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mrs malaprop
Words at Play

What is a Malaprop?

Editor Peter Sokolowski will tell you all the perpendiculars

A malapropism, or malaprop, is the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase, especially the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in context—like polo bears instead of polar bears.

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play mrs malaprop
What is a Malaprop?

 

We'll tell you all the perpendiculars

play peter-sokolowski-indict-graphic
Video: Why Is There a 'C' in 'Indict'?

 

And who put it there, anyway?

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Words of the Year: 1066

 

English was never the same after the Norman Conquest

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How to Remember 'Affect' and 'Effect'

 

A simple way to keep them apart. (Most of the time.)

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The Schwa

 

The most common vowel sound in English causes many spelling problems.

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Is It 'Hanger' or 'Hangar'?

 

How to remember which is which

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i.e. vs. e.g.

 

Often used, often confused. Here's some guidance and insight.

Games & Quizzes

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Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
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Blossom Pick the best words!
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Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
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