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Words That Trended On Dictionary.com During Trump’s 2017 Inauguration Address
Donald Trump took the oath of office on Friday, January 20, 2017 and officially became the 45th President of the United States of America. Everyone has an opinion on the word choices and speaking styles of politicians, and speeches from world leaders often cause words to spike in lookups on Dictionary.com. Inauguration and inaugurate (to induct into office with formal ceremonies; to install) were the top lookups …
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Try Tongue Twisters Today!
Try saying this out loud: “Does this shop stock short socks with spots?” Not so easy? That’s because it’s a tongue twister. Tongue twisters are fun verbal exercises full of words that rhyme or sound similar. People will usually try to say them quickly, several times in a row without making any mistakes. Why They Work There are plenty of well-known tongue twisters. One of …
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Word Lookups From Obama’s Farewell Speech
After his second and final term, President Barack Obama gave his farewell speech Tuesday, January 10 in Chicago, the city that launched his rise to national prominence. Word choices and speech patterns of our world leaders are a constant source of discussion (and comedy skits), as every administration has a style and at least one tic. Long known as an effective public speaker, Obama peppered …
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Alumni vs. Alumnus
Do you know if you’re an alumnus or an alumni? Alumni actually is the plural form of alumnus, a Latin word that means a graduate or former student of an educational institution. Although alumnus usually refers to academics, it can also mean a former employee, associate, or member of any organized group. Alumni refers to more than one alumnus (think of a graduating class). The …
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Is “Supposably” A Real Word?
What does it mean? Supposably means capable of being supposed. In other words, it describes something that’s capable of happening. Though supposably is a valid word, it can be tricky to use in a sentence, and isn’t often used in modern speech. Contemporary writers are more likely to use its synonym, conceivably.Supposably is frequently confused with the similar-sounding word supposedly. The main difference is that …
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My Apology vs. My Apologies
If you need to say you’re sorry, it helps to know whether you’re sending your apology or apologies.The phrase my apologies is an idiom, while the phrase my apology literally means my act of apologizing. As an idiom, my apologies means excuses or regrets. This phrase is a way of saying you’re sorry. The phrase my apology is not an idiom. It only has a …
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Is It “Sometime,” “Sometimes,” Or “Some Time”?
While they appear very similar, sometime, sometimes, and some time have slightly different meanings. Sometime means a vague point in time, and usually refers to a long amount of time. Sometimes means occasionally. Some time refers to a period of time. Sometime Sometime refers to an unspecified point in time. It functions as an adverb, and is also synonymous with someday, one day, or sooner …
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Assume vs. Presume
The words assume and presume both mean that you take something for granted as being true, but the difference is based on how certain you are. Assume is typically used in situations where someone takes something as the truth with a very low level of certainty or with no proof at all. Presume usually involves a higher level of certainty and is used in situations …
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Hyperbole vs. Hype
Are you excited? We sure are! Hyperbole is a literary device that relies on exaggeration, while hype is a word associated with excitement and publicity. Hyperbole Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration. It’s not meant to be taken literally. Writers use hyperbole to create imagery, emphasize feelings, or provide insight about a character. Hyperbole appears in novels, songs, poems, and daily speech. The song “1,000 Miles” by …
