SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Better Ways to Say "This Sucks"

Your day is the worst. Your vocabulary is the best.

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June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Summer's first WOTD quiz.

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'All the Feels,' All the Time

Once more, with 'feels'

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

Language changes

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Kim and Kanye Might Have Hired a Surrogate Mother

From TMZ to the dictionary.

Videos

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

Language changes

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2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

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Alright vs. All Right

Is 'alright' all right?

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Is None Singular or Plural?

Or both? Or neither?

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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

30,797 views

The Serial Comma

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

99,416 views

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

Because we care

173,863 views

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2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

102,597 views

Hot Mess

"The public is a hot mess"

113,367 views

How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

105,897 views

Grammar and Usage

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

70,238 views

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There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

66,838 views

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Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

157,688 views

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular _snuck_ sneaked into the dictionary

40,142 views

further-vs-farther-video

Further vs. Farther

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

29,013 views

bring-vs-take-video

Bring vs. Take

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

19,793 views

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Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

295,314 views

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

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

267,487 views

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

237,256 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).

680,067 views

Okay?

Bizarre origins of the world's most recognized word.

199,000 views

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Soop vs. Soup

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

59,344 views

Gridiron

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

14,873 views

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Christmas vs. Xmas

The surprising history behind this controversial abbreviation.

64,627 views

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The Truth About the Plural of Octopus

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

248,699 views

Most Viewed

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Irregardless

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

680,067 views

video-literally

Literally

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

321,355 views

video-lay-vs-lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

295,314 views

video-title-attorney-generals

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

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

267,487 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.

248,699 views

video-that-vs-which

That vs. Which

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

247,732 views

fun-funner-funnest

Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

237,256 views

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Old-School Grammar

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

231,384 views

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'Try and' vs. 'Try to'

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

222,335 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!

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

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Words at Play

That Sucks Word Alternatives

Your day is the worst. Your vocabulary is the best.

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'All the Feels,' All the Time

Once more, with 'feels'

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A Pineapple Is An Apple (Kind Of)

Pineapple once had a different, more internationally common name.

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Read This to Get 'Smart'

A thinking person's guide

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

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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

Citation

Do you know the person or title these quotes describe?

Play the game