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Winning Words from Scripps Spelling Bee Quiz

Can you best past winners of the Spelling Bee?

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

Language changes

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Brennan: Concerns of Russian Efforts to 'suborn'

"to induce secretly to do an unlawful thing"

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To 'Author' is a Verb

Beyond the mere act of writing

Which Is The Correct Plural Spelling? (It's a Trick Question)

Multiple spellings for "multiple" words.

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

13,530 views

The Serial Comma

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

89,345 views

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

Because we care

163,002 views

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2016 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'surreal'

95,108 views

Hot Mess

"The public is a hot mess"

110,266 views

How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

103,971 views

Grammar and Usage

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

68,402 views

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There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

66,446 views

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Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

157,210 views

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Sneaked vs. Snuck

How the irregular _snuck_ sneaked into the dictionary

39,800 views

further-vs-farther-video

Further vs. Farther

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

28,679 views

bring-vs-take-video

Bring vs. Take

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

19,558 views

video-lay-vs-lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

294,813 views

video-title-attorney-generals

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

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

267,283 views

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

237,034 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).

674,407 views

Okay?

Bizarre origins of the world's most recognized word.

198,773 views

video-soup-vs-soop

Soop vs. Soup

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

59,203 views

Gridiron

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

14,742 views

video-christmas-vs-xmas

Christmas vs. Xmas

The surprising history behind this controversial abbreviation.

64,451 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.

245,418 views

Most Viewed

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Irregardless

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

674,407 views

video-literally

Literally

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

321,189 views

video-lay-vs-lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

294,813 views

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

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

267,283 views

video-that-vs-which

That vs. Which

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

247,460 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.

245,418 views

fun-funner-funnest

Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

237,034 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.

231,274 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.'

221,889 views

See all Videos

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

Which is the correct spelling of the winning word from 1988?

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

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Word Winder's CrossWinder

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

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

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To 'Author' is a Verb

Beyond the mere act of writing

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Don't Catch 'Flack' for Using 'Flak'

How a word for antiaircraft guns came to refer to PR pro

Plural Words With Multiple Spellings

Multiple spellings for "multiple" words.

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Does This Common Computer Term Actually Reference Shoes?

These reboots were made for walking

Word Games

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Winning Words from Scripps Spelling Bee Quiz

Can you best past winners of the Spelling Bee?

Take the quiz

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Where in the World? A Quiz

Do you know what languages these words come from?

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game