LINGUISTICS

Where vs. Whereas: When to Use Each One Correctly

One historical definition of ‘whereas’ is ‘preamble.’ But that’s probably not the one you’re looking for.

If you're writing a conditional statement, then you should use then.

Then vs. Than: When to Use Which

‘More than’ or ‘more then’ isn’t a matter of opinion. But there was a time when they were interchangeable.

Disinterested vs. Uninterested: What’s the Difference?

Should you use ‘disinterested’ or ‘uninterested’? It depends on the context, the era, and how much you care about the grammar sticklers in your life.

Where Do We Get the Term Spitting Image?

The figurative meaning of ‘spitting image’ couldn’t be clearer. The literal meaning depends on which linguist you ask.

Hopefully this article will have a positive effect on your grammar skills.

Affect vs. Effect: How to Use Each Word Correctly

Affect or effect? These examples—and a grammar hack from TikTok—will help you remember the difference.

Insure vs. Ensure: What's the Difference?

Insure and ensure started out as alternate spellings of the same word, but today they have slightly different definitions.

"Kurtus Cobaenus" performing in Belgium in 1991.

Watch and Listen to Nirvana’s 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' Performed in Classical Latin

Calling all Latin teachers and classics scholars: this is the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” cover of your dreams.

She's ready to captivate her classmates with a rousing debate on each vs. every.

Each vs. Every: What’s the Difference?

There’s a reason why “Every of my feet” sounds so wrong, and why “Almost each foot” is equally weird.

"May I please use can when asking permission to do something?"

Can vs. May: When to Use Each Term

Many a teacher has reinforced the grammar rule that ‘may’ is for asking permission—not ‘can.’ But there’s a little more to it than that.

Evan Peters and Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown (2021).

Hot Wooder: The Philadelphia Accent Is In Danger of Disappearing Because of Millennials

Kate Winslet's Philadelphia accent in 'Mare of Easttown' could be a linguistic time capsule in a couple of decades.

Notable southpaw Tommy John pitching for the New York Yankees in the 1980s.

Why Are Left-Handed People Called Southpaws?

Southpaws are most often talked about in baseball and boxing. But which sport (if either) coined the term?

Your Herbal Tea Isn’t Actually Tea at All—Here’s Why

True tea comes from leaves of the 'Camellia sinensis' plant. All other beverages commonly labeled 'tea' are technically tisane.

A promising young restaurateur, ready to be called a restauranteur for the rest of her career.

Why Is There No N in Restaurateur?

If you’ve been spelling ‘restaurateur’ with an ‘n’ for your entire life, don't feel bad. But here’s why you’re wrong.

Miranda is an important character in Shakespeare's The Tempest, but she's not the titular role.

Titular vs. Eponymous: What’s the Difference?

The definition of ‘eponymous’ has changed over time, and ‘titular’ has more than one. Here’s how to use each word correctly.

What’s the Difference Between a Fact and a Factoid?

A factoid isn’t just a fun fact—at least, it wasn’t when Norman Mailer allegedly coined the term in 1973.

They're debating whether it should be "the 'rona" or "Zoom."

The American Dialect Society Needs Your Help Choosing 2020’s Word of the Year

It doesn’t have to be in the dictionary—in fact, it doesn’t even have to be a word. Phrases, slang, and even hashtags are all fair game.

She wrote "sneak peak" instead of "sneak peek."

12 Notable English Language Mistakes

‘Irregardless’ is technically a word, and ‘dord’ technically isn’t (though it has shown up in a few old dictionaries).

Classrooms are especially important places to embrace language variations.

Duolingo’s Free Virtual Convention Will Cover How “Black Languages Matter” and More

The designer of the infamously persistent Duolingo owl will also be on hand to answer questions about his creation.

Online dictionaries can add words a little more quickly than their printed counterparts.

More Than 650 New Words Have Been Added to Dictionary.com—Here Are 50 of Them

With a total of about 15,000 new words, definitions, and other revisions, it’s Dictionary.com’s biggest update of all time.

Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: What’s the Difference?

States are changing their vote-by-mail rules for this year’s general election. Here's what you need to know.

Scots Wikipedia Is Notoriously Inaccurate Thanks to One Teenage Editor

Scots Wikipedia is notorious for its inaccuracy, and a recent Reddit post traces thousands of mistranslations back to a single teenage editor in the U.S.

Joanne K. Watson/Merriam-Webster via Getty Images

Merriam-Webster Is Updating Its Definition of Racism to Emphasize Systemic Prejudice

After sending Merriam-Webster a series of emails, Kennedy Mitchum convinced the dictionary to revise its entry for 'racism' to better emphasize the systemic aspects.

What the Death of the Apostrophe Protection Society Means for Grammarians

The head of the society signed off for good, declaring that “The ignorance and laziness present in modern times have won!”

You’re Probably Pronouncing Nevada All Wrong

It's a question that Americans have been arguing about for decades: How exactly do you pronounce Nevada?

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