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It’s time to brush up on your vocabulary.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
If you’ve ever Googled any of these words to figure out the difference between them, you are far from alone.
Paul Anthony Jones|
A 15th-century queen might have something to do with it. Plus, why the heck vampires have them.
Paul Anthony Jones|

Words

Brushing up on some boring window terminology could mean the difference between life and death. (Seriously.)
Jake Rossen|
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
You’re probably botching a few of these—read on to find out how to say them correctly.
Paul Anthony Jones|
If you ask for a “jye-roh” in Greece, prepare to get some funny looks.
Marla Mackoul|
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|
Cutting down on syllables is just one reason ‘cop’ became synonymous with ‘police officer.’
Jake Rossen|
Here’s where the word ‘biopic’ came from, how to say it right, and why so many people say it wrong.
Ellen Gutoskey|
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|

Grammar

You know this rule, even if you don’t know you know it.
Michele Debczak|
Lots of languages have distinct plural forms for ‘you.’ Wouldn’t it be useful if English had one too? Spoiler alert: It does. Several, in fact.
Arika Okrent|
From the NASA mistake that made an interplanetary rocket explode to the bible with a very naughty misprint, these typos are an ode to proofreaders.
Jennifer M Wood|

Slang

The Arnold Schwarzenegger–starring Netflix series takes its title from World War II military slang. Here’s what 'fubar' means.

Names

Find out what names Americans were giving their babies in the year 2000, and how they compare to today's most popular names.
Ellen Gutoskey|
These names show up in Disney movies and shows, and they also happen to be some of the most popular baby names today.
CaLea Johnson|
Nickname origins can be tricky—but this one is actually pretty straightforward. (And it doesn't involve pegs.)
Ellen Gutoskey|
From ‘Cholmondeley’ to ‘Wriothesley,’ here's how to pronounce Britain's least intuitive last names.
Ellen Gutoskey|

Best of Language

It can be shocking to realize that we are able to follow rules that no one ever taught us explicitly.
Arika Okrent|
English, the language of Shakespeare and the internet, is often touted for its flexibility and adaptability. But with great flexibility comes great inconsistenc
Brett Reynolds|
You're going to be astonished how many of these you hopefully already know, but I'm sharing them because many millions of people don't. It's not Aw-ree, for instance, it's ah-wry (awry)
Alvin Ward|
We’re taking Strunk and White and grammarians everywhere to task in the latest episode of The List Show.
mentalfloss .com|

Spelling

From the Vatican’s “Lesus” medal to Beanie Babies to the Civil War coins that declare “shoot him on the spoot.”
Arika Okrent|
English spelling can be frustrating and confusing, but there are things you can do to help make the task of getting it right more manageable.
Editorial Staff|
Would you recoil in terror if spell-check ever stopped working? Fear not: You're in good company.
Mark Mancini|

Pronunciation

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