Words

She's happy because she finally understands that she's lying down—not laying down.

The ‘laying vs. lying’ situation is tricky—but direct objects can help.

Don't call this "barbecuing" in front of a pitmaster.

Though they’re sometimes used interchangeably, grilling and barbecuing describe distinct methods of outdoor cooking.

New York Yankee Domingo Germán pitching a perfect game against the Oakland A's on June 28, 2023.

The perfect game is to a baseball pitcher what Moby-Dick was to Captain Ahab.

In this episode of The List Show, episode, we're breaking out some favorite old-timey insults that people should definitely start using again.

You probably shouldn’t do it—unless there really is a fire.

Back in 1919, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. sort of made it seem like it was against the law to yell “fire“ while in a crowded theater, so we understand if you’re confused.

People really, really hate the word 'moist'—and researchers may have figured out why.

You may think you detest the word ‘moist’ because of the way it sounds, but research indicates that that’s not the full story.

The definition of ‘phobia’ is similar to that of ‘fear’—but there’s a big difference in the threat level.

Atlanta’s culture doesn’t just resonate to the suburbs—it hits every corner of the country. But there’s always a chance you could get caught off guard while visiting, so here’s a handy sampler of terms to know if you decide to hold it down in A-Town.

There’s a reason nobody’s referring to the missing ‘Titanic’ submersible as a submarine.

Use these handy tips to get pronouns right.

A pronoun slip can be embarrassing, especially if you pride yourself on being generally good at using the language people have asked you to use. Why do pronoun slips happen, and why do we seem to mess up pronouns more than names or other gendered words?

A hat being thrown after Mark Stone of the Las Vegas Golden Knights scored a hat trick in game five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final.

The term 'hat trick' is most associated with hockey, but that's not the sport that started it all.

What's the right way to describe a group of worms? A "bunch" may sound like a lazy descriptor, but it's correct.

Ducks would very much like to be excluded from this narrative.

A new iPhone update will spell the end for everyone’s least favorite autocorrect fail.

These linguistic illusions will hurt your brain.

Linguistic illusions—a phenomenon in which your judgment or understanding of a sentence or phrase conflicts with its actual meaning or structure—reveal how we process the world, and remind us that things aren’t always as they seem.

Matthew Macfadyen and Sarah Snook in 'Succession.'

The Roy family of 'Succession' is pretty foul-mouthed, but are they the filthiest TV characters?

The first African American dictionary of its kind is due in 2025.

The years-in-the-making Oxford Dictionary of African American English will offer proper attribution to words and phrases that originated in Black culture.

Where does this literary device come from, and why is it named after a fish?

The figurative phrase is more than 200 years old, but the obscure etymology of a 'red herring' is a fishy story that is itself a red herring.

Learning how to pronounce ‘biopic’ is one thing. Understanding why it’s such a commonly mispronounced word is another.

And how does a range fit into all this?

The baton has been a law enforcement tool for close to two centuries. But did anyone named Billy actually have anything to do with it?

Know what to say when you visit Little Rhody.

Familiarize yourself with these 13 expressions and your Ocean State stay will be that much smoother and more satisfying.

'Lady with a Parasol' by Impressionist Hamilton Hamilton.

Why be sweltering and sunburnt when you can be swoly and birsled instead?

This dachshund wants you to know you're probably mispronouncing the name of his breed.

Dachshund is actually made up of two smaller German words (dachs, which means “badger,” and hund, which means “dog”) and it's not pronounced “dash-hound.”

Scuba is just one of the words that's actually an acronym.

Here are the stories and meanings behind 25 words, names, and titles that you might not have realized actually stand for something.

Lay vs. Lie: When to Use Each

Barbecuing vs. Grilling: What’s the Difference?

Perfect Game vs. No-Hitter vs. Shutout: What’s the Difference?

16 Old-Timey Insults For Modern Conversations

Is It Illegal to Falsely Shout 'Fire' in a Crowded Theater?

The Science Behind Why People Hate the Word ‘Moist’

Fear vs. Phobia: What’s the Difference?

20 Atlanta Slang Terms You Should Know

Submarine vs. Submersible: What’s the Difference?

Why It Can be Hard to Get Pronouns Right, According to Linguistics

Where Does the Phrase ‘Hat Trick’ Come From?

50 Collective Nouns for Groups of Animals

Your Ducking iPhone Will Soon Stop Autocorrecting the F-Word to ‘Duck’

5 Linguistic Illusions That Will Make You Go “Wait, What?”

The #@!*~ Most Swear-Filled TV Show Finales of All Time

Scholars Have Released the First Words Chosen for The Oxford Dictionary of African American English

Where Did the Phrase 'Red Herring' Come From?

Have You Been Misled by ‘Misles’? The Linguistics Behind These Commonly Mispronounced Words

Oven vs. Stove: What's the Difference?

Why Is A Police Officer’s Baton Called a Billy Club?

13 Rhode Island Slang Terms You Should Know

13 Old-Timey Synonyms for ‘Hot’ to Bring Back This Summer

The Right Way to Pronounce 'Dachshund'

25 Words That Are Actually Acronyms