Etiquette and Languages observes how people relate to each other through behaviors and speech. Find information on topics like tipping, sign language, good manners and slang.
Did you know that servers, guides, drivers, concierges and others who help us dine and travel sometimes aren't paid even minimum wage by their employers? They depend on customer gratuities. Want to know what to tip and when? See more »
In spite of being so easy to overlook, Braille is amazing. Learn how Braille gives blind people an efficient method for communication and learning.
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You've probably heard the story about Catherine the Great and the horse. Although this false piece of gossip is more than 200 years old, it's still being spread as fact. Learn about the different types of gossip and find out why gossip is so ubiquitous.
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American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the fastest growing languages of study in the United States. Learn about the history of ASL, how it's used and how it differs from other sign languages in the United States and around the world.
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A hybrid of English and Spanish known as Spanglish can be heard in many predominantly Hispanic areas as well as on TV and in movies. Learn where it came from and how it works.
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In this article, we'll explore what makes words into swearwords, why most Americans use them and how society responds to swearing. We'll also look at one of its most fascinating aspects -- the way it affects your brain.
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Did you know that servers, guides, drivers, concierges and others who help us dine and travel sometimes aren't paid even minimum wage by their employers? They depend on customer gratuities. Want to know what to tip and when?
See more »
The initials R.S.V.P. are at the end of many invitations. What does that stand for? Find out what the initials stand for, and where the R.S.V.P. tradition originated in this article.
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A good inscription on a gravestone can provide a bit of humor during a melancholy time. Learn about 11 of the most memorable epitaphs, including "There goes the neighborhood" and "3.14159...".
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An anagram takes the letters in a phrase and rearranges them to form a new phrase. Anagrams can sometimes spell out an accurate description of the original word. Some of the results will surprise you. See our list of 13 anagrams.
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What may elicit a thumbs up from Miss Manners in the U.S. may not elsewhere in the world. Some cultures do things very different from the way Americans are used to. Learn 13 examples of good and bad manners around the world.
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Tired of 'the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog?' Pangrams are sentences that use every single letter of the alphabet at least once. Learn other sentences that use the entire alphabet when you read our list of 14 pangrams.
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Virtual reality. Jumbo shrimp. These phrases have meaning, even though the words contradict each other. These words, whose meanings contradict each other, are called oxymorons, and you may use some of them without thinking about it. See our list of 15 oxymorons for more.
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Walter Winchell not only dished the dirt on celebrities and politicians, he also coined some clever phrases. Winchell is considered the forefather of gossip columnists who had a tendency for making up words. Learn 15 terms coined by Walter Winchell.
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You know genius is all inspiration and perspiration, but it's time to find out what creativity is really about. This list provides some of the most famous quotes that are about creativity and invention. Read 17 favorite quotes on creativity.
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What do the Brits call cotton candy? Cotton floss, of course. Even though they speak English, our British friends have very different ways of saying certain things. Find 27 American terms and their British equivalents in this handy list.
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If you're headed to the spelling bee, here's a list of words you should have down pat. These words are some of the most common words that people spell incorrectly. Learn 48 commonly misspelled words, only at HowStuffWorks.
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If you're a newbie to slang, just chill and dig it. Every new generation has its own slang that kids use without their parents understanding. Or read our list of 53 slang terms by decade, and you'll be talking like a hipster in no time.
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All of the explorers who opened Tutankhamen's tomb experienced horrible fates afterward. James Dean's Porsche is also linked to a string of tragedies that killed three people. Coincidence? Maybe. Read about 7 famous curses.
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James Dean warned teens about the dangers of speeding the same year he died in a high-speed car crash. The Beatles were turned down by a record producer who claimed that groups with guitars were a fad. Read about this and all 9 bits of irony.
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Lloyds of London has been insuring items -- both average and unusual -- for years. Learn about 9 odd things insured by Lloyds of London, including taste buds and a mustache!
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