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Language Usage and Word History Videos | Merriam-Webster

Videos

woman and dog illustration

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

We're gonna stop you right there

merriam-webster eggcorns title page

What Is an Eggcorn?

And how did it get that name?

serenity-carr-definitely-image

How to Remember the Spelling of 'Definitely'

A definitive answer.

peter-sokolowski-indict-graphic

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

And who put it there, anyway?

cartoon-of-british-nobility

Why Did Yankee Doodle Call a Feather 'Macaroni'?

What's with his feathered cap?

Latest Videos

illustrated notebook that says everyday vs every day

'Everyday' vs. 'Every Day'

A simple trick to keep them separate

202,475 views

semantic bleaching text on white background

What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively"

103,937 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

110,676 views

person studying illustration

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

We're intent on clearing it up

312,985 views

woman and dog illustration

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

We're gonna stop you right there

785,902 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?

89,281 views

Grammar and Usage

How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

And is one more correct than the others?

196,954 views

The Serial Comma Explained

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

452,575 views

there theyre their video

There, They're, Their

There, there. We'll sort it out.

102,815 views

video his or her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

262,580 views

sneaked vs snuck video

Sneaked vs. Snuck

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

70,391 views

further vs farther video

Further vs. Farther

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

52,048 views

video lay vs lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

358,944 views

video title attorney generals

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

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

288,383 views

fun funner funnest

Fun, Funner, Funnest

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

262,254 views

Word History

video title words of the year 1066

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.

546,114 views

Hot Mess

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

155,953 views

The History of 'Cynic'

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

40,264 views

videos pictures in the dictionary

Pictures in the Dictionary

The story of those iconic illustrations.

23,822 views

video soup vs soop

An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut

161,110 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

885,411 views

woman and dog illustration

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

We're gonna stop you right there

785,902 views

video title words of the year 1066

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.

546,114 views

The Serial Comma Explained

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

452,575 views

video literally

Literally

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

450,127 views

video lay vs lie

Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

358,944 views

onomatopoeia video

A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia

Some imitative words are more surprising than others

320,465 views

person studying illustration

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

We're intent on clearing it up

312,985 views

peter-sokolowski-indict-graphic

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

And who put it there, anyway?

309,962 views

See all Videos

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Love It or Hate It

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