A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Knowledge - Grammar / Spelling

Ever gotten called out for the difference between you’re and your? We’ve all been there–and we don’t ever want to go back. These insightful and interesting grammar articles will turn you into a word whiz quicker than you can blame autocorrect for your grammar faux pas.

Add Filter


A Student Just Debunked the Most Famous Grammar Rule of All Time

Repeat after us: "I before E, except after W"


This Weird Grammar Rule Is Why We Say “Flip Flop” Instead of “Flop Flip”

You've known this English rule your entire life—and never heard of it before now.


Why Grammar Nerds Hate it When You Say ‘I’m Nauseous’

This old English argument will make you sick to your stomach.


You’ll Never Guess What Amazon Was Almost Called—and Why They Had to Change the Name

Before Amazon became the world's largest online shopping site, there were several different contenders for names—and if you type some...



The Surprisingly Simple Reason We Say ‘Hello’ When We Answer the Phone

Thank Thomas Edison for this uniform phone greeting. If Alexander Graham Bell had his way, we'd all talking like pirates.


Ever Wondered Why 11 and 12 Aren’t Part of the Teens?

Who knew there was a reason behind this?

Why Do We Call ‘Shotgun’ to Save the Front Passenger Seat?

Yes, it does have something to do with actual shotguns.


Quiz: So You Think You’re a Crossword Puzzle Expert? Prove It!

Test your knowledge of these words from the 2016 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.



We Corrected the Grammar of 10 Classic Songs—And Made Them Way Worse

Actually, Janis, I think you mean, "Bobby McGee and I."


9 Buzzwords People Love to Hate and Their Fascinating Origins

These irritatingly overused buzzwords didn't appear yesterday. Many have been around years (or decades!) longer than you might suspect.


6 Words Women Pretty Much Universally Hate

Experts at Oberlin College asked 500 women what they considered the most unpleasant words in the English language. Here's what...


9 Food Names Inspired by Parts of the Body

These foods were creatively named for parts of the body.



25 Italian Restaurant Words You Need to Know

You'll be an expert at ordering in no time.

“Discreet” vs. “Discrete”: What’s the Difference?

Sound smarter by knowing when to use discreet vs. discrete. These handy tips will help you keep them straight!