play video old school grammar humorsome
Up Next
Title
CANCEL
video old school grammar humorsome
Usage Notes

Old-School Grammar

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

Up next

play video old school grammar humorsome
Old-School Grammar

 

Many of today's grammar rules can be traced to the opinions of one 18th century writer.

play is none singular or plural video
Is 'None' Singular or Plural?

 

Or both? Or neither?

play video affect vs effect
Affect vs. Effect

 

Here's the lowdown on what may be the most confusing pair of words in the English language.

play video lay vs lie
Lay vs. Lie

 

Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference.

play body parts video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

 

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

play hot mess
Hot Mess

 

Our research turned up two archaic literal meanings

play video how a word gets into the dicionary
How a Word Gets into the Dictionary

 

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

Games & Quizzes

See All
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?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name that thing flower edition
Name That Flower Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
See All