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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.

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

 

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

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The Serial Comma Explained

 

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

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Fun, Funner, Funnest

 

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

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What is a malaprop?

 

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

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Is It 'day today' or 'day-to-day'?

 

What about Day Tomorrow?

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings