

Ellen Gutoskey
Joined: Jun 24, 2019
Ellen Gutoskey is a Mental Floss staff writer who especially loves covering pop culture, not-so-popular culture, literature, really tiny things, really giant things, and anything that was previously thought to be lost. She used to work in publishing, she's usually laughing, and you can follow her on Twitter @ellengutoskey.


Can You Correctly Pronounce These Tricky Words?

The Right Way to Pronounce ‘Worcestershire Sauce’

Each State’s Most Popular Baby Names, Mapped
Who’s the Monty of ‘The Full Monty’?
The original meaning of ‘the full monty’ may involve a hearty breakfast or a three-piece suit.
Definition Detective Quiz #43
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
What Does ‘Fubar’ Mean?
The Arnold Schwarzenegger–starring Netflix series takes its title from World War II military slang. Here’s what 'fubar' means.
Why Is ‘Jack’ a Nickname for ‘John’?
Here’s the invisible etymology that turned Johns into Jacks.
The Reason You Shouldn’t Kill the Spiders in Your House, According to an Entomologist
Even if you don’t usually see them, spiders are in your house. And they’re paying rent, sort of.
Definition Detective Quiz #42
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Why Are Fruity Drinks Called “Ades”?
Lemonade kickstarted the trend. But there’s more to the story than that.
8 Amazing Bookstores and Libraries You Can Spend the Night In
Paris’s Shakespeare and Company has hosted some 30,000 “Tumbleweeds” passing through town. Want to be the next one?
Definition Detective Quiz #41
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
There Are 21 Classic Romance Movies Depicted in This Image—Can You Name Them All In Less Than 5 Minutes?
No romantic movie subgenre is off-limits—the image includes romantic comedies, timeless classics, musicals, and more.
Can You Spot the Dog That Stole the Sausage in This Brainteaser?
If you were a dog that came across an unattended string of sausages, you’d probably swipe them, too.
Can You Find the Hidden Helmet Among the Motorcycles?
Being able to find your actual motorcycle helmet in your own messy garage is a key part of motorcycle safety.