What ‘Sic’ Means—And How To Use It Correctly
The literal meaning of ‘sic’ is ‘so’ or ‘thus.’ But the way writers use it is a little more nuanced.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Are Some Liquors Called “Spirits”?
One theory suggests that we call liquor 'spirits' because of alcohol’s association with one spirit in particular: the Holy Spirit. But there are other theories.
1970-01-01 08:00
5 Ways the English Language Breaks Its Own Rules
English, the language of Shakespeare and the internet, is often touted for its flexibility and adaptability. But with great flexibility comes great inconsistenc
1970-01-01 08:00
Fewer vs. Less: When to Use Each
‘Less’ versus ‘fewer’ is pretty straightforward. ‘Less than’ vs. ‘fewer than’ is slightly less so. Here’s how to get it right every time.
1970-01-01 08:00
100 of the Most Commonly Misspelled Words in the English Language
Don’t get embarrassed if you can’t spell ‘embarrass.’ It’s apparently—not ‘apparantly’—a pretty common error.
1970-01-01 08:00
Time Traveler’s Guide: Verb Tenses in 8 Languages From Around the World
If you've ever felt that English could use a couple more tenses to truly capture the nuances of the past, present, and future, this exploration of languages that have taken verb tenses to fascinating new heights is for you.
1970-01-01 08:00
5 Fascinating Conlangs You Can Learn
A conlang is a constructed language, where someone has intentionally created its grammar, vocabulary, and phonology. Here are five you can learn.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Does ‘Of Course’ Mean ‘Yes’?
‘Of course’ is one of the most versatile ‘yes’ synonyms we have. But what does it actually mean?
1970-01-01 08:00
To Apostrophe or Not to Apostrophe: How to Pluralize Your Last Name
Pluralizing a last name can seem confusing—and it gets even more confusing when you want to make a name both plural and possessive. Here’s how to correctly do both.
1970-01-01 08:00
A Simple Trick for Remembering When To Use ‘Who’ vs. ‘Whom’
All you need for this easy grammar check is a couple of pronouns you already know how to use correctly.
1970-01-01 08:00
Homonym vs. Homophone vs. Homograph: What’s the Difference?
Here’s why some homophone examples also work as homograph and homonym examples.
1970-01-01 08:00
15 Commonly Misheard Phrases That Actually Make Sense
Is it coleslaw or cold slaw? Deep-seated or deep-seeded? There are right answers, but the wrong ones seem kind of right, too.
1970-01-01 08:00