WORDS

6 Weird Ways the English Language Is Redundant

From phrasal verbs to loanwords, here's how English speakers repeat themselves without realizing it.

Graveyard vs. Cemetery: What’s the Difference?

Both are places where we bury the dearly departed, and the words are often used interchangeably. But that hasn’t always been the case.

Some of these presidents were well versed in October surprises.

Where Did the Term ‘October Surprise’ Originate?

Its political legacy began during the Iran hostage crisis, but other kinds of October surprises had been happening for decades.

Can You Fill In the Blanks and Figure Out the Word? #2

Can you deduce what letters are missing and figure out the word?

Merriam-Webster Adds ‘Beach Read,’ ‘IDGAF,’ and 24 More New Words to the Dictionary

Here are some highlights from Merriam-Webster’s latest slate of additions.

Definition Detective Quiz #8

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Looks like she's reading a novel, not a novella.

Novella vs. Short Story: What’s the Difference?

As Stephen King once said, novellas are “too long to be short and too short to be really long.”

No apples were harmed in the popularizing of this phrase.

Where Does the Phrase ‘How Do You Like Them Apples’ Come From?

The phrase made famous by ‘Good Will Hunting’ is much older than the 1997 film—and doesn’t have anything to do with actual apples.

Can You Fill In the Blanks and Figure Out the Word? #1

Can you deduce what letters are missing and figure out the word?

Definition Detective Quiz #7

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

What’s the Origin of the Jack-O’-Lantern?

The first jack-o'-lanterns were made with turnips, not pumpkins.

‘B Dubs’: 10 Slang Terms for Popular Brand Names

Shoppers have been referring to Target as ‘tar-jay’ for over 60 years.

Can You Choose the Correct Version of these Commonly Misspelled Words?

Put your spelling skills to the test.

The crescent wrench has helped DIYers for decades.

Why Is It Called a “Crescent Wrench”?

A Swedish immigrant changed the face of wrenches forever.

The 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023

In honor of Banned Books Week, the ALA published its list of 2023’s most contentious titles.

The Surprising Origins of 5 Spooky Sayings

From ‘skeletons in the closet’ to ‘graveyard shift,’ here’s how five eerie idioms came to be.

Definition Detective Quiz #6

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

40 Popular Coffee Terms, Explained

Know your latte from your cappuccino before you embarrass yourself.

14 Old Slang Terms for Coffins

From ‘six-foot bungalow’ to ‘pine overcoat,’ there have been some creative euphemisms for coffins over the ages—and some terms that were surprisingly (and uncomfortably) direct.

What's in a name? A lot of pronunciation mistakes.

The World’s Most Mispronounced Names, Mapped

From Sean to Anne, these names confound speakers around the world.

Definition Detective Quiz #5

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

8 Words People Really Hate (And What to Say Instead)

Need another word for ‘moist’ (or some other gross word)? We’ve got you.

It’s kind of weird that ‘ghost’ is spelled with a ‘gh.’

Why are ‘Ghost,’ ‘Ghastly,’ and ‘Ghoul’ Spelled with ‘gh’?

Only a handful of English words start with ‘gh’—what gives?

You better knock, knock, knock ... on wood.

Why Do We Knock On Wood?

Discover the origins of the classic phrase 'knock on wood,' which could be tied to a Victorian-era children's game or have more direct ties to old pagan traditions.

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