Latest Video

video his or her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

sneaked vs snuck video
Sneaked vs. Snuck

No other common verb follows the pattern of sneak…snuck. And no one's quite sure why.

further vs farther video
Further vs. Farther

They started as the same word, but their meanings have drifted apart over time.

how to read a french menu video
How to Read a French Menu

Enjoy some vichyssoise or an amuse-bouche without begging pardon for your French.

video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

video title attorney generals
Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

fun funner funnest
Fun, Funner, Funnest

Why does it sound strange to say 'funner' or 'funnest?'

video websters video of 1864
Webster's Dictionary of 1864

The landmark edition that transformed the way dictionaries are made.

video old school grammar humorsome
Old-School Grammar

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

video schwa
The Schwa

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

video cynic
The History of 'Cynic'

How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism.

video ie vs eg
i.e. vs. e.g.

Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.

video its vs its
Its vs. It's

Some practical guidance, and interesting history, about a common mistake.

video healthy vs healthful
Healthy vs. Healthful

Why both words are equally good for you.

videos pictures in the dictionary
Pictures in the Dictionary

The story of those iconic illustrations.

video between you and i or me
I vs. Me

'Between you and __'? Simple guidance for a tricky pronoun.

video literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts

video mischievous nulcear library mispronunciations
'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine

'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.

video how a word gets into the dicionary
How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

What our editors are looking for when they enter words in Merriam-Webster.

video drive safe ly
Drive Safe: In Praise of Flat Adverbs

You don't have to end all your adverbs in -ly to talk right.

video soup vs soop
An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut

video hopefully
Hopefully

Contrary to what your teachers may have said, we believe the popular usage of this word is correct. Hopefully you agree.

video ending a sentence with a preposition
Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with.

video who vs whom
Who vs. Whom

Good news for those who feel stuffy saying 'whom.'

video affect vs effect
Affect vs. Effect

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.

page 3 of 4

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of chastise

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Face Your Fears

  • clown-mask
  • Arachnophobia is the fear of what multi-legged creatures?
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Pick the best words!

PLAY