Latest news with #Merriam-Webster
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Improve Your Communication By Improving Your Language
If you were to look up the word 'secretive' (meaning, disposed to secrecy) in an old analog paper dictionary, you would find that the preferred pronunciation was with the accent on the second syllable. Although you might think that that made the word sound biological, it was correct—at the time. Language. Open book with language hand drawn doodles and lettering on white background. Education ... More vector illustration. Flash forward to any digital dictionary today and you'll find that the preferred pronunciation is with the accent on the first syllable, while the accent on the second syllable has been relegated to merely acceptable—a vivid demonstration that language is dynamic and constantly evolving. John McWhorter, an Associate Professor of Linguistics at Columbia University and the author of numerous bestselling books, as well as podcasts, blogs, and newsletters, described the continuous evolution of language in his New York Times column: 'we all know language inevitably changes; it's the way we got from Latin to French or from Beowulf to Tom Wolfe. But while that change is happening, we tend to see it as decay, sloth, maybe even a scourge.' So to culminate June as Effective Communication Month, which is 'dedicated to highlighting the importance of good communication in our personal and professional lives,' this blog will focus on how you can improve your communication by eliminating one slothful word that has become overly popular in today's language and by adding a word that deserves to become more popular. The slothful word in question is 'literally.' Sound familiar? I hear it used repeatedly as an intensifier, such as in, 'I literally ate the whole pizza.'The word is intended to mean in a literal sense rather than figurative, but the usage in previous sentence is to add emphasis. Merriam-Webster derides that usage, 'It is pure hyperbole intended to gain emphasis, but it often appears in contexts where no additional emphasis is necessary.' I derided the word, too, in my prior Forbes post but it continues to be overused, if not abused, prompting Taiwo Sotikare to write on Medium, 'Language evolves, I get it. Words change meaning over time, slang infiltrates the mainstream, and sometimes, a little creative license is acceptable. But the rampant, egregious, and utterly baffling misuse of the word 'literally' has pushed me to the brink.' Steve Eighinger agrees in a post on Muddy River News, 'Do we really need to put an emphasis on what happened? I would argue that if it's a genuinely interesting event, there isn't a need for an extra word – especially that one. So, challenge yourself this week, month or forever not to use 'literally' anymore.' Three other words have become pervasive in our business language: 'believe,' 'think,' and 'feel,' as in 'We believe/think/feel that our new product/service will make us the market leader.' This usage has proliferated because companies want to avoid making forward-looking statements. But those words express uncertainty and imply doubt—not a useful image when a presenter is trying to be persuasive. This is not to say that you should start making forward-looking statements or forecasts in your presentations. Doing so is risky business in this day and age when corporate attorneys insist on avoiding class action suits. To avoid litigation and avoid using the weak words 'think,' 'believe,' and 'feel,' replace them with one word: 'confident.' One powerful word with two big benefits: you avoid being predictive and you sound far more assertive. As William Shakespeare had Hamlet say, 'Suit the action to the words, the word to the action.'
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
5 Word Games For All The Vocabulary Buffs Out There
These quizzes are all about words. How to say them, how to write them, how to define them, and how to use them. If you love correcting other people's spelling and grammar mistakes, you're about to be very happy. You're welcome 😇. Have You Been Saying These Commonly Misused Words And Phrases Wrong Your Entire Life? I certainly hope nobody out there says "to be pacific," but if you do, it's never too late to change! Take the quiz here. Here Are 25 Commonly Misspelled Words — Only People With A Super IQ Of 140+ Can Correctly Spell Them You never know when you'll need to get by without spell check. Take the quiz here. If You Can Define These 7 Extra Long Words, You're Actually The Smartest Person I Know These words are extremely challenging. You'd still be the smartest person I know if you've ever even heard the word "brobdingnagian" before. Take the quiz here. Americans Commonly Misuse These 25 Same-Sounding Words — Could You Choose The Correct Word? Telling homophones apart will test your spelling and vocabulary skills, so you can consider the previous quizzes training for this one. Take the quiz here. These 15 Words Are Always Mispronounced – We Wanna Know How *You* Say Them This poll will tell you how other people pronounce these words, but we also included the correct pronunciation according to Merriam-Webster. Take the quiz here.
Elle
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Why Astrologers Say June 24 Is a ‘Day of Miracles'
If you believe in lucky days, there's one worth circling on the calendar every year. Dubbed the 'Day of Miracles' by astrologers, it's the annual moment when the life-giving sun and abundant Jupiter unite at the same zodiac sign and degree in the sky. As these two heavenly hedonists team up, it can feel like anything's possible. Astrologers also have a technical name for this rare and powerful moment: cazimi, which comes from an Arabic phrase meaning 'in the heart of the sun.' In astrological terms, a cazimi takes place when a planet moves within three degrees of the sun, receiving el sol's radiant, royal favor. And when that planet is Jupiter, the cosmic benefactor of growth, fortune, and wisdom? The stage is set for, you guessed it, miracles. The Day of Miracles falls on a different calendar date each year. In 2025, that happens to be June 24. As the red-spotted planet bathes in the sun's light, a portal opens up for breakthroughs. For the first time since 2013-2014, the sun and Jupiter are teaming up in intuitive, emotionally layered Cancer. If you've found yourself weeping over a nostalgic TikTok, organizing a family group chat, or sifting through boxes of childhood treasures, you're already feeling the effects of the sun and Jupiter moving closer and closer together in this tenderhearted water sign. Cancer is the zodiac's nurturer, connected to home, ancestry, and the sacred feminine. It rules over our family histories, our emotional roots, and our sense of safety and belonging. With Jupiter swimming through Cancer's sensitive waters from June 9, 2025, to June 30, 2026, empathy and emotional intelligence are on the rise. Not just personally, but collectively. Benevolent Jupiter is the global ambassador of the skies—and this signal-boost from the sun could not come soon enough. What, exactly, might a miracle look like on June 24? While few of us will witness burning bushes, spot a Sasquatch, or score winning Powerball tickets, miracles often take subtler forms. The sweetness of a summer romance that you finally dare to open your heart to. A deeply connected conversation with your mom, sister, or one of your oldest friends—one where you feel unconditionally loved and accepted. A random interaction with a helpful stranger that restores your faith in humanity. Merriam-Webster defines a miracle as 'an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment.' A Course in Miracles, a spiritual text, offers a more intimate take: A miracle is simply a 'shift in perception from fear to love.' In that spirit, the sun-Jupiter meetup (i.e., 'the Jupiter cazimi') invites us to recognize where we may be blocking our blessings—not because we're flawed, but because fear has quietly crept in. No, we may not be able to erase our worries entirely. But we can choose to acknowledge our fears, and then act in spite of them. That's where the miracle lives: in the courage to move forward in the face of our own inner resistance. Since Cancer is associated with our childhoods, the 2025 Day of Miracles might stir up some monsters hiding under the metaphoric bed. Maybe it's the sweaty-palmed panic that hits before speaking up in a meeting, or a friendship dynamic that you haven't challenged because you're afraid people won't like you if you say no. June 24 is the day to take a different approach. Share your opinion. Draw the boundaries. Then, let other people deal with their ensuing emotions—while you resist the shadow side of Cancer: caretaking. The 2025 Day of Miracles also offers a priceless opportunity to confront generational patterns. Since Cancer is the sign of the mother, examine the narratives you inherited from the women in your life. You may feel inspired to rewrite a family belief around money, relationships, or self-worth. Maybe you'll dare to try something no lady in your lineage ever has. While the Day of Miracles has not been recognized as an international holiday (hey, an astrologer can dream), we wouldn't fault you for taking a day off this Tuesday, June 24. The sun and Jupiter love nothing more than a vacation, so slip Tina Knowles's memoir, Matriarch, in your tote as a beach read, then head to the nearest pool or shore.
The Hill
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
How the AP decided to refer to the conflict between Israel and Iran as a war
The Associated Press is calling the current conflict between Israel and Iran a war, given the scope, intensity and duration of military activities on both sides. Other news organizations also have decided to refer to the conflict as a war, while some are still sticking with words such as 'conflict' or 'fighting.' When a conflict in the world spills into military action, it's important to use the correct terms to describe it. Sometimes a one-sided attack occurs without further action, or a conflict bubbles up and then ends quickly Using 'war' widely to describe these kinds of situations can diminish the word's importance. Then, when actual war breaks out, people might not understand its significance. The Merriam-Webster definition of war is quite broad: 'A state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations,' or 'a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism.' The fight between Israel and Iran meets those criteria, though neither has officially declared war. Since Israel launched an air campaign targeting Iran's military and nuclear program, there has been a significant escalation in the conflict. Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones into Israel. Israel has assassinated high-level Iranian officials; targeted the country's infrastructure; called for hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate Iran's capital, Tehran; and said it will continue its offensive. The AP provided guidance on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war in the days and weeks after fighting began. In both cases, editors considered the number of casualties, the intensity of fighting, the involvement of each party, and what each country was calling the conflict. In both cases, the AP started using the word 'war' to describe the conflicts. AP capitalizes the word 'war' only as part of a formal name, which as of now does not exist. Decisions on how AP uses the term 'war' happen in real time. AP's news leaders and standards editors will continue to monitor developments to see whether changes are necessary. At this point, the level of fighting constitutes the countries being at war, no matter what happens next. If fighting were to end soon, AP would continue saying the countries had been at war. News leaders would consider whether the level of fighting at that time amounted to being at war. If other countries intervene in the war, AP would describe the intervention as military action in support of Israel or military support of Iran. AP would also consider whether the action constitutes those countries also being at war.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
How the AP decided to refer to the conflict between Israel and Iran as a war
The Associated Press is calling the current conflict between Israel and Iran a war, given the scope, intensity and duration of military activities on both sides. Other news organizations also have decided to refer to the conflict as a war, while some are still sticking with words such as 'conflict' or 'fighting.' Why does it matter? When a conflict in the world spills into military action, it's important to use the correct terms to describe it. Sometimes a one-sided attack occurs without further action, or a conflict bubbles up and then ends quickly Using 'war' widely to describe these kinds of situations can diminish the word's importance. Then, when actual war breaks out, people might not understand its significance. What does the AP consider? The Merriam-Webster definition of war is quite broad: 'A state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations,' or 'a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism.' The fight between Israel and Iran meets those criteria, though neither has officially declared war. Since Israel launched an air campaign targeting Iran's military and nuclear program, there has been a significant escalation in the conflict. Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones into Israel. Israel has assassinated high-level Iranian officials; targeted the country's infrastructure; called for hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate Iran's capital, Tehran; and said it will continue its offensive. What are previous examples of conflicts where the AP issued guidance to use the word 'war'? The AP provided guidance on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war in the days and weeks after fighting began. In both cases, editors considered the number of casualties, the intensity of fighting, the involvement of each party, and what each country was calling the conflict. In both cases, the AP started using the word 'war' to describe the conflicts. Why is it 'war' and not 'War'? AP capitalizes the word 'war' only as part of a formal name, which as of now does not exist. Could the guidance change? Decisions on how AP uses the term 'war' happen in real time. AP's news leaders and standards editors will continue to monitor developments to see whether changes are necessary. At this point, the level of fighting constitutes the countries being at war, no matter what happens next. If fighting were to end soon, AP would continue saying the countries had been at war. News leaders would consider whether the level of fighting at that time amounted to being at war. If other countries intervene in the war, AP would describe the intervention as military action in support of Israel or military support of Iran. AP would also consider whether the action constitutes those countries also being at war.
