Supporters may call him a “whistle-blower” but that term wasn’t always so congratulatory
Vocabulary
Why The Deserves a Symbol All Its Own
“It’s time to give the the recognition it deserves,” argues one Australian restaurateur
‘Impudent Huzzy!’: How to Speak Like a Founding Father
Slang from the 18th century isn’t as “frowzy” as you might suspect
The Many Definitions of Marriage
Today’s Supreme Court ruling nixed a federal definition. But there are plenty left
Oh Yeah, Babe: Dictionary Adds ‘Slow Jam’, ‘Dad Dancing’ and ‘Geekery’
Four times per year, the Oxford English Dictionary fleshes out human history just a little bit more.
Knaidel v. Kneydl: Debating the Winning Spelling Bee Word
There were also critics after President Wilson oversaw a spelling bee 100 years ago today. Some people are just too sensitive for words.
What You Missed While Not Watching the National Spelling Bee Finals
There were 11. And then there was one. O-N-E.
Six Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Scripps National Spelling Bee
There’s a secret word committee, or as they probably call it — a clandestine lexicon coterie.
Let’s Go B-A-N-A-N-A-S: Annual National Spelling Bee Starts Today
If only Gwen Stefani were forced to compete against this year’s 281 contestants …
Why F. Scott Fitzgerald Is All Over the Dictionary
Not merely a stellar writer, the Gatsby author also gets credit for his “impactive” additions to the English language
The Meaning of ‘Squish’ and Other Fun-To-Say Political Slights
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called some of his Republican colleagues “squishes.” Here’s hoping he busts out “snollygosters” next.
How We Talk About the Boston Marathon Bombing — and Why It Matters
TIME talks with linguist Sandra Silberstein about the words we use to describe the Boston Marathon bombing, and what that tells us about how we perceive the event and its aftermath.