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Word History

Words of the Year: 1066

Why is pig meat called 'pork' and cow meat called 'beef?' Because English took on a big serving of French words following the Norman Conquest.


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play video title words of the year 1066
Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

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Some Odd Words with ISMO: "People Tipping"

 

Comedian ISMO on the complexities of the word 'tip'

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Alright vs. All Right

 

Is 'alright' all right?

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'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

 

We're gonna stop you right there

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Drive Safe: In Praise of Flat Adverbs

 

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

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When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

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An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

 

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut