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

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

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How to Use a Dictionary

 

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Good news for those who feel stuffy saying 'whom.'