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It's all Greek to me
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One fun thing about writing is that it's both rule-based and flexible. So sometimes, there are no wrong answers. Such is the case with last week's quiz, when we asked you about the plural of octopus. Your choices were octopi (the plural that assumes a Latin origin of the word), octopodes (the proper plural for a word of Greek origin) and octopuses (the English way to pluralize it). Most of you picked "octopi," and exactly zero people chose "octopodes": No one got it wrong, and even if someone had picked "octopodes," that would still be true. There's justification for all three versions ("octopuses" and "octopi" are most commonly used in English), but if you want a fun fact to share at your Fourth of July barbecues next week, it's this: The word is originally of Greek origin, so the ~proper~ plural is "octopodes." But we recommend sticking with "octopuses." Last chance: Stylebot's 25% education discount expires on June 30. It's the last chance to get the best price on our new Google Docs extension. Learn more and read our five-star reviews here. You can get started by signing up on our website and using the code SUMMER2025 at checkout. We're taking a break next week for the Fourth of July, so there's no quiz this week. We'll be back in your inbox on July 11. Have a great holiday! ❤ Team Stylebot
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Hone your writing skills and never use "hone in" again. Get writing tips, have fun with words and learn something new in a one-minute read each week by signing up for Stylebot’s newsletter.
If you thought we only started using slang abbreviations on the internet, think again. You might use "lol" mostly in text messages now, but if the history of "OK" is any lesson, one day it might not be a KG to use it in more formal writing. Confused? We'll explain, but first we'll note that many of you seem to be familiar with OK's origin. It's not a typo: "OK" evolved from the phrase "all correct." In late 1830s slang, it was fashionable to misspell common phrases and use those...
If you've mowed the lawn this summer, you've cut swaths of grass. If you injured yourself while doing it (and we hope you didn't!), you might use a swathe in your recovery. So, apply this logic to last week's quiz, and the answer becomes clear: The storm pummeled large swaths of the state. But it looks like most of you didn't need that help: In American English, "swath" describes a broad strip (usually of land), while "swathe" is a strip of cloth. And that brings us to the little hint in the...
If you really, really wanted to look for it, there was a clue in last week's subject line that might have helped you on the quiz. The subject line was, "Like the ones that came before." Not "befor," which we realize isn't a word. But the second "e" in "before" might help you remember the difference between forego and forgo. "Forego" means to go before, while "forgo" means to abstain from. And we use foregone in the phrase "foregone conclusion." So the correct sentence from last week's quiz...