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We’re giving you permission to disobey your stodgy old high school English teacher.

Is it bald faced lie, or bold faced lie? Coming down the pike? Or pipe? Coleslaw, or cold slaw?

These familiar words and sayings, such as ableism, couch potato, and more, aren’t as old as you might think.

When winter bears down, it can be hard to think of anything outside of how much you hate (or love!) the snow and ice. Here are a few of the words and phenomena that could define this season.

Words

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You might be surprised to learn that German chocolate cake has nothing to do with Germany—it’s actually named after the guy who developed the specific chocolate.

These words don’t mean what they once did centuries ago.

No word on how Santa feels about the Jolly Green Giant’s appropriation of his trademark phrase.

Take a moment to enjoy the advent of the colder months by curling up with these 14 words for winter from around the world.

Looking back at where the word “Christmas” came from and how it became popularized.

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.

Ever wonder where slang terms like snafu, valley girl, and dumpster fire came from?

Nobody will think you’re talking about baseball season, open season, or any other season. But why?

Grammar

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You know this rule, even if you don’t know you know it.

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.

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.

Slang

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The English language is bursting with colorful expressions that come from strange and surprising places—and many of them once had literal meanings that the general public has long since forgotten.

Names

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Holly and Noelle are just two of the most popular holiday-inspired baby names, but what about the others that most people wouldn’t think of? Here are 20 sweet holiday-inspired names to start your list.

Is your new pet’s name on this list?

If you’re looking for baby name inspiration, these titles have a strong sense of place.

If you need name inspiration for your own pup, take a cue from pet owners across the country.

Best of Language

It can be shocking to realize that we are able to follow rules that no one ever taught us explicitly.

English, the language of Shakespeare and the internet, is often touted for its flexibility and adaptability. But with great flexibility comes great inconsistenc

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)

We’re taking Strunk and White and grammarians everywhere to task in the latest episode of The List Show.

Spelling

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

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.

Would you recoil in terror if spell-check ever stopped working? Fear not: You're in good company.

Pronunciation

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Americans have a tough time figuring out how to correctly pronounce these words, from ‘açai’ to ‘tzatziki’ and beyond.

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