

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.


The Reason Why ‘Peggy’ Is Short for ‘Margaret’

Definition Detective Quiz #45

Track Great White Sharks and More With This Interactive Map
Definition Detective Quiz #44
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
How to Pronounce 25 Tricky British Last Names and Titles
From ‘Cholmondeley’ to ‘Wriothesley,’ here's how to pronounce Britain's least intuitive last names.
Can You Correctly Pronounce These Tricky Words?
Test your pronunciation of toughies like 'victuals' and 'skein.'
The Right Way to Pronounce ‘Worcestershire Sauce’
What it is, why it’s called that, and how to say it correctly.
Each State’s Most Popular Baby Names, Mapped
See which names your state's new parents chose most often in 2024.
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.