Language Usage and Word History Videos

Latest Videos

'Everyday' vs. 'Every Day'

A simple trick to keep them separate

195,666 views

semantic bleaching text on white background

What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

100,301 views

serenity carr next to an illustration of a refrigerator with the letter d in it

Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

Thawing one of the mysteries of English

108,380 views

'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'?

We're intent on clearing it up

311,354 views

'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

We're gonna stop you right there

784,179 views

emily brewster and one and the same text graphic

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

Is it all the same anyway?

88,497 views

Grammar and Usage

How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

And is one more correct than the others?

195,670 views

The Serial Comma Explained

No one calls it the Merriam-Webster comma. Why?

452,241 views

There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

102,732 views

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

262,477 views

Sneaked vs. Snuck

No other common verb follows the pattern of _sneak_…_snuck_. And no one's quite sure why.

70,101 views

Further vs. Farther

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

51,897 views

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

358,690 views

Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

288,216 views

Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

262,081 views

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.

545,981 views

Hot Mess

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

155,867 views

The History of 'Cynic'

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

40,205 views

Pictures in the Dictionary

The story of those iconic illustrations.

23,797 views

An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut

161,050 views

Most Viewed

illustration of a man watching a washing machine overflow

'All over sudden' vs. 'All of a sudden'

We'll help you figure it out at once

884,961 views

'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

We're gonna stop you right there

784,179 views

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.

545,981 views

The Serial Comma Explained

No one calls it the Merriam-Webster comma. Why?

452,241 views

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts

449,982 views

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

358,690 views

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

313,893 views

'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'?

We're intent on clearing it up

311,354 views

Video: Why Is There a 'C' in 'Indict'?

And who put it there, anyway?

308,548 views

Videos

How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

How a Ghost Word Appeared in the Dictionary

The Serial Comma Explained

Latest Videos

'Everyday' vs. 'Every Day'

What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

Why is there a 'd' in 'fridge' but not in 'refrigerator'?

'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'?

'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

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

Grammar and Usage

How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

The Serial Comma Explained

There, They're, Their

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Sneaked vs. Snuck

Further vs. Farther

Lay vs. Lie

Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

Fun, Funner, Funnest

Word History

Words of the Year: 1066

Hot Mess

The History of 'Cynic'

Pictures in the Dictionary

An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

Most Viewed

'All over sudden' vs. 'All of a sudden'

'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

Words of the Year: 1066

The Serial Comma Explained

Literally

Lay vs. Lie

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'?

Video: Why Is There a 'C' in 'Indict'?

Which Came First?