Language Stories
Learn all about the English language, from fun word facts and trivia to etymologies, meanings, histories, and more.
Where Did the Word “Achoo” Come From? Why Do We Say “Bless You”?
Why Isn’t It “Pardon my German?”
Does Boxing Day Have Anything To Do With Boxing?
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Fossil Words: Archaic Terms Preserved in Everyday Phrases
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5 Penny Idioms to Salute an Iconic American Coin
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Speak of the Devil! 15 Infernal Names for The Evil One
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From “Witch” to “Ghoul,” Here’s How These Spooky Figures Got Their Names
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“Prebiotics” vs. “Probiotics:” What’s the Difference?
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Why Do We Say “Trick or Treat”?
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’90s vs. Now: How These Words Have Evolved
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Booyah — Dictionary.com Is 30! A Trip Back to 1995
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The Rosetta Stone: Unlocking Ancient Egypt
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Why Is Friday the 13th Unlucky?
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Which Overachiever Is August Named For?
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Words Popularized by Shakespeare That We Still Use
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“Psychic” vs. “Medium”: Are These Synonyms?
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8 Greek Words About Love That Will Make Your Heart Soar
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What’s So “Good” About “Good Friday”?
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Cheesy Names: Do You Know These Cheese Toponyms?
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What Makes Holi the Most Colorful Event of the Year?
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Do You Know The New Meaning Of “Preppy”? (Yes, It’s Changed!)
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The Major Facts About The Month of Ramadan
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“Commonwealth” vs. “State”: Which One Do You Reside In?
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The Complexity Of African American Vernacular English
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What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean?
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Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell: What’s the Difference?
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MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech: An Example of Anaphora
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Apple Cider vs. Apple Juice: What’s The Difference?
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Element vs. Compound: What Is the Difference?
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Wassail, Sugarplum, and Other Unusual Christmas Words
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Where Does the Name “Winter” Come From?
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Espresso vs. Coffee vs. Cappuccino: We Spill the Beans
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12 Names for Santa Claus From Around the World
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Indica vs. Sativa: There Is a Difference
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Hallowmas vs. All Saints’ Day: What’s The Day After Halloween Actually Called?
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Terror vs. Horror: Which One Is Worse?
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Scythe vs. Sickle: Cutting Away At Their Differences
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“Autumn” vs. “Fall:” What Was the Season Called First?
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English Could Really Use These 15 Wunderbar German Words
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“Hispanic” vs. “Latino”: When To Use Each Term
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Schadenfreude And 10 Other German Words So Good English Just Had to Borrow Them
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In Spite Of vs. Despite: What’s The Difference?
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Affective vs. Effective: Which Is Correct?
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The Most Commonly Misspelled Words—With Spelling Tips for Each One
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Resume vs. Résumé: A Brief Account Of Their Differences
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What’s With “Oof,” “Meh,” and Other Popular Interjections?
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White Tie vs. Black Tie: Which Is More Formal?
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Tuxedo vs. Suit: Cracking the Dress Code
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Why Do Americans Call Football “Soccer”?
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Mixtape vs. Album: What’s The Difference?
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Hip-Hop Vs. Rap: A Music, A Culture, And A Phenomenon
