play video old school grammar humorsome
Usage Notes

Old-School Grammar

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.


Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

Up next

play 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.

play videos pictures in the dictionary
Pictures in the Dictionary

 

The story of those iconic illustrations.

play video ghost words
How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

 

An imaginary word that snuck into the dictionary

play video literally
Literally

 

A word that (literally) drives people nuts

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

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

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play emily-brewster-with-the-words-effect-affect-on-screen
How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

 

A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)