LANGUAGE

What the Death of the Apostrophe Protection Society Means for Grammarians

The head of the society signed off for good, declaring that “The ignorance and laziness present in modern times have won!”

If scientists can't develop a vaccine for a new virus quickly enough, an epidemic can turn into a pandemic.

Pandemic vs. Epidemic: What’s the Difference?

Definitions of 'pandemic' and 'epidemic' differ, but it’s not always clear which one best describes a disease outbreak like the new coronavirus.

You’re Probably Pronouncing Nevada All Wrong

It's a question that Americans have been arguing about for decades: How exactly do you pronounce Nevada?

The One Letter in the Alphabet That Can't Be Silent

V is the only letter in the English language that makes itself heard no matter which words it appears in.

Rosetta Stone Is Offering Big Savings on Language-Learning Subscriptions for a Limited Time

You can save big on Rosetta Stone courses in German, Italian, Spanish, and many other languages for a limited time.

How IKEA Comes Up With Its Product Names

IKEA, the beloved Swedish home furnishings chain, has a coherent naming strategy that its non-swedophone customers are missing out on.

New App Lets You Hear Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales in Original 14th-Century English

Monty Python member Terry Jones—who wrote two books on Chaucer—contributed to the app before his death in January.

Can You Ever Truly Lose Your Accent?

If you're an adult, the accent you use to speak now is likely the accent you'll have for the rest of your life.

'Turdsworth': Lord Byron’s Not-So-Affectionate Nickname for William Wordsworth

The Romantic poets' verse was beautiful and inspired—and so were their insults, though not in the same way.

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14 Colonial-Era Slang Terms to Work Into Modern Conversation

When you think of Colonial America, soldiers marching to fife and drum and Benjamin Franklin flying a kite are probably what come to mind—but some awesome slang came out of the period, too.

Inventor Elijah McCoy is may or may not be "The Real McCoy."

Who Is 'The Real McCoy'?

The popularity of the surname McCoy makes it difficult to pinpoint one origin on the phrase, but here are the leading theories.

The Netherlands Is Asking the World Not to Call It “Holland” Anymore—Here’s Why

It’s part of a tourism campaign to take the heat off clogged vacation spots like Amsterdam and other popular cities.

One Word You Should Never Use In a Conversation

Those subtly apologetic follow-up emails could be weakening your original message—and affecting others’ impression of you, too.

An illustration of an ancient Yule celebration, as seen in the German newspaper Die Gartenlaube in 1880.

The Many Stories Behind the Origins of Yule

The word "yule" gets thrown around a lot during the Christmas season, but what does it even mean? Well, like so many of the holiday's traditions, its origins are a bit complex.

Our 35 Most Popular Stories of 2019

Mental Floss readers are a curious bunch, as evidenced by their favorite stories of 2019—which covered everything from how much those Beanie Babies gathering dust in your attic might be worth to the life of Rosa Parks.

Merriam-Webster Declares They Its Word of the Year

This year, the nonbinary pronoun "they" got a new dictionary definition and some high-profile endorsements.

What’s the Difference Between Crocheting and Knitting?

For one, dropping a stitch while knitting will probably upset you more than dropping one while crocheting.

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What’s the Difference Between Soup and Stew?

Two small but significant differences set your vegetable beef stew apart from your mom’s vegetable beef soup.

Rosetta Stone Is Offering Up to Half Off Language-Learning Software for Black Friday

Learn a new language and save money. Through November 27, shoppers can get up to half off on Rosetta’s programs.

Uitwaaien, or Outblowing, Is the Dutch Cure for the Winter Blues

After embracing the coziness of hygge this winter, try uitwaaien—the Dutch practice of doing physical activity in cold, windy weather.

Listen to a Gloriously Guttural Rendition of Frozen’s “Let It Go” Performed in Klingon

What better way to celebrate the upcoming release of ‘Frozen 2’ than with an epic Star Trek/Disney crossover?

5 Benefits of Sarcasm, According to Science

The benefits of a cutting remark can go beyond getting some laughs. Properly deployed, sarcasm can have real social rewards.

Oxford University’s Student Union Is Replacing Clapping With Jazz Hands

Noiseless, trigger-less jazz hands are the British Sign Language’s official expression for applause.

12 Surprising Facts About Viking Runestones

Standing tall in the Scandinavian countryside, Viking runestones bear messages from 1000 years ago in an alphabet called the Futhark. Read on for more little-known lore.

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