play video 20014 word of the year
Words of the Year

2014 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

The inside scoop behind our 2014 Word of the Year selections.


The inside scoop behind our 2014 Word of the Year selections.

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play video 20014 word of the year
2014 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

 

The inside scoop behind our 2014 Word of the Year selections.

play serial comma
The Serial Comma Explained

 

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

play peter-sokolowski-indict-graphic
Video: Why is there a 'c' in 'indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

play 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.

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

 

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

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play merriam-webster eggcorns title page
What Is an Eggcorn?

 

And how did it get that name?