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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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Affect vs. Effect

 

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.

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Video: Why is there a 'c' in 'indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

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On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

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Its vs. It's

 

Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.

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When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

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How to Use a Dictionary

 

The best way to find information in the dictionary