In a holiday-themed episode of their incredibly informative whiteboard series for Mental Floss, linguist Arika Okrent and illustrator Sean O’Neill explain the meaning of the old English lyrics of several classic Christmas carols and point out proper grammar intended in each. While you’re caroling this season, here’s a few grammar points to watch out for.
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Common Phrases and Words in English That Have Very Specific Meanings Within Certain Professions
In a bilateral episode of their incredibly informative whiteboard series for Mental Floss, linguist Arika Okrent and illustrator Sean O’Neill verbally and visually explain how certain commonplace words and phrases in the English language that take on more specific definitions within certain professions. “Hearsay,” “passive,” “significant,” “toxin,” “work,” “evolution,” these are words that we’re familiar…
How the Words Used For Numbers in Languages Around the World Often Have Anatomical Roots
In a numenary episode of their incredibly informative whiteboard series for Mental Floss, linguist Arika Okrent and illustrator Sean O’Neill verbally and visually explain how in languages around the world, the words that are used for numbers come from easily accessible anatomical sources. So most cultures didn’t settle on the systems they did because they’re…
Common Minor Ailments That Can Be Described in Elaborate Medical Terms
In an therapeutic episode of their incredibly informative whiteboard series for Mental Floss, linguist Arika Okrent and illustrator Sean O’Neill verbally and visually offer some elaborate medical terms can be used to describe common and minor ailments. Such ailments include a rumbling tummy (borborygmi), brain freeze (sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia), canker sores (Aphthous stomatitis), fainting at the…
The Etymological Origins of Certain Words That Are Typically Used During the Holidays
In a short, festive episode of their incredibly informative whiteboard series for Mental Floss, linguist Arika Okrent and illustrator Sean O’Neill explain the origins of typical words used around the holidays such as wreath, bough, sleigh, don, manger and wassail. Wassail comes from waes haeil meaning “be in good health. The waes part is an…
Mental Floss Cuts Down a Series of Misconceptions About Lawns
In a recent episode of the Mental Floss series Misconceptions, host Elliot Morgan cuts down some common misconceptions about lawns. The episode covers the best time to fertilize, how often to water, and other tips for caring for a lawn.
How Silent Letters in Words From the English Language Reveal Their Specific Etymological Origins
In a taciturn episode of their incredibly informative whiteboard series for Mental Floss, linguist Arika Okrent and illustrator Sean O’Neill verbally and visually explain how the seemingly unrelated silent letters in English language words actually reveal their etymological origins. Silent letters can make English frustrating but they can also give away connections between related words…
Mental Floss Flashes Back on 80 Facts About the 1980s
In the latest episode of the Mental Floss series List Show, host John Green flashes back to give 80 facts about the 1980s. A small sample of the facts include that it was Cyndi Lauper who recorded the theme song for Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Doc Brown nearly had a pet chimp in Back to the Future, and it took…
