Words are more than simply groups of symbols that describe sounds or symbols that describe abstract ideas. Words are “totems.” The first Europeans to reach what is now the American Northwest saw huge, ...

Writing is a tough game sometimes. Writers are constantly searching for the perfect word to convey an idea, to share the right emotion, or explain a difficult concept, among other situations. The ...

Words and the way we use them offer a rare window on the popular zeitgeist. Kory Stamper and Peter Sokolowski know that better than most. The Merriam-Webster lexicographers (and must-follow tweeters) ...

On Tuesday, Dictionary.com deemed the word "woman" to be the word of the year for 2022, calling it a "prime example of the many gender terms undergoing shifts." The site suggested that, "more than ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about behavioral science, public health & human generosity. Words matter. What they mean, how they are used and how they ...