vocabulary

50 Best Examples of Hyperbole in the Whole Wide World!

Are you sitting down? These examples of hyperbole are the bomb!

13 Redundant Phrases You’re Probably Using All the Time

Do you use an abundance of redundance? An overflowing flow of superfluous surplus? Quit being so extra!


13 Hilarious Examples of How Not to Use a Thesaurus

Do you own a lexicon of riches chiffonier publication? That is, a treasure chest of words in book form, otherwise...


24 Words That Don’t Mean What You Think They Do

Have you ever heard someone say, "I was literally scared to death?" That's impossible because the dead can't talk. Even...


11 Adjectives Everyone Should Use More Often

Some have been pushed to the back of your vocabulary. Others are just plain fun to say. Either way, these...


7 Words You Never Realized Were Examples of Onomatopoeia

You know the classic examples of onomatopoeias like “boom,” “splat,” and “pow,” but you probably never realized that these words...


25 Homophones People Confuse All the Time

Homophones are two words that have the same pronunciation but different definitions and spellings. Read on to ensure that you...


18 Latin Phrases That Will Make You Sound Smarter

After all, omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina.



24 Words (and Phrases) That Make You Sound Stupid

Big words, business jargon and hyperbole intended to pump up your language only have the opposite effect. Check yourself before...


25 City Names Around the World You’re Mispronouncing

Sound like a native—or at least a savvy tourist—when you learn how to say these place names correctly.


5 Words That Mean the Opposite of What You Think

If your house is "inflammable," you probably need a fire extinguisher.


6 Simple Words You’re Probably Pronouncing Wrong

No, "gyro" is not pronounced like "gyroscope."


Finally! Here’s When to Use “E.g.” Versus “I.e.”

We’re all guilty of making this mistake.


The Origins of 9 Commonly Used Phrases

You use these idioms all the time, but did you ever think about where they came from?


The Real Reason Some English Words Have Silent Letters

There are legitimate explanations for why words like pterodactyl and tsunami exist.


The Real Reason Why IKEA Products Have Such Weird Names

IKEA is as famous for its ready-to-assemble designs as it is for its product names. Here are the meanings behind...



Science Has Just Discovered the Secret to Learning a New Language

When it comes learning a new language, practice really does make perfect.


6 Military Terms That You Use Every Day Without Even Knowing It

If you've ever reached for a morning "cup of joe" or passed an exam "with flying colours," you're well on...

21 Everyday Phrases You’d Never Believe Were Invented By Shakespeare

You don't have to walk around proclaiming "to be or not to be" to bring Shakespeare into everyday conversation. Here's...


10 Amazing Words We No Longer Use (But Should!)

Zounds! These obsolete yet colourful words have fallen out of use, but you’ll sound super smart mixing them into your...


Weird Facts About 7 Punctuation Marks You See Everywhere

A Dutchman calls it the monkey’s tail, an Israeli insists it’s a strudel. They aren’t bantering about some new simian-themed...


9 of the Most Expensive Typos in the World

There's no such thing as a harmless typo.


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10 of the Hardest English Words to Pronounce, According to Non-Native Speakers

With about 20 vowel sounds, 25 consonant sounds, and numerous irregularities in spellings and pronunciations, English can be a tricky...


11 Words and Phrases That Don’t Mean What You Think They Do

Prepare to have your mind blown: Here are just a few of the misleading names we commonly use for foods,...