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Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

You're going to have to memorize the dictionary again.

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Let's Talk 'Tea'

Spill it, sip it: just make it hot.

These Are Fighting Words

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

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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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Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

a state or period of senile decay

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'

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How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

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

Language changes

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The Serial Comma

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

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

Because we care

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2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

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Grammar and Usage

How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

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There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

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Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular _snuck_ sneaked into the dictionary

41,335 views

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Further vs. Farther

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

30,361 views

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Bring vs. Take

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

20,830 views

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Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

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

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

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

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Word History

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Irregardless

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

690,295 views

Okay?

Bizarre origins of the world's most recognized word.

199,965 views

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Soop vs. Soup

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

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Gridiron

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

15,247 views

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Christmas vs. Xmas

The surprising history behind this controversial abbreviation.

65,144 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.

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Most Viewed

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Irregardless

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

690,295 views

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Literally

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

321,936 views

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Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

296,856 views

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

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

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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.

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That vs. Which

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

248,561 views

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

238,494 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.

231,871 views

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Weird Plurals

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

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See all Videos

Test Your Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Which of the following is a new sense of the word bunny?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

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

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

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Let's Talk 'Tea'

Spill it, sip it: just make it hot.

8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

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The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

When you push a meeting, where does it go?

Silent Letters

When each letter can be seen but not heard

Word Games

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Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

You're going to have to memorize the dictionary again.

Take the quiz

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Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

No tricks, just difficult words.

Take the quiz

Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz

Bee Cubed

Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.

Play the game