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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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'One in the same' or 'One and the same'?

 

Is it all the same anyway?

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On Contractions of Multiple Words

 

You all would not have guessed some of these

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A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

 

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

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'Everyday' vs. 'Every Day'

 

A simple trick to keep them separate

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The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

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Old-School Grammar

 

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