Saturday, August 30, 2025

What's a Portmanteau?

Much like a fruity smoothie full of strawberries and bananas, certain words blend together quite nicely.
Click here for fewer emails from Word Smarts
Word smarts wordmark

Editors' choice

Close up a plastic spork
Vocabulary Star divider 4 MIN READ Star divider
Heart Icon 3 LIKES

7 Portmanteaus You Use Every Day

Much like a fruity smoothie full of strawberries and bananas, certain words blend together quite nicely. They're called "portmanteaus," and you likely use some of them often.

Continue reading

Right arrow

Advertisers help keep Word Smarts free

Aerial photo over a field and dirt road lanes
Slang Star divider 4 MIN READ Star divider
Heart Icon 43 LIKES

8 Slang Words All Midwesterners Will Know

We know there's more than corn in Indiana and more reasons to visit Wisconsin than the state fair cow made of butter, but do you know this Midwestern slang?

Continue reading

Right arrow
Open pudding cup with a metal spoon
Idioms Star divider 2 MIN READ Star divider
Heart Icon 6 LIKES

Why Do We Say "The Proof Is in the Pudding"?

Contrary to what it sounds like, this phrase isn't about finding answers in your chocolate mousse. The real story behind this age-old idiom is more savory than sweet.

Continue reading

Right arrow
girl carrying big white gift box
Grammar Star divider 2 MIN READ Star divider
Heart Icon 37 LIKES

When Should You Use "Large" Instead of "Big"?

While "big" and "large" might seem interchangeable, these similar words carry subtle but important differences in meaning and usage.

Continue reading

Right arrow

Advertisers help keep Word Smarts free

Young people reading two different books
Language Star divider 2 MIN READ Star divider
Heart Icon 28 LIKES

Should You Say "Different Than" or "Different From"?

Prepositional phrases can be tricky, but there are certain contexts when you should pick one version over the other. Let's explore this grammar question.

Continue reading

Right arrow

Advertisers help keep Word Smarts free

A World of Words

Subscribe

Powered by Optimism
1550 Larimer Street, Suite 431, Denver, CO 80202
Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Do Not Sell My Information

No comments:

Post a Comment