Dear Grammar Police: Kindly Cease and Desist

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you’ve ever used “y’all” in a business setting, you might be get an odd look from your colleagues but you might actually be helping the word get into the dictionary. Mirriam Webster’s Kory Stamper explains just how words end up making the jump from the popular vernacular to the dictionary. Sometimes society just keeps saying words wrong until they’re right (‘nuclear’ vs ’nuculer’). And sometimes these small decisions make a big difference. Which would explain the use of “irregardless” in the Supreme Court. Join us as Kory explains us the big difference between being a prescriptivist and a descriptivist.

 

WATCH | How Dictionary Makers Think About Language

 

 

This article was originally published by Big Think. Read the original article.

WATCH | Google Tells You Which US States Have Horrible Spelling Issues

There are plenty of words in the English language that have the ability to stifle even the best spelling sticklers. Luckily, Google is there to help. Introducing the words that have stumped folks in seven states around the country. New York/California: Beautiful Texas: Maintenance Florida: Receipt New Jersey: Twelve Louisiana: Giraffe Connecticut/West Virginia: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Illinois: Appreciate