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

play video ending a sentence with a preposition
Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

 

An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with.

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?

play video who vs whom
Who vs. Whom

 

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

play fun funner funnest
Fun, Funner, Funnest

 

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

play further vs farther video
Further vs. Farther

 

They started as same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

play video between you and i or me
I vs. Me

 

'Between you and __'? Simple guidance for a tricky pronoun.