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  1. News from March 23–March 28, 2025

    Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this list highlights language as it’s unfolding. Stories about voyaging iguanas, repurposed golf courses, and locked-out memories all contributed words to this list of vocabulary from the week’s news. bounty noun: a premium or reward, especially one offered by a government From the headlines: The United …

  2. close-up of someone working on a crossword puzzle, green filter.

    Puns, Palindromes, And More: 14 Types Of Wordplay

    Words are powerful, and a masterful use of words can change the world. At the same time, words have a fun side to them too. While the English language often seems to exist purely to confuse us, English also has a silly side that can make us laugh and smile. Are you skeptical? Well, we have dug deep into the English toy box to find …

  3. What Is A “Self-Own”?

    Perhaps you’ve scrolled through social media and seen someone comment: Classic self-own. Greatest self-own of the year so far. Olympics-level self-own. Hall-of-fame self-own. This is both a self-own and a universal truth https://t.co/xbHhqovnnL — John Haltiwanger (@jchaltiwanger) January 30, 2020 What are these self-owns, and why are they epic? To understand what self-own really means, we must first know the meaning of the slang term …

  4. Destroy Dick December

    Destroy Dick December is a joke challenge where a guy is supposed to masturbate excessively during the month of December—not that plenty of men aren't doing that already. It's an answer to No Nut November, where…
  5. Prince Harry "Spare" cover; blue background

    The Meaning Of “Spare” As The Title Of Prince Harry’s Memoir

    Prince Harry’s highly anticipated memoir provides intimate details about his very public and often contentious life as part of—and apart from—the British royal family. But what is the significance of his choice of the book’s one-word title, Spare? The answer to that question lies in the phrase the heir and the spare. Top Cover Image Credit: Random House Group What does the heir and the …

  6. pencil eraser erasing writing, teal filter

    Who’s to Blame for Weird English Spellings?

    Let’s be honest: It’s practically impossible to be a “good” speller in English. The way words are spelled in English just don’t match how they are pronounced. Why, English language, why? Well, we can start by blaming William Caxton and the printing press. Diving into the historical context Let’s begin at the beginning, though: England, 1476. Norman French presence was in decline as the Bubonic Plague …

  7. scrabble

    Win With “Qi” And This List Of Our Best Scrabble Words

    Scrabble is a game that tests both your word knowledge and your relationship with the letter J. A rousing game of Scrabble often requires you to dig deep into your bag of tricks (or a thesaurus) to come up with rare and unusual words to maximize that triple word bonus. But sometimes you need just a little bit more help. What if you have a …

  8. image of the moon

    What Is The Origin Of The Name “Monday”?

    Nobody wants to come down with a case of the Mondays. But the second day of the week—and the first day of the traditional work week—doesn’t exactly have the best reputation. Monday isn’t named after an ancient, one-handed Norse god like Tuesday is, and it doesn’t take its name from a powerful god who fashioned the human race like Wednesday does. Monday does, however, reference …

  9. “Forbearance” vs. “Deferment”: What’s the Difference?

    If you have a loan, especially a student loan or a mortgage, there may come a time when you aren’t able to keep up with your payments. But there are options when it comes to repayment relief, including one called a forbearance and one called a deferment. Both can involve temporarily postponing or pausing (or temporarily lowering) loan payments. But there can be a crucial …

  10. the struggle is real

    My WiFi is slow. I can't find matching socks. I have a 9am meeting. The struggle is real ... The struggle is real is a phrase that expresses joking, hyperbolic, and ironic frustration.
  11. Sports Recently Added to the Summer Olympics

    The Summer Olympic Games are always evolving, and the introduction of new sports brings fresh excitement. These additions reflect changing global interests and showcase the diversity of athletic talent worldwide. In this article, we’ll explore five of the newest sports that you’ll see while you’re watching the Olympics. Get ready to learn about these exciting competitions, their origins, and vocabulary related to the sports!   …

  12. woman doing math calculations in a notebook, teal filter.

    Helpful Tips For How To Spell Numbers—No Math Required!

    When it comes to spelling out numbers, knowing when and how to do so correctly might be trickier than you imagine. Many organizations and publications have their own style guides describing when and how to spell out numbers, but there are some general guidelines you can keep in mind when digits pop up in writing. Typically, you should spell out numbers below 10. Numbers over …