The English language is full of eggcorns — words or phrases where correct spellings are accidentally swapped out for similar-sounding alternatives. Just picture “scapegoat” vs. “escape goat” or “free rein” vs. “free reign.” While spelling rarely matters if you’re saying them aloud, there are clearly correct and incorrect versions. This brings us to the topic at hand — “beck and call” vs. “beckon call” — so let’s examine which is the correct term.

Before we get into the spelling, let’s define this idiom. Merriam-Webster says it means “always ready to do whatever someone asks.” You can use this phrase in a positive light, in reference to someone who’s always willing to lend help. Alternatively, you can use it in the context of an entitled sort who insists that everyone cater to their whims.

Now for the spelling — “beck and call” is 100% correct, and here’s why. In this phrase, “call” is a noun meaning “demand; requirement.” “Beck” is a noun meaning “a beckoning gesture.” So to be at someone’s beck and call is to be ready for any summoning gesture and demand they make. The confusion comes in because “beckon” is a real word — it’s  a synonym of the verb “summon.” But if you substituted “beckon” for “beck,” it wouldn’t make grammatical sense, as the verb “beckon” and the noun “call” would clash. “Beckoning call,” on the other hand — as in a call meant to summon someone — would make grammatical sense. However, that’s an entirely different phrase and doesn’t sound quite as identical.

As for “beck and call,” there are several ways to use it. You can say, “I’m at your beck and call,” when talking in the first person, or say, “The boss demanded that his assistants be at his beck and call,” if talking about others. These are just a few possible examples. We hope we’ve cleared up this common eggcorn.

Odd jobs are typically random tasks such as handyperson services, mowing the yard, or running a couple of errands. But then there are unusual careers that give the phrase “odd job” new meaning. It’s not that these professions are any less legitimate but more that the actual title may intrigue you as to what they entail. Some job listings are clearly meant to be tongue-in-cheek, while others have fascinating tasks or the names have an interesting origin story. Here’s a look at a few very real and very weird job titles.

Don’t worry — you’re not going to find snake milk in the dairy aisle. This profession has to do with extracting snake venom. It’s a niche job in the larger field of herpetology — the branch of zoology that focuses on reptiles and amphibians. Milking a snake for its venom is crucial for medical research, as it allows scientists to analyze the substance and explore ways in which a venomous snakebite could be treated. Snake milkers are tasked with humanely handling each snake until it sinks its fangs into a container in which the venom is collected.

Whether you’re named Steve or not, you can apply to become a stevedore, defined by Merriam-Webster as “one who works at or is responsible for loading and unloading ships in port.” The job title is derived from the Spanish estibador, a noun referring to a person who unloads cargo. The Spanish term comes from the Latin stipare, meaning “to cram.”

Yet another unusual title for an animal-related profession is “chicken sexer.” The genitals of a newborn chick look similar no matter the sex, and it can take weeks for a layman to determine whether it’s a male or a female. But chicken sexers are highly skilled and can accurately determine the sex of a newborn chicken within a day or two of birth. According to a report from Vice, a trained person in this field is able to sex (classify) more than 1,000 chicks per hour with 98% accuracy, making the role particularly valuable on large commercial farms.

You may have come across job listings for a “sales guru,” an “SEO guru,” or hundreds of other roles with the word “guru” tacked on to the title or in the job description. In the traditional sense, the word is derived from the Hindi guru and Sanskrit guru-s, both meaning “teacher” or referring to a spiritual guide. But as defined by Merriam-Webster, a guru, as the word developed in English, can also be “a person with knowledge or expertise.” The word saw a steady increase in English usage from the 1960s to the 2000s, and then an especially steep increase from 2014 to today, reflecting the current trend of job identification. The intent is likely to help a job listing stand out and catch the eye of potential applicants, but we may have reached “guru saturation.”

“Philately” is the technical term for the hobby of stamp collecting, but a philatelist can turn this hobby into a lucrative career. The term was coined in 1865 by Georges Herpin — a French stamp collector — and combines the Greek phil- (“loving”) and atelēs (“free from tax of charge”). In addition to collecting stamps, philatelists can earn a good living by studying stamps, trading stamps, or even amassing and selling stamps to collectors at local trade shows and auctions.

While being a lollipop person may sound like a sweet gig, it has nothing to do with confections. Among Australian, British, and Irish English speakers, “lollipop person” is a colloquial term for a crossing guard. It has to do with the large sign they hold, which looks like a brightly colored lollipop on a stick. According to Merriam-Webster, the term dates to the late 1960s.

Spring, summer, and winter are largely known by the same words among most English speakers. But the same can’t be said for the season when leaves change color and temperatures begin to drop. Some call it “fall,” some call it “autumn,” and others are too sad about the fact that summer is over to care about the phrasing. 

In practice, Americans tend to use “fall” more often, while Brits prefer “autumn.” But no matter your personal preference, the two terms effectively mean the exact same thing. Let’s examine how each one originated, and why people on each side of the pond prefer one over the other.

The word “harvest,” which is derived from the Old English hærfest, predated both “autumn” and “fall.” According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, “harvest” was used among Middle English speakers in the mid-13th century, but there was some confusion in this word’s multiple meanings.

“Harvest” not only described the intermediary season following summer, but also referenced the time of the year when crops were harvested. While these periods do overlap to some degree, they don’t precisely align. The English language needed a word that could help distinguish the general season from the actual harvest — thus the word “autumn” was born.

“Autumn” is derived from the Latin autumnus, which comes from augere, meaning “to increase.” Autumnus was adopted by Old French speakers as autumpne sometime in the 13th century and later made its way to Middle English by the late 14th century. It wasn’t until the 16th century, however, that the spelling was changed to “autumn.” This quickly became popular in England as the predominant term for the transitional season between summer and winter.

As noted by Merriam-Webster, the word “autumn” didn’t paint enough of a picture for writers who were seeking something with a bit more flourish. Thus, “fall of the leaf” made its way into many literary works by the 1540s. This poetic phrase described the literal falling of leaves and gave rise to the shorthand term “fall” by the 1660s.

From the get-go, “fall” was used as a synonym for “autumn”; however, it was more of a colloquial term in the seasonal sense. “Fall,” as a noun for the season, didn’t appear in an official dictionary until 1755, when it was included in Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language.

As British settlers made their way to the Americas, they brought with them their customs, their traditions, and of course, their language. But in part due to the geographic separation between Europe and the New World, American English began to quickly diverge from British English. By the middle of the 1800s, “fall” was one of the terms that marked an American English speaker from a British English speaker. 

Exactly why Americans trended toward “fall” is a somewhat unanswerable question. It’s entirely possible that it was part of a larger trend to distinguish American English from the dialect of their former oppressors. British people had considered “autumn” to be the official term, and so Americans may have embraced “fall” as a way to stand out and make that word their own.

We do know that both “autumn” and “fall” originated in Britain, and the words are now used in an identical manner to one another. That being said, “fall” is much less common in Britain than “autumn” is in America, where the words are more often used interchangeably.

High school taught us to memorize a lot of facts that rarely came up again afterward, including the year the English navy defeated the Spanish Armada (1588) and that mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell.” We also learned a lot of lengthy vocabulary words in preparation for the SATs, but if you are not particularly sesquipedalian (“given to or characterized by the use of long words”),  your inchoate (“unfinished, immature”) brain might have erased many of those words. And while some of them were likely obscure, there are plenty of advanced vocabulary words that have a strong presence in everyday life.

Lots of those classic SAT words have become part of informal conversations, appearing as internet slang. In some cases, the meaning has changed or the word has been shortened. The vocabulary of internet conversations has come a long way since “You’ve Got Mail” alerts.

Charisma

“A special magnetic charm or appeal.”

This SAT word for magnetic charm or appeal is now shortened to “rizz,” keeping roughly the same definition. 

Delusional

“Relating to, based on, or marked by delusions.”

If a person believes obviously false information despite indisputable evidence, they might be “delulu,” in today’s slang.

Demure

“Marked by quiet modesty, sedate reserve, restraint, or sobriety.”

In 2024, a TikTok beauty influencer named Jools LeBron referred to her makeup as “very demure, very mindful,” and suddenly we were all using this word meaning “reserved or modest,” usually in the exact opposite context.

Feral

“Being, characteristic of, or suggesting an animal in the state of nature.”

This adjective for animals in their natural environment is now also shorthand for unhinged human behavior.

Lore

“A body of traditions relating to a person, institution, or place.”

Many people now use “lore” to refer to their own mysterious origin story. “Tell me the lore” is a request for the backstory.

Manifest

“To show plainly; make palpably evident or certain by showing or displaying.”

Traditionally, this word as a verb means “to make evident” by showing physically, but now the idea of “manifesting” is about making your own dreams come true. 

Aesthetic

“Relating to the beautiful as distinguished from the merely pleasing, the moral, and especially the useful and utilitarian.”

This word, relating to beauty and appearance, has developed a new importance thanks to visual media such as Instagram and TikTok. It’s common for someone to curate a niche aesthetic, such as “Dark Academia” or “Y2K.”

Suspicious

“Arousing or tending to arouse suspicion.”

If you’ve heard the word “sus,” you may have had a suspicion that it was short for “suspicious.” However, sometimes it means “suspect.” For example, someone might say, “Jimmy was acting pretty sus” — and they could mean “suspicious” or “suspect” (“not to be relied on or trusted; possibly dangerous or false”). As on the SATs, context clues are important to deciphering meaning. 

Grocery store labels can be confusing — could someone explain the difference between “free-range” and “cage-free” eggs? Fortunately, SAT vocabulary words are helpful in decoding some of the information.

Artisanal

“Produced in limited quantities by an artisan through the use of traditional methods.”

Meaning “hand-crafted in limited quantities,” this term suggests an artisan (a worker who practices a trade or handicraft) prepared the food with care. 

Enriched

“To make richer in some quality (as in nutritive value, savor, or beauty).”

Many cereals claim to be enriched with vitamins and minerals. Reading the label can help you determine what the ingredients are and what quantities of vitamins and minerals the food contains. 

Refined

“Free from impurities.”

This term is typically found on white sugar to indicate that it has gone through a process to make it “free from impurities.”

Heritage

“Emphasizing the traditional or nostalgic.”

As a noun, “heritage” refers to an inherited property or trait, but in the context or food, it’s usually used as an adjective. For example, heritage pork is made from rare breeds of pigs. An heirloom tomato is a varietal that is less commonly grown than most that you’ll find at the grocery store, but you’re likely to see them at farmers markets.

Authentic

“Marked by conformity to widespread or long-continued tradition.”

Something that is authentic follows traditions. For example, in order to make an “authentic” Neapolitan pizza, it requires a specific mozzarella from Italy.

SAT words often appear in news reports, which is probably why teachers encouraged you to learn them. Here are some words that might not have seemed important when you were in high school but appear regularly in the paper.

Accumulation

“The action or process of accumulating; state of being or having accumulated; a collecting together.”

In places where the precipitation can accumulate, weather reports will tally the accumulation.

Conditional

“Containing, implying, subject to, or depending on a condition.”

Laws and treaties are often conditional, meaning they depend on certain terms being met.

Deficit

“An excess of debit over credit items; deficiency in amount or quality.”

Meaning “shortfall,” this word appears everywhere a budget does, as well as in some sports reports. 

Mandate

“An authoritative command, order, or injunction; a clear instruction, authorization, or direction.”

Whether referring to an order or a requirement, a mandate is a rule, so you’ll see it in discussions about laws being made (or broken). 

Myopic

“Lacking in foresight, discernment, or liberality.”

The medical term for nearsightedness can also describe something that is shortsighted.

Auspicious

“Favoring or conducive to success; showing or suggesting that future success is likely; affording an especially favorable auspice.”

An auspicious debut is a promising start, suggesting hope and success is on the horizon. 

Catalyst

“An agent that provokes or precipitates catalysis.”

In science, a catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction. In the news, it refers to an event or person that sparks change.

Cerebral

“Of or relating to the brain or the intellect; appealing to intellectual and critical rather than emotional appreciation.”

A review might describe a book or film as cerebral, meaning it appeals more to intellect than to emotion.

Sometimes, languages contain words that capture concepts so specific to their culture — or to some undefinable essence of that culture — that they resist direct translation. And even though an English speaker may understand the exact feeling the word conveys, it remains untranslatable, at least without using additional words to explain it. Here are some of the most fascinating words that don’t have a direct, single-word translation in English, including a Danish concept of cozy contentment and a profound Welsh word for a deep and unattainable longing. 

This Danish concept encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and comforting, pleasurable experiences. Hygge is more than just coziness — it’s about creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying life’s simple pleasures, be it cuddling up with a cup of hot cocoa or snuggling in soft blankets. 

Type the Portuguese word saudade into a translator and you’ll probably get back “longing.” But saudade expresses much more than this simple definition. It’s more accurately a longing for someone or something you once loved, now gone forever; a bittersweet nostalgia that goes beyond simply missing someone; or an emotional state that mixes love, loss, and hope. The Portuguese writer Francisco Manuel de Melo described it as “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.”

Ubuntu, a word in the Bantu language Zulu, is often compared to “humanity.” But this one-word translation doesn’t do ubuntu justice, as it has a philosophical connotation that emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and collective well-being. It is sometimes translated into English as, “I am because we are,” which perhaps best approximates its complex meaning. 

This Swedish word is sometimes translated as “just the right amount” — not too little, not too much, but perfectly balanced — while also implying that something is reasonable. It can be seen as reflecting a Swedish approach to moderation, a kind of middle-of-the-road attitude that avoids both excess and limitation.

Tartle is a brilliant Scottish word — little known to English speakers and with no direct translation — that refers to the hesitation we show when we can’t remember someone’s name. It doesn’t apply when you forget the person’s name entirely — it only refers to that awful awkwardness we feel while scrabbling around in our brains to connect a name to the face. 

Ayni is an important word among the Quechua and Aymara Indigenous populations of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia. In English, it can be translated as “reciprocity” or “mutualism,” but its meaning — both as a concept and as a social practice — is deeper. It implies that everything in the world is connected, and so cooperation between members of a community is a natural way of living. Ayni is sometimes translated as “today for you, tomorrow for me,” or vice versa.  

Schadenfreude is perhaps one of the most widely known words that has no direct English equivalent — hence its presence as a common loanword in the English language. It indicates the pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune — a universal emotion for which German has given us a precise term. 

The German language is known for its various untranslatable words, but few have such an impact as backpfeifengesicht — which basically means “a face that looks like it should be slapped.” 

In 1993, a word from the Yahgan (also spelled Yagán) language of Tierra del Fuego, Chile, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the most succinct in existence: mamihlapinatapai. The British missionary and linguist Thomas Bridges, who spent 20 years living among the Yaghans in the 1800s, translated it as, “To look at each other, hoping that either will offer to do something, which both parties much desire done but are unwilling to do.” The last native speaker of Yahgan died in 2022, and the language became extinct. 

This Brazilian Portuguese word has no English equivalent, which is unsurprising considering how specific it is. In Brazil, cafuné means “to soothe someone by tenderly running one’s fingers through their hair.” 

No matter where in the world they may live, book lovers know the feeling of tsundoku. This wonderful Japanese word refers to the act of collecting a large library of unread literature. Or, as Ella Frances Sanders puts it in her book Lost in Translation, it’s the feeling of “leaving a book unread after buying it, typically piled up together with other unread books.”

Hiraeth is a highly evocative word in Wales, and one with no direct translation in English. Marian Brosschot, a Welsh language officer in Trelew, Patagonia (where, incidentally, they speak Welsh), described hiraeth to the BBC as “a kind of longing for a person, a place, or a time that you can’t get back to, a kind of unattainable longing.”