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Word History

Words of the Year: 1066

Why is pig meat called 'pork' and cow meat called 'beef?' Because English took on a big serving of French words following the Norman Conquest.


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play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

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What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

 

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

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'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

 

We're gonna stop you right there

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Is It 'Hanger' or 'Hangar'?

 

How to remember which is which

play video soup vs soop
An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

 

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut

play video mischievous nulcear library mispronunciations
'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine

 

'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.

play video its vs its
Its vs. It's

 

Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.