the gender-fluid pronoun, Merriam-Webster follows suit.

Farther vs. Further: There’s an Easy Way to Remember the Difference, and When to Use Which

'Further' and 'farther' are separated by one letter and they're often used interchangeably, but there's an easy way to tell the difference between them.

11 Untranslatable Words for Happiness From Around the World

Because ‘happy’ doesn’t cut it when you’re trying to describe the particular euphoria of canceling social plans.

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