Schwa
The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.
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'It is I' vs. 'It's me'
Which is right? The answer is complicated.
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Cynic
How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.
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That vs. Which
When to use each (and when not to get annoyed about their use).
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i.e. vs. e.g.
Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.
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Our Dictionary Through Time
Webster's legendary editions - from 1828 through today.
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The Longest Word in the Dictionary
It's not 'antidisestablishmentarianism' after all, and here's the short, sweet reason why.
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Its vs. It's
Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.
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Weird Plurals
One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?
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Healthy vs. Healthful
Why both words are equally good for you.
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Pictures in the Dictionary
The story of those iconic illustrations.
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The Ampersand & More
Where the 'and' symbol comes from.
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I vs. Me
'Between you and __'? Simple guidance for a tricky pronoun.
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Why Words Get Cut from the Dictionary
What happened to snollygoster, hodad, frutescent, and more.
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Defenestration
The fascinating story behind many people's favorite word.
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Literally
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
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Irregardless
It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).
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Okay?
Bizarre origins of the world's most recognized word.
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What 'Ironic' Really Means
'Rain on your wedding day' and other disputed usages.
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'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine
'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.
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The Awkward Case of 'His or Her'
Despite what the grammar police might say, it's actually fine to use 'their' as a singular pronoun.
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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary
What our editors are looking for when they choose words for Merriam-Webster's.
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New Dictionary Words for 2011
'Cougar,' 'Crowdsourcing,' 'Bromance' & more — the latest additions to America's best-selling dictionary.
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Drive Safe: In Praise of Flat Adverbs
You don't have to end all your adverbs in -ly to talk right.
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A vs. An
When to use one or the other, and 'an' historical exception or two.
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Soop vs. Soup
Noah Webster: the man who changed the way we spell... up to a point.
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Ghost Word
The story of an imaginary word that managed to sneak past our editors and enter the dictionary.
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Hopefully
Contrary to what your teachers may have said, we believe the popular usage of this word is correct. Hopefully you agree.
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Ending a Sentence with a Preposition
An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with.
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Who vs. Whom
Good news for those who feel stuffy saying 'whom.'
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Gridiron
From torture to tailgating—the origins of an American football term.
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Christmas vs. Xmas
The surprising history behind this controversial abbreviation.
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Rhyming Slang
'Put up your dukes,' '86'd,' and other examples of rhyming slang.
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Frequently Looked Up Words
An insight into the words often topping the list.
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Gourmet
Labels for foodies: the difference between 'gourmet,' 'gourmand,' and 'epicure.'
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Stinkeye
Beyond a dirty look: the meaning and origins of this evocative term.
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Open Dictionary
What makes a good submission to the Open Dictionary, our collection of New Words & Slang?
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Than & Then
When to use 'than' and when to use 'then,' and when those rules get tricky.
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Octopus
What's the correct plural of 'octopus': 'octopuses' or 'octopi'? Yes – and then some.
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Penultimate
What's the difference in meaning between 'ultimate' and 'penultimate'?
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Fewer and Less
The rule is that 'fewer' refers to number among things you can count – except, that is, when 'less' does.
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Posh
Dispelling some common misconceptions about the origin of 'posh.'
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Doozy
Does the word 'doozy' really come from the Duesenberg Motor Company's famous cars?
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Rein Vs. Reign
Do you 'reign something in,' or 'rein something in'?
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Hat Trick
The origins of 'hat trick' - where hockey and haberdashery collide.
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Ratiocinate
There's something suspicious about Sherlock Holmes and the use of 'ratiocinate.'
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Cop
Just how - and why, where, and when - did police officers come to be called 'cops'?
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Slang
Does slang belong in the dictionary? Yup. Here's why.
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Classical Roots
English is a Germanic language. So where did all that Latin come from?
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I Before E
A familiar spelling 'rule' and its many exceptions.
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Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's death sent many people to the dictionary. What did they look up?
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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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