play mrs malaprop
Words at Play

What is a malaprop?

Editor Peter Sokolowski will tell you all the perpendiculars


A malapropism, or malaprop, is the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase, especially the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in context—like polo bears instead of polar bears.

Up next

play mrs malaprop
What is a malaprop?

 

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

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

play video schwa
The Schwa

 

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

play body parts video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

play onomatopoeia video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

play video his or her
Is singular 'they' a better choice?

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play emily brewster and one and the same text graphic
'One in the same' or 'One and the same'?

 

Is it all the same anyway?