WORDS

Why Do We Call the NCAA Basketball Tournament 'March Madness'?

The story of March Madness has everything: Chaucer, sex-crazed hares, Alice in Wonderland, lawsuits, and a basketball coach-turned-poet from Illinois.

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!”

Sadly, ALDI doesn't stand for “Awesome Lunch and Dinner Items” or “Always Loving Discounts, Inc.”

What Does ALDI Stand For, Anyway?

The first ALDI locations bore a different name, but the owners had changed it by the time they had brought their grocery stores to the U.S.

Height isn't the only difference between horses and ponies.

What's the Difference Between Horses and Ponies?

Knowing your equines is no mere horseplay. Here's how to tell the difference between horses, ponies, and even miniature horses.

Virginians may soon be able to legally swear in public.

Virginians Haven't Been Able to Legally Swear Since 1792 But That's About to Change

The state has prohibited public expletives since 1792, with offenders facing a $250 fine. That's about to change.

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.

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.

Read Guy Beringer’s 1895 Essay That Coined the Term Brunch

Based on this essay, Guy Beringer—the father of brunch—almost definitely would have approved of those bottomless mimosas.

'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.

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.

The 100 Most Popular Baby Names of the Decade

The biggest baby-naming trend of the decade? Ignoring the most popular naming trends. While some names still retain popularity, parents are opting for more unusual names.

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.

What’s the Difference Between Forests, Woods, and Jungles?

The differences between forests, woods, and jungles aren't exactly an apple trees to orange trees kind of comparison.

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.

9 Words That Were Borrowed From One Language, Transformed, Then Borrowed Back

These words found new meanings on a foreign exchange adventure and returned home with a fresh perspective.

What's the Difference Between a College and a University?

Certain traits define the difference between colleges and universities. (And no, tuition isn't one of them.)

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