play video title words of the year 1066
Word History

Words of the Year: 1066

Why is pig meat called 'pork' and cow meat called 'beef?' Because English took on a big serving of French words following the Norman Conquest.


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play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

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How Do You Pronounce 'Groceries'?

 

Is there one standard way?

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

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

play hanger-hangar-illustrations
Is It 'Hanger' or 'Hangar'?

 

How to remember which is which

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Literally

 

A word that (literally) drives people nuts

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

 

The awkward case of 'his or her'

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings