Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and here are some words you may have been using that actually don’t exist or … just shouldn’t be used.

Runner-ups should be runners-up.

Alot is never one word, unless you’re talking about “allotting” a piece of property. A – Lot is two words.

Participator is just … ah. No. It should be “participant.”

Mischievous should be mischievous with three syllables instead of four.

Thusly might be a favorite of college students writing papers, but it’s not a word. Just say “thus.”

English is an ever-evolving language, and things change over time. Just pick up a copy of Chaucer if you aren’t sure how much they’ve changed. When in doubt about whether a commonly used word is acceptable, consult a dictionary. This can also help you judge whether the word is formal enough to be used in print.

That’s your Grammar Minute! Visit thegrammarminute.com for more tiups and tricks.