History 5 lengthy words in the English language Since English borrows heavily from other languages, you can find many words that build up length with multiple roots and influences. Let's explore some of these super-long words.
History The twisty history of cursive writing Who invented cursive handwriting? Why do we use it, and how did it start? After thousands of years, it’s incredible that cursive has survived despite its removal from most modern curriculums.
History These 9 common words have the most bizarre origins While many English words simply came into being from Latin, Greek, or other foreign languages, some words have seemingly bizarre, and even downright macabre, beginnings.
History 10 words that have recently been removed from the dictionary As language evolves and new vocabulary (including slang) is coined and recognized, older words that have long fallen out of use are retired and removed from dictionaries.
History 6 people who changed the English language forever Many of the words you use on a regular basis were totally made up at one point. Let’s take a look at people who permanently altered the English language.
History Who actually created all these grammar rules? Grammar rules have a long and convoluted history. Let's take a look at how grammar rules were invented.
History 13 ways technology has changed language over the years Texting, Google searches and social media have all changed the way we now speak English. Here are 13 ways technology has changed the way we speak over the last 20 years.
History Why do we drive on the parkway but park in a driveway? One of the conundrums of the English language, parkway and driveway are examples of words that don’t quite make sense, but we understand and use them all the same.
History History of the modern dictionary Most people don’t have a dog-eared copy of a dictionary on their desk anymore, and word lovers and learners are turning to the internet. Let’s take a look back at how the English dictionary has evolved over the years.
History The evolution of the English alphabet You likely learned the song in one of your first lessons in preschool, but the alphabet is much more complex than that. Let's look at the history of the alphabet.
History The origins of your favorite tongue twisters Here are the origin stories of a few of the most commonly known tongue twisters in the world.
History 12 words and their wacky Latin origins Here are 15 words you probably use regularly, and their intriguing ancient Latin roots.
History How the most iconic cocktails got their names As any cocktail drinker will know, there are a handful of staples that have become timeless in their effects and execution. Let’s take a look at how some of these got their names.
Grammar Are "toward" & "towards" really interchangeable? Similar to their grammarian brethren of backward, frontward, upward, downward, or any other directional prepositions, whether you decide to include the suffix of “s” on toward, you will be correct in either case. But why?
Slang Where did the term "Debbie Downer" originate? Who is Debbie Downer and why is she so good at ruining a party?
All Words Where did blogs, magazines and newspapers get their start? There’s more ways than ever to get your daily dose of news, insight and information. Where did the words newspaper, magazine, and blog come from?
History How streets get their names Have you ever wondered where your street got its name? First, let’s look at the supposed differences between roads, streets, lanes, avenues and boulevards.
History Where did the word "smoothie" come from? Whether green, fruity, frosty, or creamy, smoothies are one of the most popular go-to options for breakfast, snacks and post-workout recovery meals these days. But have you ever stopped to think about where the word smoothie comes from?
History Do you know the real meaning behind these popular sayings? One of the many quirks of the English language is our knack for twisting words into proverbs and phrases. Let's take a look at these idioms.
History What do A.M. and P.M. actually stand for? In Latin, a.m. stands for ante meridian. Translated, this means before midday. The counterpart, p.m., stands for post meridian, which, you guessed it, translates to after midday.
History How Did The Months Get Their Names? The names of the months were set in Ancient Rome. They went through a few changes, and there are clues that allude to this in the current names.
History The History Behind Cooking Terms Of course, with the development of new methods and technologies, new language has to be created to describe them. Here, we will take a look at some of the modern cooking words used in English, and where they came from.
History Five Common Barbecue Terms and Their Tasty Origins There are plenty of hotly contested terms in the world of barbecue that anyone who enjoys smoked pork meals should know.
History Where did states get their names? State pride is alive and well from Alabama to Wyoming, but have you ever wondered where your state got its name?
History The History Behind the Word Firework Elaborate fireworks displays celebrate everything from independence to marriage. But where did the word firework actually come from?
