Mental Floss

WORDS





She may decide to use might in her essay.

'May' and 'might' are two modal verbs that are often used interchangeably, but there are grammar rules governing which one is technically correct.

Ellen Gutoskey




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

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.

Ellen Gutoskey














Inventor Elijah McCoy is may or may not be "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.

Ellen Gutoskey


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

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.

Austin Thompson