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Words About Word Play

Don't just eat your words—play with them!

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Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

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July 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Test your knowledge.

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'Transgender' Americans Face New Restrictions

Trump reverses military policy allowing transgender people to serve

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'Motif' vs 'Leitmotif'

A pattern emerges.

Videos

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

The Serial Comma

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

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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?

Latest Videos

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Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

25,541 views

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

88,521 views

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

Language changes

43,932 views

The Serial Comma

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

116,873 views

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

Because we care

184,169 views

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2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

106,812 views

Grammar and Usage

How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

107,848 views

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There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

67,370 views

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Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

158,321 views

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular _snuck_ sneaked into the dictionary

40,566 views

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Further vs. Farther

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

29,486 views

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Bring vs. Take

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

20,182 views

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Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

295,873 views

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

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

268,088 views

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

237,973 views

Word History

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Irregardless

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

684,450 views

Okay?

Bizarre origins of the world's most recognized word.

199,408 views

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Soop vs. Soup

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

59,562 views

Gridiron

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

15,011 views

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Christmas vs. Xmas

The surprising history behind this controversial abbreviation.

64,842 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.

253,757 views

Most Viewed

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Irregardless

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

684,450 views

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Literally

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

321,579 views

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Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

295,873 views

video-title-attorney-generals

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

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

268,088 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.

253,757 views

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That vs. Which

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

248,047 views

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

237,973 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.

231,580 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.'

222,900 views

See all Videos

Test Your Vocabulary

July 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Which is a synonym of gauche?

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

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'Motif' vs 'Leitmotif'

A pattern emerges.

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Our (Almost) Final Word on 'Penultimate'

The ultimate guide to using penultimate.

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The Grammatical History of 'Awaken'/'Awoken'/'Awakened'

Or you can just go back to bed.

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Words We're Watching: 'Aquafaba'

Don't dump out the bean water just yet...

Word Games

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July 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Test your knowledge.

Take the quiz

The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Bee Cubed

Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.

Play the game