1167. In this bonus segment that originally ran for Grammarpaloozians last October, we look at the surprising true origins of words that often fool people. We explore why "miniature" originally referred to a red color and not a size; the true, non-factual meaning of "factoid"; and how "hello" only became a common greeting because of the telephone. We also examine the indirect eponym behind the word "gasoline."

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'Mini' and 'factoid' don't mean what you think, with Jess Zafarris

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.

'Mini' and 'factoid' don't mean what you think, with Jess Zafarris