In competitions, some people just want to win, while others seek to make things more interesting by raising the stakes. This may involve putting a cash prize or another item of great value on the line. The phrase “upping the ante” was coined to describe this practice in the game of poker, but it has evolved from the betting world to be used in other games of chance, and now it can apply to any high-stakes situation. 

The modern version of poker developed in the early 19th century. Under these game rules, the ante (from the Latin ante, meaning “before”) refers to an event before a hand is dealt. During the ante phase, participants wanting to play that hand contribute money to a collective pot, which is eventually awarded to the winner of the hand.

While antes are generally small, players developed a betting strategy of increasing the ante for bigger payouts. This strategy sweetens the prize and weeds out players with insufficient funds who may not be as serious about competing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the phrase “raising the ante” appeared in poker instructional manuals by the mid-1810s, indicating it was popular among gamblers, especially those with larger bankrolls.

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The phrase quickly moved beyond poker tables, and by the late 19th century, it was adopted as American slang for a figurative description of an increase in an agreed-upon price. As an idiom, it might also be used in negotiations for an increase in the amount paid in advance (e.g., a down payment on a house). In time, bettors began to say “upping” as a colloquial alternative to “raising,” and the phrase “up the ante” entered the collective vernacular by the mid-1900s. Whether you’re at the poker table or the negotiating table, if someone says, “It’s time to raise [or up] the ante,” and you don’t have funds at the ready, it might be time to sit this one out.

You know what can be nerve-racking for a writer? Making spelling errors. It would probably keep me up at night were it not for spell-check and autocorrect, wonderful by-product of the digital age. These features come to the rescue to mitigate anxiety-inducing mistakes (but they can also insert errors, especially into awkward text messages). However, some words slip through the cracks — one particular word pairing often missed by spell-checkers, editors, and the like is the perplexing choice between “nerve-racking” and “nerve-wracking.” While both forms are technically permissible, there are some caveats. 

Merriam-Webster defines “nerve-racking” as an adjective that describes something “marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings,” as in, “It was a nerve-racking exam” or “This is a nerve-racking game!” However, the term “nerve-wracking” is listed as a spelling variation. According to M-W, both versions are correct, but “nerve-racking” is preferred.  Conversely, the Oxford English Dictionary explains that “nerve-racking” predates “nerve-wracking,” but the latter is the more commonly used modern version. It seems even major dictionaries have differing opinions on these terms.

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So, why are there two versions? Turning back the clock a thousand years reveals they developed not out of a spelling error, but from different Old English words, causing them to carry unique nuances. “Rack” comes from the Old English reccan, meaning “to stretch,” with the connotation of suffering or mental anguish (you might recognize “the rack” as a medieval torture device). Conversely, “wrack” stems from the Old English wracu and wræc, meaning “vengeance, persecution, or misery.” Because the words sound the same and have such similar meanings, “wrack” mistakenly replaced “rack” in “nerve-racking.”

Grammar purists may champion “nerve-racking” as the superior choice, citing its historical precedence, but either term is generally acceptable, and major dictionaries back that up. 

After a rousing toast, people may express their agreement through clapping, raising their glasses, or yelling “here, here” — or is it “hear, hear”? The phrase is widespread, but since it’s usually spoken, the spelling isn’t often questioned. But do you know which is the correct version? The verb “hear” and the adverb “here” are homophones, meaning they have the same pronunciation.

“Here” denotes place, so “here, here” could reasonably explain you’re in the same place as someone. However, when you want to agree with someone, “hear, hear” is correct. 

In the United Kingdom, members of Parliament are discouraged from applauding, but even hundreds of years ago, they wanted a way to show solidarity with a speaker. To confirm consensus, people in the House of Lords and House of Commons yelled “hear him, hear him” in the 17th century as a way to demand that everyone listen to the person making the point. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the written origin to 1689 in reference to agreeing with someone in the English Parliament. By 1868, the abbreviated cry of “hear, hear!” as a cheer or exclamation was widespread. It was a common enough exclamation to noun-ify it, and the British prime minister called those using the phrase the “hear-hearers.” 

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If you’re not a member of Parliament bound by historical convention, you can still use “hear, hear” in regular conversation. Whatever you want to emphasize, yelling “hear, hear!” is the equivalent of “they’re right!” or in today’s parlance, a succinct “heard.”

The first three words actor Matthew McConaughey  ever said on film were: “Alright, alright, alright.” The hallmark line from the film Dazed and Confused (1993) became a pop culture phenomenon, even though, as McConaughey writes in his book Greenlights, it was improvised. To the dismay of many English teachers, the casual, throwaway nature of the line helped popularize the spelling “alright” instead of the more formal “all right.” However, the single-word spelling — McConaughey’s version — is actually the original version and is permissible by modern standards, even if some grammarians still question its legitimacy.

Today, both terms are widely accepted in casual writing and are recognized by major dictionaries, but the question remains: What is the difference between them? The only notable difference we can find is their age. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “alright” is the older term, first emerging over a millennium ago in Old English as ealrihte, meaning “exactly” or “just.” Its spelling fluctuated over the next few centuries, with variations including eallriht and alrightes. Around 1175, we see a two-word version, all rihht, indicating a long history of flip-flopping between one word and two.

In a nutshell, “all right” and “alright” are synonyms with many uses, and each is listed in the Merriam-Webster dictionary under the same entry. As adjectives, they can mean “satisfactory” (“Everything’s alright”), “safe” (“We’re going to be all right“), or “good” (“You’re alright with me”). When using either term as an adverb, it can indicate certainty (“He failed the exam all right”) or adequacy (“I did alright on the review”). Often used as interjections, “alright” and “all right” can also signal the start of a new thought or action, as in “Alright, let’s begin.” Remember, either term is an appropriate substitution in any of these examples.

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The main issue of the debate lies in formality. Some argue “alright” is too informal or slangy due to its abbreviated form, while others assert there’s no meaningful distinction between the two. When in doubt, opt for the two-word version in very formal writing contexts. But if the extended cut doesn’t fit the tone, feel free to use the compact “alright,” knowing you haven’t broken any grammar laws.

The Irish language has given us an abundance of lively expressions, but during a recent visit to the Emerald Isle, I came across one word that we don’t often hear on this side of the Atlantic: “craic.” While enjoying a cherished Irish pastime — a pint at a pub among good company — my husband and I noticed several staff sporting T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase “Real Craic.” Curious, we asked our server about it, and with a smile, he explained, “It means you’re having a good time — a lot of fun!” If there’s one thing you can always count on in Éire (the Irish-language version of the country name), there’s always plenty of craic to be had.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, our server’s definition was spot-on. Pronounced just like the English word “crack,” craic refers to “fun, amusement; entertaining company or conversation.” This Irish term rose to popularity in the late 1970s as a catchphrase on the Irish-language TV variety program SBB ina Shuí, where it was used in the phrase, “beidh ceol, caint agus craic againn,” meaning “we will have music, talk, and fun.”

Because the Scottish Gaelic and Irish languages are so intertwined, craic crossed the Irish Sea to the United Kingdom, where I spotted it again later in my trip. The slang word seemed to be just as popular in Scotland, where I found it written on a keepsake mug, now one of my favorite souvenirs. 

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Today, as Queen’s University Belfast notes, craic is widely used in casual conversation to describe anything that promises enjoyment. It’s often paired with complimentary adjectives such as “good,” “real,” or “great.” For example, the friend who always has a joke is “good craic,” and that long-anticipated summer concert? That’ll be “great craic.” Similarly, if you’re doing something “for the craic,” it’s simply “just for fun.” And try adopting the classic Irish greeting: “What’s the craic?” — a casual, friendly way of asking “What’s up?” or “How are you?”

As you gear up for some “real craic” on St. Patrick’s Day, don’t forget to embrace this quintessentially Irish term. It’s a perfect way to add a bit of authentic spirit from the Emerald Isle into your celebrations. Sláinte! (Health! Or Cheers!)