SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

alt-594ab41a604d2

Kim and Kanye Might Have Hired a Surrogate Mother

From TMZ to the dictionary.

Pretty in 'Pink'

From Fuchsia to Baker-Miller Pink

alt-5951697e1a410

When To Use 'Specious' vs. 'Spurious'

These similar words are not interchangeable

istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us

June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Summer's first WOTD quiz.

decimate-video

Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

Videos

Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

peter_talk_about_word_of_the_year_2016

2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

alright-allright-video

Alright vs. All Right

Is 'alright' all right?

is-none-singular-or-plural-video

Is None Singular or Plural?

Or both? Or neither?

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

Latest Videos

Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

32,473 views

The Serial Comma

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

100,468 views

woman_shrug_shoulder

Is it 'I Could Care Less' or 'I Couldn't Care Less'?

Because we care

175,008 views

peter_talk_about_word_of_the_year_2016

2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

103,498 views

Hot Mess

"The public is a hot mess"

113,761 views

How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

106,113 views

Grammar and Usage

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

70,464 views

there-theyre-their-video

There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

66,896 views

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

157,740 views

sneaked-vs-snuck-video

Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular _snuck_ sneaked into the dictionary

40,177 views

further-vs-farther-video

Further vs. Farther

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

29,066 views

bring-vs-take-video

Bring vs. Take

Both words imply motion, but the difference may be all in your head

19,818 views

video-lay-vs-lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

295,375 views

video-title-attorney-generals

Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

267,509 views

fun-funner-funnest

Fun, Funner, Funnest

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

237,287 views

Word History

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

680,604 views

Okay?

Bizarre origins of the world's most recognized word.

199,045 views

video-soup-vs-soop

Soop vs. Soup

Noah Webster: the man who changed the way we spell... up to a point.

59,370 views

Gridiron

From torture to tailgating—the origins of an American football term.

14,888 views

video-christmas-vs-xmas

Christmas vs. Xmas

The surprising history behind this controversial abbreviation.

64,646 views

video-plural-of-octopus

The Truth About the Plural of Octopus

What's the correct plural of 'octopus': 'octopuses' or 'octopi'? Yes – and then some.

249,118 views

Most Viewed

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

680,604 views

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

321,380 views

video-lay-vs-lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

295,375 views

video-title-attorney-generals

Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

267,509 views

video-plural-of-octopus

The Truth About the Plural of Octopus

What's the correct plural of 'octopus': 'octopuses' or 'octopi'? Yes – and then some.

249,118 views

video-that-vs-which

That vs. Which

When to use each (and when not to get annoyed about their use).

247,769 views

fun-funner-funnest

Fun, Funner, Funnest

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

237,287 views

video-old-school-grammar-humorsome

Old-School Grammar

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

231,402 views

video-try-and-vs-try-to

'Try and' vs. 'Try to'

When you're not sure which is right, try to remember to use 'try to.'

222,388 views

See all Videos

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

Which is a synonym of garner?

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

alt-5951697e1a410

When To Use 'Specious' vs. 'Spurious'

These similar words are not interchangeable

alt-594bf2ec5f26e

Quick: Read This!

'Quick' once had a very different meaning

alt-594d2b6325245

'Pride': The Word That Went From Vice to Strength

Do you take pride in Pride?

Pink: The Color that Will Change Your Life

From Fuchsia to Baker-Miller Pink

Word Games

istock-refers-to-this-as-a-tumble-of-strawberries-which-sounded-pretty-nice-to-us

June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Summer's first WOTD quiz.

Take the quiz

alt-5941ad7527c3c

Yearbook Superlatives Quiz

Is that your picture under "Largest Vocabulary"?

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Syn City

Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.

Play the game