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“Habitat”: a natural, and etymological, history
How a frequentative verb connects Jimmy Carter and Carl Linnaeus Read more.
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Chatting 2024 Words of the Year with Grammar Girl
Watch and listen to John Kelly chat about the 2024 Words of the Year with Mignon Fogarty on the delightful and distinguished Grammar Girl podcast. Read more.
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Why does a ball drop on New Year’s Eve?
The ball drop is based on a system that once helped ships set their clocks—and navigate—in the 1800s. Read more.
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“Drone”: where etymology meets entomology
There is a lot of noise about mystery drones buzzing overhead. It turns out there is a lot of noise buzzing behind the word “drone,” too. Read more.
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On the origins of “mocha” and “mousse”
A Red Sea port and green ground cover lie behind the name of a headline color. Read more.