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Grammar Bot Gets the Giggles

Learn some little-known facts about laughing as you practice using apostrophes correctly.

From the September 2020 Issue

Directions: Grammar Bot left 16 apostrophes out of the sentences below. Add them back in!


1. Experts dont fully understand why humans laugh. But they think it helps us bond with each other. Research shows were 30 times more likely to laugh with other people than by ourselves. 

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2. Youve seen it before: One kid snickers. Another starts chuckling. Soon, the whole class is howling. Laughing is contagious—our brains response to hearing laughter is to give us the giggles. 

3. Humans arent the only creatures that crack up. Apes laugh when tickled, and scientists think rats, dolphins, and dogs might too. Time to figure out your pups sense of humor!

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4. Ever heard the saying “Laughter is the best medicine”? Turns out its true. Studies show that laughing can lower stress, relieve pain, and keep your heart healthy.

5. Laughter isnt all fun and games—it is also a serious science. Experts who study laughter and how it affects peoples bodies are known as gelotologists.

6. The average adult laughs 15-20 times a day. But thats nothing compared to babies, who laugh 300 times a day! Too bad they cant tell us whats so funny.

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7. When a friends message makes you laugh, you might type “haha” or “LOL.” But LOL’ing is different in other languages. In South Korea, youd write “kekeke,” and French speakers say “MDR” (short for “mort de rire,” meaning “dying of laughter.”)

 8. Your schools gym curriculum could use a little more laughter—its a workout for your lungs and stomach muscles. In fact, a type of exercise called “laughter yoga” is popular around the world.

This article was originally published in the September 2020 issue.

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