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 Top 10 Most Mispronounced Terms of 2024, According to TV Captioners
Definition Detective Quiz #17
The 7 Worst Birthdays to Have, According to Moms
Definition Detective Quiz #16
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
7 Words We Rarely (or Never) Use Without Their Prefixes
Solving the etymological mysteries of 'innocent,' 'disgruntled,' and other prefix-dependent words.
Why Do English Cucumbers Come Wrapped in Plastic?
English cucumbers have a few qualities that make them superior to regular cucumbers, but one causes some problems, too.
Hidden Bodies: How a Harvard Chapel Renovation Unearthed Human Remains
What began as a routine renovation revealed Harvard's history of body snatching.
Definition Detective Quiz #15
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Frostbite vs. Hypothermia: What’s the Difference?
Here's how to tell frostbite symptoms from hypothermia symptoms.
How Sarah Josepha Hale Became the ‘Mother of Thanksgiving’
The history of Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Sarah Josepha Hale, the holiday’s biggest fan.
8 Fascinating Facts About ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’
Here's how Stieg Larsson's modern classic came to be.
How “My Favorite Things” Became an Unlikely Christmas Classic
How many of the “favorite things” are Christmas-coded? We counted.
Learn Amazing Facts About the U.S. Constitution With A.J. Jacobs
Author A.J. Jacobs spent a year living like a Founding Father to better understand the U.S. Constitution. Here’s what he learned.
Horns Aplenty: The Ancient Greek Origins of the Cornucopia
Here's how the cornucopia went from ancient gods to American dinner tables.
Definition Detective Quiz #14
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?