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Words Matter

New Dictionary Words for 2011

'Cougar,' 'Crowdsourcing,' 'Bromance' & more — the latest additions to America's best-selling dictionary.


'Cougar,' 'Crowdsourcing,' 'Bromance' & more — the latest additions to America's best-selling dictionary.

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play video new words for 2011
New Dictionary Words for 2011

 

'Cougar,' 'Crowdsourcing,' 'Bromance' & more — the latest additions to America's best-selling dictionary.

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The True Story of the Backward Index

 

These people needed a computer

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How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

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

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Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

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The Serial Comma Explained

 

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

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When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

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How Do You Pronounce 'Vase'?

 

And is one way more correct than the others?