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The 20 Most Commonly Confused Word Pairs in America, According to Google Data

If you’ve ever Googled any of these words to figure out the difference between them, you are far from alone.

What’s an ‘Egress’ Window—And Why Is It Important?

Definition Detective Quiz #50: Guess the Meanings of These Obscure Words

Map Shows the Hardest to Pronounce Town Name in Every U.S. State

The Right Way to Pronounce ‘Gyro’

If you ask for a “jye-roh” in Greece, prepare to get some funny looks.
Marla Mackoul|

Definition Detective Quiz #49

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|

Why Are Police Officers Called “Cops”?

Cutting down on syllables is just one reason ‘cop’ became synonymous with ‘police officer.’
Jake Rossen|

You’re Probably Mispronouncing ‘Biopic’—Here’s Why

Here’s where the word ‘biopic’ came from, how to say it right, and why so many people say it wrong.
Ellen Gutoskey|

5 Common Terms You Didn’t Know Were Named After People

In the latest episode of The List Show, we’re covering some eponyms you might not have realized were eponyms, from ‘mesmerize’ to ‘pants.’
mentalfloss .com|

Definition Detective Quiz #48

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|

14 Alcoholic Drink Names You’re Probably Mispronouncing

Here’s how to say everything from liquors like cachaça to brands like Moët.
Ellen Gutoskey|

12 Surprising Word Pairs That Sound Related—But Aren’t

Think ‘human’ was created by slapping ‘hu-’ on ‘man’? Think again: ‘Man’ and ‘human’ aren’t related at all—and they’re just one example of words that seem like they must be linked, but turn out to have nothing in common once you dig into their etymology.
Lorna Wallace|

Why Is It Called a “Deadbolt”?

Our favorite type of door lock has a somewhat morbid name.
Jake Rossen|

25 Words That Don’t Mean What They Used To

It’s to be expected that the words we use will change and develop over time. In some instances, these developments can lead to words gaining new meanings entirely different from their original ones.
Paul Anthony Jones|

Chrysalis vs. Cocoon vs. Pupa: What’s the Difference?

Confused about pupae, chrysalises, and cocoons? Discover the key differences between these metamorphic terms.
CaLea Johnson|

The Right Way to Pronounce ‘Uranus,’ According to Experts

Here’s how scientists and other credible sources pronounce the planet Uranus’s name.
Ellen Gutoskey|

Definition Detective Quiz #47

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|

11 Words for People Who Hate Certain Things

Everyone hates something. And there’s probably a word for that.
Amanda Green|

Why Is It Called a “Sledgehammer”?

The favorite tool of HGTV hosts, explained.
Jake Rossen|

Definition Detective Quiz #46

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|

Where Does the Term ‘The Birds and The Bees’ Come From?

Birds and bees get all the action—and Samuel Taylor Coleridge was jealous. Here are the possible origins of the euphemistic phrase.
Nick Greene|

25 Foreign Words With Hilarious Literal Meanings

Beware of "paper vampires" and "ghost breath"! There‘s a lot that can be lost—and found—in translation.
Emily Petsko|

The 10 Word Pronunciations People Are Searching for Most

If you have a hard time pronouncing croissant, you‘re not alone.
CaLea Johnson|

Why Is It Called “Pickleball”?

Forget what you’ve heard about a dog—here’s the real story behind the origins of the name ‘pickleball.’
Paul Anthony Jones|

More From the Language Section

Why Is a V-Shaped Hairline Called a “Widow’s Peak”?

A 15th-century queen might have something to do with it. Plus, why the heck vampires have them.
Paul Anthony Jones|

Why Do We Say “Over My Dead Body”?

Where this bizarre expression came from, how its meaning has evolved, and where you might have seen it used.
Paul Anthony Jones|

How 15 Bizarre British Dishes Got Their Names

Facts to keep on hand for the next time you’re digging into a dish of spotted dick or a serving of singing hinnies.
Paul Anthony Jones|

Mental Floss’s 2026 Desk Calendars Are for Word Nerds and Fact Fans of All Kinds

Our Amazing Facts 2026 calendar features fun facts from all areas, while the Word Nerd 2026 calendar is especially for language lovers.
Ellen Gutoskey|

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

Nickname origins can be tricky—but this one is actually pretty straightforward. (And it doesn't involve pegs.)
Ellen Gutoskey|

Definition Detective Quiz #45

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|

13 Things Made Collectible Thanks to Spelling Errors

From the Vatican’s “Lesus” medal to Beanie Babies to the Civil War coins that declare “shoot him on the spoot.”
Arika Okrent|

Why Is It Called a “Ball Peen Hammer”?

The tool name that’s long been the laughingstock of adolescents has a perfectly sensible explanation.
Jake Rossen|
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