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There are people who wait all year for April 1st. The fake bugs have been collected, the keys have been swapped, and the stories have been carefully thought through—and the cameras are probably ready. You already know why: because it’s fun (at least for the pranksters; please be kind to your victims)! But how long have we been celebrating this odd holiday? And where did …

The study of words is called lexicology—not to be confused with phraseology, philology, syntax, morphology, lexicography or semantics. How do lexicologists create new words? Actually, they don’t—think how ridiculous it would be if a deranged lexicologist had the power and desire to create hundreds of new words! In reality, they observe the way English is used and choose words from their findings. The English lexicon …