In The Atlantic, Peter Beinhart called out a euphemism that was somehow common and under-the-radar at the same time: "Newspaper editors, lend me your ears: Please, never allow the phrase 'muscular foreign policy' to blight your pages again." Continue reading...
If you play Vocabulary.com, you know you can rack up all sorts of achievements as you learn words. But why should individual players have all the fun? Starting today, schools in the U.S. and Canada are awarded achievements at the end of every month based on student play. Not only that, we're introducing leaderboards that allow students to see how their school measures up against others in their state. Continue reading...
As keynote speaker at the 2015 American Copy Editors Society meeting, lexicographer Ben Zimmer showed off the resources in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary as part of a talk on "Nitpickery, Debunkage, and the Joys of Getting It Right." Not surprisingly, ACES attendees live-tweeting the address were more likely to take note of Zimmer's singing, rapping, and discussion of language anachronisms in "Mad Men" and "Downton Abbey." Continue reading...
In an insightful post on meeting the text complexity standard for the Common Core, Teaching Channel coach Ryan McCarthy presents helpful strategies for planning and preparation. Meanwhile, free resources on Vocabulary.com can help. Continue reading...
At the 2015 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, it came down to a neck-and-neck battle between Dan Feyer and Tyler Hinman, the two titans of speed-solving. And in an absolutely heart-stopping finish, Dan beat Tyler by half a second. Continue reading...
People awakening from a "nightmare" often have the sensation that they can't breathe. Not surprising: That's where the word "nightmare" comes from. Continue reading...
There's a lot to love about Nigel Hayes of the Wisconsin Badgers. Now NCAA fans can add his impressive vocabulary to that list. In a press conference held this Saturday in Omaha, Hayes decided to make things interesting for the stenographer in the room by working a string of 3-point vocabulary into his statements. "I actually like words," Hayes said. Continue reading...
We've been following news of schools across the country taking a creative approach to deep vocabulary learning and a celebration of language with vocabulary costume days or vocabulary parades. This example of the idea in action is so beyond adorable, we just had to share. Continue reading...
What's the best present to get a group of middle schoolers who have just learned a ton of new words? How about $500 worth of books that, thanks to their improved vocabularies, they'll be more easily able to enjoy and understand? Continue reading...
Are you headed to Houston for the 70th annual conference of ASCD (Mar. 21-23)? So are we! Come visit us at the Exhibit Show at Booth #455, where we'll be having fun with the Vocabulary.com Challenge and giving away prizes. And on the morning of Monday the 23rd, our director of curriculum development, Georgia Scurletis, will be making a presentation on "Vocabulary Instruction in the Age of Blended Learning" (Level 3, Room 372B, 8–9 am). Continue reading...