by Min Straussman The language of queer identity is constantly evolving and expanding, and there will always be new terminology to learn. Pride Month is the perfect opportunity to increase understanding and awareness of the kind of emerging and newly prominent terms that we’re constantly adding to our Gender and Sexuality Dictionary. Language is an important part of how queer people, and particularly nonbinary and …
You may have questions about why some people identify as gay, queer, both, or another specific way. For respectfulness and inclusivity, it’s important to understand the difference—and to remember that people’s use and feelings about the words vary widely. In this article, we will explain how the terms gay and queer are used differently in the context of sexuality and gender identity. What is the …
The words aisle and isle are pronounced exactly the same and have nearly the same spelling. However, they have completely different meanings. In this article, we will break down the different meanings of aisle and isle and give a helpful tip to easily remember the difference between the two words. Is it aisle or isle? The noun aisle is typically used to refer to a …
by Min Straussman June is Pride Month in the United States and around the world. Pride, formerly known as Gay Pride, is a recognition of LGBTQ identity, affirmation of equal rights, and celebration of visibility, dignity, and diversity in the LGBTQ community. During Pride Month, communities hold marches and other events to raise awareness about LGBTQ issues such as transphobia (anti-transgender) and workplace discrimination. Pride Month …
The words aid and aide are pronounced exactly the same and only have one letter difference between them. However, they are typically used to mean distinct things. In this article, we will help you out by breaking down the difference between aid and aide, explain how they are typically used, and provide examples that show how we commonly use them in sentences. The word aid …
Q: What do you get when you combine Dictionary.com with a Dad Joke Contest? A: 3,500 submissions and 5,200 votes, apparently! For our Dad Joke Contest, we gave you a classic setup with a twist—“Why did the dictionary cross the road?”—and asked you to submit the corniest, punniest, dad-jokiest punch line you could muster. Dads and non-dads delivered big time—submitting more than 3,500 entries! After …
Q: Do dads always tell dad jokes? A: You tell me—I didn’t know doodads could tell jokes at all! Sorry. We know you have real questions about dad jokes, including: What is a dad joke? When does a joke become a dad joke? Are dad jokes supposed to be funny? And why are they called dad jokes? We’ll answer these questions and more, and we’ll …
If you are a chocolate lover, you likely know that chocolate is somehow related to cocoa powder and cacao seeds. But what do the words cacao and cocoa really mean? Are they used to talk about the same things, or are they used differently? In this article, we’ll define what the words cacao and cocoa mean, explain the history of these two related words, and …
Memorial Day occurs on the last Monday in May and marks the solemn time when Americans honor the soldiers that died in military service. Why is the holiday called Memorial Day? When the observance was first declared in 1868 by General John Logan, it was called Decoration Day in reference to a tradition of decorating the graves of those whose lives were lost in the Civil …
Depending on where you live, you may see a word spelled as defense or defence. Which of these spellings is correct? Are they both right? In this article, we will explain why the same word can be spelled as either defense or defence, give examples of how we use this word in sentences, and provide examples of other words that follow a similar spelling pattern …
The difference between undergraduate and graduate is a difference of degrees (*throws graduation cap in the air to celebrate the pun*). The level of education that each word involves varies depending on how the word is being used, and there are situations in which both words can be used in the same situation. For example, you can become a graduate student after graduating with an …
Language is constantly evolving, but is it always a good idea to say “out with the old and in with the new”? These old English words just might prove otherwise. The phrase “old English”can mean two different things. There’s the official term Old English, which refers specifically to the English spoken between 450 and 1150. But there’s also old English—as in words that are considered …