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Preventive vs. Preventative

The term preventive is much more common than preventative, particularly in American English, but it’s just a matter of preference. No need to get argumentative about it. This is part of a complete episode.

Foreign Origin of an English Idiom

The idiom safe and sound tells the story of the English language in three words: safe comes from French, and sound is a Germanic word with the same root as Gesundheit, meaning “health.” This is part of a complete episode.

Pin vs. Pen

Pin vs. pen is a classic example of the vowel merger specific to the Southern dialect. This is part of a complete episode.

Conflicting Meanings of “Peruse”

The word peruse is such a confusing term that it’s best to avoid it entirely. Some English speakers were taught it means “to read casually,” while others were taught exactly the opposite. This is part of a complete episode.

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