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9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Class is in session.

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Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

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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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'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery

"Don’t mess with the beloved bodega."

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'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

Its origins are surprisingly murky.

Videos

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?

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Irregardless

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

Latest Videos

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Words of the Year: 1066

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

113,196 views

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

130,912 views

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

Language changes

71,258 views

The Serial Comma

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

174,428 views

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

Because we care

204,206 views

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2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

112,048 views

Grammar and Usage

How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

111,183 views

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There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

68,349 views

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Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

159,376 views

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular _snuck_ sneaked into the dictionary

41,306 views

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Further vs. Farther

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

30,328 views

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Bring vs. Take

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

20,817 views

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Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

296,822 views

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

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

268,533 views

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

238,477 views

Word History

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Irregardless

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

690,041 views

Okay?

Bizarre origins of the world's most recognized word.

199,945 views

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Soop vs. Soup

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

59,912 views

Gridiron

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

15,242 views

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Christmas vs. Xmas

The surprising history behind this controversial abbreviation.

65,127 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.

259,053 views

Most Viewed

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Irregardless

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

690,041 views

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Literally

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

321,923 views

video-lay-vs-lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

296,822 views

video-title-attorney-generals

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

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

268,533 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.

259,053 views

video-that-vs-which

That vs. Which

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

248,545 views

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

238,477 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.

231,859 views

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Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

225,458 views

See all Videos

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Which is a synonym of fuliginous?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

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SCRABBLE® Sprint

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

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Words at Play

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'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

Its origins are surprisingly murky.

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"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

Nobody is immune to this question.

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What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Its recent usage is hard to shrug off.

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Welcome to the New Words

From 'hive mind' to 'sriracha'

Word Games

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Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz

Name that Color!

NEW! Additional colors! More obscure than before!

Take the quiz

Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game