Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards. Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing and feed your love of the English language. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer. Grammar Girl is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast.
Thu, April 10, 2025
The future of editing jobs in the age of AI, with Samantha Enslen
1072. Is AI coming for our jobsβor just the boring parts? This week, Samantha Enslen of Dragonfly Editorial talks about how she sees AI changing the work of writers and editors. We talked about real clients, real fears, and hope for the future. Plus, Samantha shares her favorite old-school fiction (spoiler: Agatha Christie strikes again!). Find Samantha Enslen at DragonflyEditorial.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube . TikTok . <a href="http://facebook.com/gramm
Tue, April 08, 2025
How to write photo captions. The real difference between βimmigrateβ and βemigrate.β Ko Pha-ngan'd
1071. Is it "Taylor and I" or "Taylor and me"? We explain why photo captions follow their own grammar rules. Then, we explore the subtle difference between "immigrate" and "emigrate," how the terms are used historically, and why their meanings often depend on perspective. The "photo captions" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . The "immigration" segment was by Brenda Thomas, a freelance writer who enjoys writing about a variety of topics in the humanities and education. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: N
Thu, April 03, 2025
The hidden techniques behind well-paced fiction, with Joshua Essoe
1070. Fiction editor Joshua Essoe explains the hidden techniques behind pacing in storytelling. Learn how good pacing shapes reader engagement, why well-placed story beats and emotional shifts matter, and how popular films like Memento and Fight Club use pacing to captivate audiences. Joshua also looks at managing flashbacks, using white space strategically, and avoiding common pacing pitfalls in fiction writing. Joshua's "Pacing and Cutting" Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshuaessoe/guides-to-writing-pacing-and-cutting π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c
Tue, April 01, 2025
Why don't we say the L in 'walk'? Never use 'always.' PABST
1069. Have you ever wondered why we have silent L's in words like "walk" and "half"? Those questions lead us to L-vocalization, spelling pronunciation, and why American and British speakers differ. Plus, we look at some of the most dangerous words in the English language: "always" and "never." The "L vocalization" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/show
Thu, March 27, 2025
Exploring slang, AI ghost words, and language change, with Heddwen Newton
1068. Did Yosemite Sam ever actually say "tarnation"? Whatβs "fridgescaping," and why is it trending? And why is AI filling the internet with nonsense words like βlrtsjerkβ? Linguist and translator Heddwen Newton shares her favorite new slang, explains the Mandela Effect, and breaks down how AI-generated content is making language even messier. Find Heddwen Newton at her newsletter, English in Progress . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube . TikTok . <a
Tue, March 25, 2025
Whatβs wrong with "'til"? Why tiny words control conversations. How many cookies?
1067. Think "'til" is a valid alternative to "until"? Think again! We learn about the difference between "till" and "until" and why many style guides frown on "'til." Then, we uncover the hidden power of interjectionsβwords like "um," "huh," and "mm-hmm"βand how they help us negotiate meaning, keep conversations flowing, and even challenge artificial intelligence. The "interjections" segment was written by Bob Holmes, a science writer living in Edmonton, Canada and who until recently, had no idea how often he uses interjections. The piece originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a digital publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. And they've produced a special standalone episode of their podcast about interjections, so if you want to learn more, check that out too. You can find their podcast and explore new articles at knowablemagazine.org . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82
Thu, March 20, 2025
The best punctuation book, period, with June Casagrande
1066. Do you really need that comma? Should your dashes have spaces? Is there ever just one "right" way to punctuate? June Casagrande, author of "The Best Punctuation Book, Period," busts punctuation myths, compares style guides, and looks at the surprising complexity of the humble em dash. Find June Casagrande at grammarunderground.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook .<a href="h
Tue, March 18, 2025
Why we say βOK.β How tea shaped English slang. Poetry winner
1065. Is it "OK" or "okay"? We look at the surprising history of one of the worldβs most recognized English words and how a 19th-century election campaign helped it stick. Then, we have some fun with Victorian tea culture and the many idioms it inspired, from Cockney rhyming slang to "scandal broth." The "tea" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows
Thu, March 13, 2025
Behind the scenes of Wikipedia: editing, accuracy, and notability, with Jonathan Rick
1064. Is Wikipedia the last refuge on online truth? With AI-generated content and misinformation spreading online, Wikipedia is growing in esteem, but who decides what gets published? How does Wikipedia determine things like credibility and notability? Wikipedia consultant Jonathan Rick gives us the inside scoop on Wikipediaβs strict sourcing rules, why some pages get deleted, and how you can become an editor. Jonathan Rick helps people make sense of β and profit from β business communication. Whether through ghostwriting, speaking, or marketing, he helps clients engender buzz, shape public opinion, and become thought leaders. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c89790
Tue, March 11, 2025
How did our holidays become so 'corny'? Why do some words have accent marks in English? Cubby hole
1063. Why is it called "corned beef" when thereβs no corn involved? We look at how the word "corn" evolved to mean different things over time. Then, we look at the role of accent marks in English β why some words keep them, why others lose them, and what they tell us about language. The "corn" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . The "diacritic" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video
Thu, March 06, 2025
Why kids can't read (and what we can do about it), with Kate Crist
1062. Did you know that 21% of U.S. adults struggle with basic literacy? In this eye-opening episode, literacy specialist Kate Crist talks about the literacy crisis in America, how reading is taught incorrectly in schools, and what we can do to fix it. She has real stories of students and adults overcoming reading struggles, the science behind learning to read, and practical advice for parents, educators, and anyone who wants to help. Resource list Literacy rates: PIAAC , NAEP Why do we have these low rates of literacy? Two great films - The Truth About Reading [OFFICIAL TRAILER] [NOW STREAMING] and Right to Read Podcast = Sold a Story How can I help the readers in my life? Family Guides from Seek Common Ground (what your kids should know at grade level) FULCRUM for advocacy resources To understand how we learn to read, this graphic guide cannot be beat: How We Read (written for adolescent students, itβs great for adults too) Tools to use at home: Reading Buddies , Toddlers Can Read, Learning Dynamics , How to Teach your Kid to Read in 100 easy lessons For older readers City Stories and this set of recommendations from the Literacy Architects (and if you want to get super nerdy, this article from Reading Rockets And if you have the money/are low-cost resources in your community: Get a literacy tutor. <
Tue, March 04, 2025
The mystery of βitβ in English. The most dramatic moments in grammar history. Ghost Town Mad, the song
1061. Ever wonder why we say "It's raining" even though "it" doesn't refer to anything? We explain the logic behind this quirky English rule. Then, we look at some of the most dramatic moments in grammar history, including a semicolon duel, a costly comma mistake, and a famous book with 5,000 typos. The "dummy 'it'" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . "Ghost Town Mad" by Lex Friedman . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="http
Thu, February 27, 2025
From 'Parasite' to 'Emilia PΓ©rez': How movies shape language, with Andrew Cheng
1060. Why do villains always have British accents? Why was "Parasite" a game-changer for non-English films? And how is AI secretly shaping the voices you hear on screen? With the Oscars coming up, Dr. Andrew Cheng talks about how films are evolving to reflect linguistic authenticity β and why it matters. From heritage speakers in "Anora" to made-up languages in "Dune" and "Avatar," we look at the complexities of representing real and fictional languages in film. Dr. Andrew Cheng teaches Linguistics at the University of HawaiΚ»i at MΔnoa, located in Honolulu, HawaiΚ»i. His academic research focuses on the sounds of language, the social perceptions of language, and all sorts of linguistic phenomena associated with bilingualism and multilingualism. When he's not geeking out about linguistics, he can be found playing tabletop games, hiking in the jungle, or, of course, watching movies. You can find him on Bluesky and Letterboxd (for film buffs). π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | The
Tue, February 25, 2025
Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff.
1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, and historical quirks explain this inconsistency. Plus, we look at the history of "fine print" β from typesetting in smoky print shops to its modern use in hiding legal loopholes. The "fine print" segment was by Glenn Fleishman , a typesetter, graphic designer, journalist, print historian, and author of the book β How Comics Were Made: A Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page ,β which you can find at howcomicsweremade.ink . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f
Thu, February 20, 2025
Writing Motivation Hacks, with Mary Robinette Kowal
1058. If you struggle to sit down and write, youβll love this conversation with award-winning author and podcaster Mary Robinette Kowal. Learn how to conquer writing obstacles with tips on managing distractions, handling research rabbit holes, and making time to write β even when life gets in the way. Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of The Spare Man, Ghost Talkers, The Glamourist Histories series, and the Lady Astronaut Universe. She is part of the award-winning podcast Writing Excuses and a four-time Hugo Award winner. Her short fiction appears in Uncanny , Tor.com , and Asimovβs . Mary Robinette, a professional puppeteer, lives in Denver. Visit at maryrobinettekowal.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashbo
Tue, February 18, 2025
Why we misuse βliterally.β How ham radio got its name. District
1057. Why do people use "literally" when they mean "figuratively"? This week, we look at how the meaning of "literally" changed over time. Plus, we look at how amateur radio operators came to be known as "hams" and why the term stuck. The "literally"segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . The "ham radio" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . The "in medias res" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . (Wouldn't you know it ... the week I decide to promote the newsletter, the sign-up page is broken. Ugh! If you want to sign up, send your email address to feedback@quickanddirtytips.com, and I'll sign you up once it's fixed.) π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books
Thu, February 13, 2025
How to be a ghostwriter, with Dan Gerstein
1056. Ghostwriting is more than just anonymous book writing β itβs a thriving industry. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, shares how writers can break into ghostwriting, what types of projects are available, and how much top ghostwriters earn. Plus, we explore the ethical considerations of ghostwriting and how the industry is evolving. Dan Gerstein is founder and CEO of Gotham Ghostwriters , the countryβs premier ghostwriting agency. Featuring a network of more than 4,000 accomplished freelance editorial pros, Gotham specializes in sophisticated, long-form writing (such as books, speeches, and reports) for authors, speakers, and thinkers who need expert help telling and selling their stories. Gerstein, a graduate of Harvard College, has been writing and communicating professionally for more than 30 years. He started his career as a local sports and news reporter at the Hartford Courant. He then went on to spend more than a decade as a speechwriter and communications strategist on Capitol Hill and for two presidential campaigns, serving as a senior advisor to Senator Joe Lieberman from his home state of Connecticut. In 2004, Gerstein moved to New York to become a political consultant (primarily working with issue advocacy groups) and commentator. Known for his independent, thoughtful analysis, he has served as a contributing columnist for Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and Politico. He has also appeared regularly on television as a political analyst for Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, WNBC-TV, and NY1. Among other pursuits, Gerstein, 57, has served as an adjunct faculty instructor in New York University's masterβs program in Public Relations and Corporate Communications; he currently serves on the board of the recently-launched 5Boro Institute in New York City. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Simona, their daughter Ella, and their dog Ugo. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus epi
Tue, February 11, 2025
Why some holidays have apostrophes. Why Californians say βthe 405.β MIGD
1055. Ever wonder why some holidays have apostrophes while others donβt? We look at Motherβs Day, Veterans Day, and Presidentsβ Day. Then, we look at why Southern Californians say "the 405" while the rest of the country skips "the" in front of freeway names. The "apostrophe" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3
Thu, February 06, 2025
Word games and the joy of playing every day, with Lex Friedman
1054. Ever wonder what goes into designing daily word games? Lex Friedman, creator of Lex.games , shares his journey from puzzle lover to puzzle maker, how he keeps his games fresh, and why some puzzles stump even the best players. Plus, we talk typos, accessibility, and the psychology of great wordplay. If you enjoy Wordle, crosswords, or Connections-style puzzles, this episode is for you! π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube . TikTok . Facebo
Tue, February 04, 2025
'Toeing' the line. Metonymy versus synecdoche. Ghost town mad
1053. If youβve ever hesitated between βtoe the lineβ and βtow the line,β this episode is for you. We look at the phrase's history to clear up the confusion. Then, we look at metonymy and synecdoche β powerful literary devices that can make your writing more compelling. The metonymy segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing professionally for more than 35 years in the publishing and academic industries within the Bay Area. After earning his MFA in Writing and a UC Berkeley Extension certification in copyediting, he founded Typo Suction.com , an independent writing and editing service. Additionally, he has taught grammar and copyediting intensives and professional proofreading workshops at Media Alliance and served as events coordinator for Bay Area Editorsβ Forum (BAEF) . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/show
Thu, January 30, 2025
Wordplay and cartoons: Inside the making of 'AB@C,' with Rob Meyerson and Dan Misdea
1052. What do βCDBβ and βU11 2β have in common? Theyβre both examples of gramograms! This week, I chat with writer Rob Meyerson and New Yorker cartoonist Dan Misdea about their book "AB@C," a fun collection of gramogramsβletters, numbers, and symbols that form words when read aloud. We look at the history of this quirky wordplay and the artistic process behind the bookβs illustrations. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook .
Tue, January 28, 2025
Does 'book-book' make sense? Fun words for jigsaw lovers. Chilly chickens.
1051. This week, we look at doubled words, like "salad-salad" or "job-job," and what the repetition is actually telling us. Then, in honor of National Puzzle Day, we look at the history of jigsaw puzzles and some fun words from the industry such as "whimsy" and "puzzband." The "puzzle" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/epis
Thu, January 23, 2025
The secret to writing a good memoir, with Wendy Dale
1050. This week, I talk with Wendy Dale, author of "The Memoir Engineering System," about how to write a compelling memoir. We look at the differences between memoir and autobiography, the importance of plot, and why outlining can save writers years of work. Wendy shares practical tips on crafting scenes, connecting events, and handling sensitive topics while maintaining relationships with the people in your story. It's not just for memoir writing either β I found the tips inspiring and helpful for crafting fiction too. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media | Links: YouTube . <a href="htt
Tue, January 21, 2025
Quotation marks in 1906. Starting stories in the middle. Road trip words.
1049. I came across a hilarious entry about quotation marks in an old usage guide and had to share it. Then, we look at a technique that can work for both fiction and nonfiction writing β starting a story in the middle. The "in medias res" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media | Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654
Thu, January 16, 2025
'Rebel with a Clause,' the movie, with Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson
1048. Ellen Jovin set up a folding table on the street in all 50 U.S. states to talk with people about grammar, which led to the book "Rebel with a Clause." Now, her story, and the story of people who talked with her, is a movie by the same name. Mignon talked with Ellen and her documentarian husband, Brandt Johnson, about what they learned about both filmmaking and humanity. Find them at RebelWithAClause.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . <a href="http://
Tue, January 14, 2025
From "august" to "August." Why the union is always "strong." Nee nee
1047. This week, we look at word pairs like "august/August" that change their meaning when capitalized and how you can make your meaning clear. Then, we look at how we got to the point where U.S. presidents always seem to say, "The state of the union is STRONG," in their State of the Union addresses. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media | Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . <strong
Thu, January 09, 2025
The psychology of fandom, with Jennifer Lynn Barnes
1046. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the "Inheritance Games" books, discusses how writing from different points of view can help readers connect with characters in different ways. We also talked about her book recommendations, and how the "Grey's Anatomy" pilot surprised her by having almost all the elements she had identified as important for the success of novels. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . <a href="http
Tue, January 07, 2025
Does 'Wicked' have a grammar error? What is the 'neck of the woods'? To be Frances
1045. A listener asked if the song "The Wizard and I" should actually be "The Wizard and Me," so we look at how you can tell. And then we look at interesting idioms about familiar places: "neck of the woods," "stomping grounds," and "haunts." The "neck of the woods" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a former Quick and Dirty Tips editor who has crafted hundreds of articles on the art of writing well. She was an online education pioneer, founding one of the first online writing workshops. These days, she provides writing tips and writing coach services at HelpMeWriteBetter.com . Find the "Wicked" grammar quiz at the bottom of this page: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/wicked-movie-grammar-wizard-and-i/ π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b
Thu, January 02, 2025
The case of the mystery dialect, with Natalie Schilling
1044. Today, I'm talking about a strange disappearance that forensic linguist Natalie Schilling worked on that she calls "the case of the mystery dialect." This is the original bonus segment from our conversation back in October. Grammarpaloozians who support the show get these segments right when they come out, and maybe more importantly, give us the help we need to keep going and produce the bonus segments. So many thanks to all you wonderful Grammarpaloozians! Natalie Schilling is a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/
Mon, December 30, 2024
2024 words of the year, with John Kelly
1043. "Skibidi," "polarization," "brat," "demure," "enshittification," and more. You might get whiplash from the vacillating vibes of all the words the dictionaries chose this year. I joined John Kelly, former vice president of editorial at Dictionary.com, to romp through all the choices and contenders. Find John at https://mashedradish.com π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . L
Thu, December 26, 2024
Twee pop, bumbershoot, amongst, and more, with Ben Yagoda
1042. Today, I have the bonus segment from my interview with Ben Yagoda back in September. Ben is the author of the book "Gobsmacked: The British Invasion of American English," and we talked about the words "twee," "vet," the two spellings of "gray," the surprising origins of "football" and "soccer," and more. Grammarpaloozians who support the show get these segments right when they come out, and in today's really tough podcasting environment, they help us keep going and produce these bonus segments. Many thanks to all of our wonderful Grammarpaloozians! π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . π Find Ben Yagoda at Not One-Off Britishisms . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501
Mon, December 23, 2024
'Home' for the holidays. False friends. Hello, Dentist.
1041. Today, we talk about the word "home" and its meaning beyond just a structure, and then we talk about false friends β words in different languages that don't mean what you think they mean. The "home" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . The "false friends" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a former Quick and Dirty Tips editor who has crafted hundreds of articles on the art of writing well. She was an online education pioneer, founding one of the first online writing workshops. These days, she provides writing tips and writing coach services at HelpMeWriteBetter.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Gr
Thu, December 19, 2024
Struggling with AI: Job loss, energy use, and more, with Christopher Penn
1040. The downsides of AI bother me a lot β job loss, energy use, and the content tsunami. But I also think it's critically important to understand what this technology can do and how it's likely to change the way we work and live. In this Grammarpalooza bonus segment, I talked with Christopher Penn about how he thinks about these problems. π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . L
Tue, December 17, 2024
Why people say 'I mean ...' Missing pronouns. Cat-tracted.
1039. People are saying "I mean" more lately, and we explain what it ... means! Plus, we look at why people leave out pronouns at the beginning of sentences such as "Ordering pizza!" The "I mean" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of "Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . The "pronoun deletion" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a former Quick and Dirty Tips editor who has crafted hundreds of articles on the art of writing well. She was an online education pioneer, founding one of the first online writing workshops. These days, she provides writing tips and writing coach services at HelpMeWriteBetter.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-
Thu, December 12, 2024
Why the new CMOS is yellow. Pandemic collectors editions. And more
1038. Chicago Manual of Style editors Mary Laur and Russell Harper dish on the changes they wanted in CMOS that didn't make it in, why the stylebook is bright yellow, and how a printing problem during the pandemic led to some rare editions of the manual. Plus, Mary shares her book recommendations just in time for holiday book buying. Original full interview: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/chicago-18 π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook .<a href="https://www.threads.ne
Tue, December 10, 2024
Positive 'anymore.' 'Wreaked' or 'wrought'? Seat of your pants. Pecan pie.
1037. This week, we answer a few questions that have popped up from previous episodes: What's up with the "positive anymore"? What is havoc? Is it wreaked or wrought? And more! π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . Bluesky .
Thu, December 05, 2024
Making your own dictionary, with Erin McKean
1036. Erin McKean runs an entire online dictionary with the goal of having ALL the English words. But Wordnik is not only huge, it's also filled with delightful quirks. Hear how Erin manages this one-woman show and how you can get in on the fun β by adopting a word, making your own lists, using the API for word games or a word of the day, adding words or definitions, and trawling the internet for interesting sentences. Erin McKean is a lexicographer and the driving force behind the online dictionary Wordnik . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . <a href="http://facebook.com/grammarg
Tue, December 03, 2024
Good first sentences. The language of 'Gladiator II.' Bear barber.
1035. This week, we look at famous and amazing first sentences in novels to understand what makes them so compelling, and then we look at the interesting origin of "gladiator" and other words from Roman times. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, November 26, 2024
How to write about trademarks. Why we say 'thank you.'
1034. First, we look at how writers should use trademarked terms like "Kleenex" and "Google," including when to capitalize them and how to avoid legal pitfalls. Then, we look at the way the word "thank" evolved alongside changing social conventions β who got thanked and why, and how the word itself evolved. The trademark segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn . The "thank you" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of "Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar
Thu, November 21, 2024
Why one creative agency changed its stance on AI
1033. Last year, Dragonfly Editorial had a "no AI" policy, but since then, they've been experimenting with the technology, and the policy has become more nuanced. President Samantha Enslen joins us to talk about what changed, what's working and what isn't, concerns, and how her employees feel about it. Visit Dragonfly Editorial . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . <a href="https://w
Tue, November 19, 2024
Why children learn languages faster than adults. Are band names singular or plural?
1032. First, we explore why children pick up languages faster than adults. Youβll learn about the critical period when young brains are best at learning, why kids often learn two languages at once, and what makes it harder for adults. Then, we tackle the grammar rules for using singular and plural verbs with band names and team names, comparing American and British usage. The "language learning" segment is by Syelle Graves, who has a PhD in linguistics and is the assistant director of ILETC (the Institute for Language Education in Transcultural Context) at the CUNY Graduate Center. Her research was recently published in the Journal of Pragmatics and American Speech . You can find her at www.syellegraves.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071
Thu, November 14, 2024
'Beer' words in the OED, with Fiona McPherson
1031. This week, Fiona McPherson from the Oxford English Dictionary talks about the latest βbeerβ words added to the OED, from βboozerooβ to βbeerage.β We discuss how these words are chosen, the fascinating history behind them, and why some have surprising origins. Fiona also explains how digital resources have transformed lexicography and shares why the OED preserves every word in the language, even obsolete ones. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . <a href="http://instagram.com/thegrammargi
Tue, November 12, 2024
'Hanged' versus 'Hung.' Is 'pair' singular or plural? Fossilized phrases.
1030. This week, we look at why "hang" has two past-tense forms: "hanged" and "hung." (And why I keep messing them up!) Then we expand on why "pair" can be singular or plural. And finally we look at why we hear some words only in set phrases such as "bated breath," "throes of agony," and "to and fro." The "archaic language" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a former Quick and Dirty Tips editor who has crafted hundreds of articles on the art of writing well. She was an online education pioneer, founding one of the first online writing workshops. These days, she provides writing tips and writing coach services at HelpMeWriteBetter.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com
Thu, November 07, 2024
The psychology of writing bestsellers, with Jennifer Lynn Barnes
1029. This week, I talk with Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the bestselling "Inheritance Games" series and a former psychology professor, about the psychology behind popular fiction. We look at why readers connect so deeply with fictional characters, the science of parasocial relationships, and how understanding human psychology can improve your storytelling. Find Jennifer Lynn Barnes on Instagram at AuthorJenLynnBarnes and on her website at JenniferLynnBarnes.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl
Tue, November 05, 2024
Are you "pantless" or "pantsless"? Who (or what) is Beetlejuice?
1028. This week, we look at the weird situation when you want to add a suffix (such as "-less") to a plural-only noun such as "pants" or "scissors" β with a fun detour for some pants-related idioms. Then, with a new "Beetlejuice" in theaters, we look at the fascinating origin of the name and its role in mythology throughout the ages. The "pantless" segment is by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing for more than thirty-five years. Heβs the founder and principal editor at TypoSuction.com , an independent editing/writing service. He taught grammar and copyediting intensives and professional proofreading workshops at Media Alliance and served as events coordinator for Bay Area Editorsβ Forum (BAEF) . Visit Linkedin.com/in/jimnorrena/ for his complete work history and highlighted projects. The "Beetlejuice" segment was written by Samantha Enslen who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at DragonflyEditorial.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes
Thu, October 31, 2024
How linguists solve crimes, with Natalie Schilling
1027. This week, I talk with forensic linguist Natalie Schilling about how people's language gives them away β in manifestos, ransom notes, text messages, and more. Natalie Schilling is a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . <a href="http://instagram.com/t
Tue, October 29, 2024
From Guy Fawkes to Guido Fawkes. Tales from the crypt (and catacombs, mausoleums, and ossuaries). Taquitos
1026. This week, we look at the origins of words for men, including the ancient roots of "man," the surprising evolution of the word "guy" from being an insult to just another word, and how "guido" took a different route. Then, for some Halloween fun, we look at the difference between crypts, catacombs, mausoleums, and ossuaries, with an emphasis on their fascinating origins and some famous examples. The "words for men" segment is by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." A version of this story originally appeared on Psychology Today, and you can find her at valeriefridland.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900
Thu, October 24, 2024
The language of meetings, with Jim Slaughter
1025. Have you ever wondered where meeting terms like βquorumβ or βproxyβ come from? In this episode, Jim Slaughter looks at the linguistic origins and historical contexts of these and other common parliamentary words. We discuss the evolution of words like βbylaws,β why minutes aren't related to time, how βfilibusterβ is connected to pirates, and why βmajorityβ is often misunderstood. Jim Slaughter is an attorney, Certified Professional Parliamentarian, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, and past President of the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers. He is the author of four books on meeting procedure, including two recent books updated for the new RobertβsβRobertβs Rules of Order Fast Track and Notes and Comments on Robertβs Rules, Fifth Edition . Jim has served as Parliamentarian for many of the largest associations in the world. An array of charts and articles on Robertβs and meeting procedure can be found at www.jimslaughter.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Spec
Tue, October 22, 2024
Why don't we say 'I'm smarter than YOU'RE'? The language of fear. Catherineisms.
1024. It often sounds weird if you try to end a sentence with a contraction like "you're" and "I'm." We look at why! Then, get ready for Halloween with the language of fear. The "contractions" segment is by Neal Whitman, an independent writer and consultant specializing in language and grammar and a member of the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, school board. You can search for him by name on Facebook, or find him on his blog at literalminded.wordpress.com . The "language of fear" segment is by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." A version of this story originally appeared on Psychology Today, and you can find her at valeriefridland.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82
Thu, October 17, 2024
Feeling stuck? Anne Lamott's here to kickstart your writing!
1023. I felt like I could write anything after this discussion with Anne Lamott about painful first drafts, beating perfectionism, and the one thing she'd change in "Bird by Bird." Best of all, you can meet Anne yourself at the upcoming Writers Rising conference . Use the code grammargirl10 for a 10% discount. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript . π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/compa
Tue, October 15, 2024
Quack! What's a lame duck? A German punctuation kerfuffle.
1022. This week, we look at election terms like βpresident-electβ and βlame duckβ and how they're used during a U.S. presidential transition. Then, I dig into my favorite kind of hot grammar news: people in Germany are angry about apostrophes! The "election words" segment is by Karen Lunde Hertzberg, a former Quick and Dirty Tips editor who has crafted hundreds of articles on the art of writing well. She was an online education pioneer, founding one of the first online writing workshops. These days, she provides writing tips and writing coach services at HelpMeWriteBetter.com. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . <a href="https://www.tiktok.
Thu, October 10, 2024
Can AI really write? A no-nonsense discussion, with Christopher Penn
1021. This week, Christopher Penn talks about the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in writing and editing. We look at common misconceptions about how AI works and best practices for writing prompts. We also talk about privacy concerns, bias, fact-checking, and our concerns for the future. Whether you use these tools daily, tried them a long time ago and decided they aren't for you, or are just curious, you'll find something of interest. Find out more about Christopher and his books at trustinsights.ai and ChristopherSPenn.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikT
Tue, October 08, 2024
How to talk like a chef. The Michigander controversy. Jakey.
1020. This week, we shed light on quirky restaurant slang like βkill itβ and βChef Mike.β Then, we tackle the long-standing debate over what to call residents of Michigan β "Michiganders" or "Michiganians" β and what Abraham Lincoln has to do with it. The "kitchen lingo" segment is by Susan K. Herman, a retired multidisciplined language analyst, editor, and instructor for the federal government. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . <a href="https:/
Thu, October 03, 2024
How writers navigate failure and find success, with Jonathan Small
1019. This week, Jonathan Small, author of "Write About Now," shares what he's learned about the common struggles writers face throughout their careers. His book highlights stories from bestselling authors about their beginnings, the risks they took, and how they handled early rejection. I was especially surprised by the stories of shockingly bold decisions that launched more than one successful author's career. If you've ever wondered how authors get a foot in the door or get through failure, this episode is for you. Find out more about Jonathan and his books at WriteAboutNowMedia.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . <a href="https://www.tiktok.c
Tue, October 01, 2024
From game boards to boardrooms. Commas with participial phrases. Gritties.
1018. This week, we look at the meanings of the word "board," including the differences between board games, table games, and table-top games. We also look at the punctuation of participial phrases, helping you understand when to use commas in sentences like "She yelled at me, making me cry" versus "She is the lady making me cry." The "board" segment is by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at DragonflyEditorial.com . The "commas with participial phrases" segment is by Bonnie Mills, who has been a copy editor since 1996. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube .
Thu, September 26, 2024
From 'gobsmacked' to 'ginger': The British invasion of American English, with Ben Yagoda
1017. How did British words find their way into American English? Author Ben Yagoda shares insights with us from his new book "Gobsmacked!" We learn about words like "brilliant" and "ginger" that have crossed the pond, some words you might think came from Britain (but didn't), which politicians are prone to using Britishisms, and why some adopted terms might sound more pretentious than others to American ears. Find out more about Ben and his books at BenYagoda.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook .<a href="https://www.threads.net/@th
Tue, September 24, 2024
Why some verb sets are so odd (like 'go/went'). Corporate euphemisms. Goggy.
1016. This week, we look at why some verbs are so irregular that their forms don't even seem related, like "go" and "went." Then, we look at the surprising finding that corporate euphemisms are worse than annoying β they can also hurt a company's stock price. The "suppletion" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . The "corporate euphemisms" segment was was written by Kate Suslava , an associate professor of accounting at Bucknell University. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license , BY-ND 4.0. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f6
Thu, September 19, 2024
What's new in the Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition), with Russell Harper and Mary Laur
1015. The Chicago Manual of Style is updated every seven years, and this year's update is a big one! I talked with two of the editors β Russell Harper and Mary Laur β about the major changes, how the decisions get made, and the history of the CMOS (pronounced "sea moss"). π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza . Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext . Learn more about the difference . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, September 17, 2024
Do words like 'mandate' and 'cockamamie' come from words for men? Grammatical doppelgangers. A pair of teeth.
1014. This week, we debunk misconceptions about gendered language, tracing the etymology of words like "cockamamie" and "gynecology." We also look at the flexibility of English grammar, examining how common words like "that" and "up" can function as different parts of speech in various contexts. The "gendered words" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com . The "grammar leaks" segment was written by Edwin Battistella, who taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he served as a dean and as interim provost. His books include Bad Language: Are Some Words Better than Others? , Sorry About That: The Language of Public Apology , and Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels: Insulting the President, from Washington to Trump . It originally appeared on the OUP blog and is included here with permission. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/acc
Thu, September 12, 2024
What fiction writers know about avoiding stereotypes, with Alex Temblador
1013. How can fiction writers create diverse, authentic characters without relying on stereotypes? Alex Temblador, author of "Writing An Identity Not Your Own," tackles this question and more. Learn about the importance of community engagement in research, the pitfalls of overemphasizing certain character traits, and techniques for editing with an eye toward inclusivity. Temblador also shares her own experience applying these principles to her novel "Half Outlaw," offering a practical look at writing across identities. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, September 10, 2024
'Tea' or 'chai'? Why we misspeak. Fellatone.
1012. Most words are different in different languages, but water from steeped leaves has only two main names: tea and chai. We look at why! Also, if you've ever mixed up words, like calling a butterfly a "flutterby," you'll love learning about what these slips of the tongue tell us about how we form sentences. The "tea" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . The "slips of the tongue" segment was written by Cecile McKee, , a professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/
Tue, September 03, 2024
The language of liars. 'Legendary,' 'famous,' or 'notorious'? Fish shapes.
1011. This week, we look at language patterns that may indicate someone is lying, such as how often they say "um" and the diversity of the words they use. Then we tease out the difference between being legendary, famous, infamous, and notorious. The "language of lying" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." A version of this story originally appeared on Psychology Today , and you can find her at valeriefridland.com . π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . <a href="htt
Tue, August 27, 2024
Cat Idioms. 'Summerween' and other blends. Bankery
1010. We'd never be accused of belling the cat, but we did let our curiosity get the best of us when sniffing around common cat-related idioms. Plus, little did we know that we're already in Augtober and Summerween! Grab a pumpkin-spiced treat and come on an adventure through the looking glass to learn about portmanteau words. The "cat idoims" segment is written by Susan K. Herman, a former multidisciplined linguist, editor, and instructor for the U.S. government. π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, August 20, 2024
Apostrophes have always been confusing. 'First' or 'firstly'? Trudy!
1009. If you think apostrophes are confusing today, wait until you hear how people used them 100s of years ago! Ammon Shea has some wild stories. Plus, should you use "first," "second," and "third" or "firstly," "secondly," and "thirdly"? Ammon Shea is the author of " Bad English ," " Reading the OED ." π Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, August 13, 2024
When to use 'the' before a noun. Why rhymes help us remember. Opening a lime.
1008. We look at why you have to use "the" before some nouns and not others, and then we dive into the science behind why rhymes stick in our memory and how they can even influence our beliefs. The "articles before nouns" segment was written by Neal Whitman, an independent writer and consultant specializing in language and grammar and a member of the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, school board. You can search for him by name on Facebook, or find him on his blog at literalminded.wordpress.com . π Share your familect recording via WhatsApp. π Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . π Subscribe to the newsletter . π Take our advertising survey . π Get the edited transcript. π Get Grammar Girl books . π Join Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, August 06, 2024
Why singers lose their accents. Why the 'I before E' rule is weird.
1007. Why do Adele and Susan Boyle sound American when they sing? We have answers. Plus, with all the talk about "weird" lately, we think it's time to examine the old "I before E except after C" rule that has so many exceptions it's hardly a rule at all β until you add W for "weird." The singing segment is written by Susan K. Herman, a former multidisciplined linguist, editor, and instructor for the U.S. government. | Share a recording of your familect story with me on WhatsApp. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/i-before-e/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, July 30, 2024
Why 'I' takes plural verbs. Making names that end in S, like Harris and Biles, possessive. Marinate.
1006. We look at why the pronoun "I" seems to take plural verbs, and then we talk about a grammar topic that's in the news: how to make names that end in S (like Harris and Biles) possessive. | Share a recording of your familect story with me on WhatsApp , Threads , Instagram, or Mastodon . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/names-possessive/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, July 23, 2024
A brief history of English (aka when they spoke French in England). Killer death meat.
1005. You asked, so I have a brief history of English from invading Germanic tribes to the Modern English era. We talk about Vikings, the Norman Conquest, the Black Death, the Tyndale Bible, the printing press, and more. | Share a recording of your familect story with me on Threads , Instagram, or Mastodon . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/history/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, July 18, 2024
The power of words: Conscious language, with Karen Yin
1004. This week, Karen Yin, author of "The Conscious Style Guide," discusses the concept of conscious language and its importance in promoting equity and respect. We explore the differences between conscious language and political correctness, the evolution of the singular "they," and how to navigate language change. Karen also shares insights on addressing language mishaps, the importance of context in language use, and how to approach controversial terms and phrases.
Tue, July 16, 2024
How to write about zero. Are your emails accidentally rude? PAPST.
1003. This week, we look at zero β what a weird number! It has two plurals, sometimes you use the word and sometimes you use the numeral, and it gave rise to a bunch of idioms in the World War II era. Then we turn our attention to email. Generational differences can lead to misunderstandings. We explain why and how to avoid them. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/zero-email/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, July 11, 2024
AI: Friend or foe? A conversation with Martha Brockenbrough
1002. This week, Mignon talks with author Martha Brockenbrough about the good and bad sides of using artificial intelligence for writing and education, including ethical concerns about using AI-generated content, strategies for teaching writing in the age of AI, and the potential effects on teachers' jobs. Martha's new book, "Future Tense": https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250765925/futuretense Martha's website: https://martha-brockenbrough.squarespace.com/ Martha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthabee/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/martha/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Threads . Bluesky . <a href=
Tue, July 09, 2024
The unspoken rules of adjectives. The rise of 'yeah-nah.' Sundies
1001. This week, we explore the often-overlooked rules for ordering adjectives in English and when to use commas between them. Then, spurred by a recent shout-out at a Taylor Swift concert in Australia, we look at the rise of the phrase "yeah-nah" (and its American cousin "yeah-no"). | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/adjectives/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, July 04, 2024
Grammar Girl at 1000: Words, wisdom, and a dash of whimsy
1000. In this special 1000th episode, I take the hot seat to answer your questions. Hear what made the first year of the podcast so wild, what I wish I had done differently, what mistakes I still make, how I still find fresh topics after all these years, and the title of my secret dream show (hint: it involves penguins!). It's a celebration of language, learning, and the loyal listeners who made it all possible. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-1000/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Threads . Bluesky . Mastodon .
Tue, July 02, 2024
The birth of American English. How to recognize a phrasal verb. Cucka-nucka.
999. This week, we look at what shaped early American English, from Native American words to Noah Webster's spelling reforms. Then, we explore phrasal verbs, looking at their grammatical peculiarities and some tips to distinguish them from other types of verbs. The "American English" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . The "phrasal verbs" segment was written by Edwin L. Battistella, who taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he served as a dean and as interim provost. His books include Bad Language: Are Some Words Better than Others? , Sorry About That: The Language of Public Apology , and Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels: Insulting the President, from Washington to Trump . It originally appeared on the OUP blog and is included here with permission. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/early-american/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d58
Thu, June 27, 2024
Buying your hometown newspaper, with Samantha & Greg Enslen
998. This week, I talked with Samantha and Greg Enslen, who recently purchased their hometown newspaper, the "Tippecanoe Gazette" in Tipp City, Ohio. Sam and Greg shared how they are making it work, from updating antiquated systems to expanding news coverage and readership. We also discussed balancing print and digital content, the challenges of ad sales and subscriptions, their commitment to hyper-local reporting, their thoughts on AI in journalism, and the colorful stories that make small-town news so much fun. Whether you're an aspiring journalist or are simply curious about the future of local news, you'll be inspired by the Enslens' dedication to keeping community journalism alive. Visit the "Tippecanoe Gazette" online: https://www.tippgazette.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TippecanoeGazette Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tippcitygazette/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/enslen/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . <a hre
Tue, June 25, 2024
'Which' versus 'that.' Words for walking. Bottleadammit.
997. This week, I help you learn (and remember!) the difference between "which" and "that" with practical tips and examples about cupcakes. Then, we take a linguistic stroll through walking-related terms, including "perambulate," "sashay," and "traipse." The "words for walking" segment was written by Michaela Dunn, a Wyoming-based editor and publisher for Everywhen Press. She specializes in magical realism, low fantasy, folklore, and fairy tales. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/which/transcript | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Bluesky . Threads . Mastodon .
Thu, June 20, 2024
The Hidden Stories of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart
996. This week, you'll learn about the rich linguistic history of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, an advisor to the Oxford Dictionary of African American English. We talked about what goes into making an entirely new dictionary and about some of the first entries, including "kitchen," "Aunt Hagar's Children," and "do rag." Find Dr. Sonja Lanehart at https://www.sonjallanehart.com/ . Visit the ODAAE website: https://www.oed.com/discover/odaae | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/lanehart/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Threads . Bluesky . Mastodon .
Tue, June 18, 2024
The art of punctuation and the charm of 'kerfuffle.' Nicing.
995. This week, we look at when to use parentheses, dashes, and commas and how the choice can change the tone of your writing. Then, we dive into the history of words for describing a big fuss β "kerfuffle," "hullabaloo," "hoopla," and more. The "big fuss" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at DragonflyEditorial.com . | " Harvard sentences" article mentioned in the podcast: https://tedium.co/2016/07/05/weird-telephone-numbers/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/kerfuffle/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, June 13, 2024
Exploring the Language of 'Dune': An Interview with Kevin J. Anderson and Scott Brick
994. This week, I sat down with the prolific "Dune" author Kevin J. Anderson and the famed "Dune" narrator Scott Brick to explore the language challenges in the "Dune" series. Learn how Kevin and Scott navigated Frank Herbert's original vocabulary, stayed true to the cultural influences of the names and terms, and created an extensive pronunciation guide. Whether you're a longtime fan or are new to the series, you'll love Kevin and Scott's stories about the language of "Dune" and its quirky history. Links mentioned in the show: | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/anderson-brick/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . References for the Aging segment van Boxtel, W, Lawyer, L. Sentence comprehension in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. Lang Linguist Compass . 2021;e12430. Payne, B. R., Gao, X., Noh, S. R., Anderson,
Tue, June 11, 2024
The power of sign language in 'Dune.' The words we use for dad. Chee
993. This week, we cover the strategic use of sign language by the Bene Gesserit in the 'Dune' movies, including its importance in covert communication. Then, we look at the many words for 'father' and their historical and linguistic significance, from early baby talk to more formal terms for adults. Dune sign language supercut video: https://youtu.be/P912zjkVSgQ?si=vH8AN3kg_hw7cabq Stan Freberg "Purfuit of Happineff" video: https://youtu.be/iOOQfGWt8Hc?si=pFF1YwbJWy-tVPwY&t=123 The "Dune" segment was written by Gemma King . Senior Lecturer in French Studies, ARC DECRA Fellow in Screen Studies at the Australian National University. It originally appeared on "The Conversation" and appears here through a Creative Commons license . The father segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." A version of the piece originally appeared on Psychology Today , and you can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/hotdog/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly
Thu, June 06, 2024
The crossword craze β now and then β with Ben Zimmer
992. What began as a simple word game in 1913 sparked a nationwide craze just a decade later, causing a moral panic and changing American publishing forever. This week, Ben Zimmer, a prolific crossword constructor and language commentator, takes us through the crossword puzzle's surprising early history and enduring legacy. He also explores the modern crossword scene, including competitions, digital tools, and how new puzzle constructors are shaping the future of the game. Links mentioned in the show: * Wall Street Journal piece on the centennial of the crossword craze: https://on.wsj.com/3U3zMPk * Crossword Craze: https://crosswordcraze.today/ * Daily Crossword Links: https://dailycrosswordlinks.com/ * Slate crosswords: https://slate.com/crossword | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/zimmer/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . <a href="http://facebook.
Tue, June 04, 2024
From 'dog' to 'hot dog.' The 'audience of one' trick. More on the long S. Footbridge.
991. This week, we trace the origin and meaning of the word "dog," from its mysterious beginning to its current use in phrases like "hot dog" and "hair of the dog." Then we go through the "audience of one" concept, which involves tailoring content to a single, imagined recipient; and we look at how this approach can make your writing more understandable and engaging. The dog segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/hotdog/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, May 30, 2024
Why is this a question? with Paul Anthony Jones
990. Have you ever wondered why English doesn't have gender like Spanish and French? Which languages are the hardest to learn (and why)? And why a Q is always followed by a U? We have the answers to those questions and more this week from Paul Anthony Jones, author of "Why is this a question?" | Find Paul Anthony Jones at https://www.paulanthonyjones.com/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/jones/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 28, 2024
What is a Word? Target moments.
989. What is a word? Does "that's" count as one word or two? In this excerpt from Paul Anthony Jones' new book "Why Is This a Question," we look at how things like plurals, compound words, and contractions make defining the word "word" a tricky exercise. | Find Paul Anthony Jones at https://www.paulanthonyjones.com/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/what-is-a-word/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, May 23, 2024
How a special dictionary kept soldiers connected during WWII, with Peter Sokolowski
988. Peter Sokolowski, an editor at Merriam-Webster, goes through the fascinating history of the Armed Services Editions, a series of books published during World War II for distribution among the troops. We look at the special problems of wartime publishing, the collaborative efforts among publishers, and the lasting influence of these books on the publishing landscape. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/sokolowski-wwii/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 21, 2024
Why some sentences have double subjects. The story behind the old F-like letter S. Schwen schwen on dill.
987. This week, we look at why people sometimes double their subjects, writing sentences such as "John, he bought a car," and when it's OK (and not OK) to do so. Plus, we talk about the medial S, a strange F-like letter that makes an S-sound and shows up in old documents. We look at how it came to be, its role in English typography, and what made it finally go away. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/left-dislocation/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, May 16, 2024
Efficiency hacks for writers and editors with Erin Brenner
986. Erin Brenner, author of "The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors," shares time-saving tips including the best practices for using Word, creating macros, and using automation tools like Zapier. You'll also learn about starting and growing a freelance business, including how to figure out what to charge, how to make ends meet at the beginning, and how to handle time management once your business starts to succeed. | Resources mentioned in the podcast: Erin Brenner, Right Touch Editing: https://www.righttouchediting.com/ "The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors" by Erin Brenner: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo213434367.html Adrienne Montgomerie's book, "Editing in Word 365" https://www.lulu.com/shop/adrienne-montgomerie/editing-in-word-365/ebook/product-p855r4.html Rhonda Bracey, CyberText Consulting: https://www.cybertext.com.au/ Hilary Cadman, Cadman Editing Services: https://www.cadmanediting.com/ Erin Servais, AI for Editors: https://www.aiforeditors.com/ Jack Lyon, Editor's Toolkit (Word macros): https://www.editorium.com/index.htm Paul Beverley, Archive Publications (Word macros): https://www.archivepub.co.uk/ Phrase Expander: https://www.phraseexpander.com/ Raycast: https://www.raycast.com/ Zapier: https://zapier.com/ Intelligent Editing: https://intelligentediting.com/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/brenner/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIR
Tue, May 14, 2024
We found the story behind "whim wham for a mucket"!
985. This week, we look at the world of whimsical words, including the origins and meanings of terms like "dinkus," "gadzook," "petrichor" and the phrase "whim-wham for a goose's bridle." Plus, I have a quick tip about when to capitalize "mom" and "dad." The "weird words" segment was written by Michaela Dunn, a Wyoming-based editor and publisher for Everywhen Press. She specializes in magical realism, low fantasy, folklore, and fairy tales. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/whim-wham/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, May 09, 2024
Words, coffee, and urban planning: Eli Burnstein on the Dictionary of Fine Distinctions
984. This week, we talk about the subtle differences between words such as "stock" or "broth," "street" or "boulevard," "maze" or "labyrinth" and more with Eli Burnstein, author of "The Dictionary of Fine Distinctions." Confusion about colors got him started on this path, but along the way, he gained insights into language, culture, and the subtle differences that shape meanings. | Find Eli at https://EliBurnstein.com | Dictionary of Fine Distinctions: https://www.unionsquareandco.com/9781454952350/dictionary-of-fine-distinctions-by-eli-burnstein/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/burnstein/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 07, 2024
Skunked words. The power of pronouns. Quigleys
983. This week, we explore "skunked" words β terms going through hotly disputed meaning changes. We look at the debate between prescriptivists who stick to traditional meanings and descriptivists who accept new usages and what you should do with these words in your own writing. Plus, we learn how using "we" versus "I" alters perceptions of leadership, inclusivity, and status. The "skunked words" segment was written by Mignon Fogarty and Susan K. Herman. Susan is a retired multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor for the federal government. The pronoun segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." A version of the piece originally appeared on Psychology Today , and you can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/skunked/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/c
Thu, May 02, 2024
Air worms and fire breathing dragons: Old English animal stories with Hana Videen
982. This week, we delve into the fascinating world of Old English with medievalist Hana Videen, author of "The Deorhord." We'll uncover the secrets of Old English animal names, from "walking weaver" for spider to the ominous "unland" for a whale's deceptive island. Find Hana Videen at https://OldEnglishWordhord.com/ | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/videen/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, April 30, 2024
When (and How) Should You Cite AI? 'Critters,' 'Varmints,' and Beyond. Choobers.
981. Major style guides now have advice on when and how you should cite AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. We look at what you need to include in your writing so you're handling this kind of information credibly and professionally. Then, we take a linguistic safari through the world of animal terminology, including the histories and nuances behind words such as "critter," "varmint," and "beast." | The "critters" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at DragonflyEditorial.com . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/punctuation-noun-clusters/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Thu, April 25, 2024
Exploring the 'Funnest' Parts of Language with Anne Curzan
980. This week, I talk with with Anne Curzan about the fascinating world of language evolution, her new book, "Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Language," and why linguists should take marketing tips from Apple and why Ben Franklin thought the word "colonize" was bad. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/curzan/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, April 23, 2024
The birth of punctuation: from oral traditions to silent reading. Noun clusters. A wing wang in a mucket.
979. In the first segment, we unravel the mysteries surrounding the origins and transformation of punctuation. From the early days when words ran together without spaces, to the introduction of punctuation systems by scholars like Aristophanes, we explore how punctuation has played a pivotal role in shaping written communication. In the second segment, we look at noun clusters that can gum up your writing. You'll see how simple steps like reordering, adding clarifying words, and transforming nouns into verbs can transform noun clusters from mind-bending to crystal clear. > The punctuation segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . > The noun clusters segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at DragonflyEditorial.com . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/punctuation-noun-clusters/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/gramm
Thu, April 18, 2024
How to become a supercommunicator, with Charles Duhigg
978. Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author, Charles Duhigg, as we talk about mastering the art of communication and his new book, "Supercommunicators." We explore the skills anyone (yes, you!) can learn to become a powerful communicator. Learn about the science behind effective communication, from NASA's emotional intelligence tests for astronauts to everyday interactions that can make or break relationships. Learn about the art of asking the right questions, the importance of matching conversational styles, and the profound impact of understanding and being understood. Whether you're negotiating a business deal, strengthening personal relationships, or navigating the complexities of online communication, this episode offers valuable insights into becoming a more effective communicator β a supercommunicator! | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/duhigg/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, April 16, 2024
Big changes in Associated Press style. The 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' finale was catawampus. Bappy
977. This week, we cover the latest AP Stylebook updates that were just revealed at the ACES conference. From the switch to Merriam-Webster to easing up on the word "unique," we look at what these changes mean for writers and editors. Plus, we explore "catawampus" thanks to its cameo in the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" finale. Learn about its quirky origins, regional differences, and wordy friends like "kitty-corner." | Kitty-corner map: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/kitty-corner-or-catty-corner/ | Register for my beginning AP style webinar April 23: bit.ly/ggap2024 . Use the code MACMIL for a discount. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ap-update-catawampus/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . <a href="https://mastod
Tue, April 09, 2024
Pet-Speak: From Meowlogisms to Zoomies. 'Imply' or 'Infer'?
976. How have our pets influenced the way we use language? This week, we dive into the "cativerse" and explore the vocabulary, grammar, and spelling habits of our furry friends. From LOLcats to doggo dialects, discover the linguistic wonders of how we talk about our beloved pets. Plus, don't get tripped up by "imply" versus "infer." In the second segment, we dive into the definitions, origins, and proper usage of these often-confused words. The pet-speak segment was written by Susan Herman , a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor. | Narrate Your Own Book. Sign-up deadline is midnight April 9. http://narrateyourownbook.com/grammar | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/pet-speak/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . <a href="https://mas
Tue, April 02, 2024
You love to read. Could you narrate?
975. This week, I learned all about audiobook narration from David H. Lawrence XVII, who is launching a new program called "Narrate Your Own Book." If you've ever dreamed of being a narrator, this episode is for you! And if you're a self-published author who has always wanted to narrate your own audiobook (or feel like you should), this episode is especially for you. We talk about many of the fears that might be holding you back and why they don't matter as much as you probably imagine. If you want to learn even more, you can watch three free videos (about 40 minutes each) where David goes even more into why and how you should narrate your own audiobook. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/nyob/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . References for the Aging segment van Boxtel, W, Lawyer, L. Sentence comprehension in ageing and Alzheimer's disease. Lang Linguis
Tue, March 26, 2024
Memory, Aging, and the Lingering 'Anyways'
974. How does aging affect our ability to understand language? From the challenges of processing complex sentences to the resilience you get from a rich vocabulary, we look at how our language skills change over time. Plus, looking into why people say "anyways" led me to some interesting historical tidbits. The aging segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." A version of the piece originally appeared on Psychology Today , and you can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/aging-anyways/transcript | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . References for the Aging segment</st
Tue, March 19, 2024
A nuclear win at the Oscars. CamelCase. One clo.
973. "Oppenheimer" leads us to wonder about the "nucular" pronunciation of "nuclear." And why do people have that second capital letter in the middle of MySpace, OutKast, and PowerPoint (and is it grammatically correct)? | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/nuclear/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, March 12, 2024
From grunts to grammar. The Irish 'after doing.' The winning NGD poem!
972. How did humans evolve from grunting ancestors to masters of language and poetry? This week, we explore fascinating theories on the origins of human language, including the laugh-inducing Bow-Wow and Pooh-Pooh theories. We also delve into Irish-English calques for St. Patrick's Day (and in response to a question from a Grammarpaloozian) and celebrate Leslie F. Miller's winning limerick from the National Grammar Day contest. Miller works as a health care writer in Baltimore. She is the author of the nonfiction book " Let Me Eat Cake: A Celebration of Flour, Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla, Baking Powder, and Pinch of Salt ," which is not about BAKING cake, but about EATING cake; a chapbook of "arty and electric" poems called " BoyGirlBoyGirl "; and a forthcoming full-length poetry book called "Words with Friends." The "language theories" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/bow-wow-theory/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/gra
Tue, March 05, 2024
Where did our language start?
971. Linguists have traced modern languages like English and Sanskrit back thousands of years to a single Proto-Indo-European source. This week, we explore their detective work and the debates around the origins of the ancestral tongue. This piece was written by Kurt Kleiner, a freelance science and technology writer living in Toronto. It originally appeared in Knowable Magazine, a digital publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge accessible to all. Explore the latest at knowablemagazine.org. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/indo-european/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 27, 2024
'Addictive' or 'addicting'? Types of nouns. Folley
970. We answer a listener question about the difference between "addictive" and "addicting," and then we look at how to write compound nouns: did you visit a coffeehouse or a coffee house? | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/addictive/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 20, 2024
Tracing the origins of Miami's new English. Why it's not a 'gumballs' machine. Embassy Sweets.
969. From "wolkenkratzer" in German to "flea market" in English, direct translations called calques show how languages borrow from each other. This week, we look at how these translations are changing English in Miami and Spanish in Louisiana. Plus, we look at the difference between "gumball machine" and "gumballs machine" and how it might explain Joe Alwyn's Tortured Man Chat. The calques segment was written by Susan K. Herman, a retired multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor for the federal government. Corpus Links Mentioned: https://www.english-corpora.org/coca/, https://www.english-corpora.org/ | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/calques | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 13, 2024
Taylor Swift Doesn't Need Your Grammatical Approval. In Love. Foil Lump Surprise.
968. This week, I expand on my comments for the New York Times about Taylor Swift's grammatically sound but apostrophe-free new album title: "The Tortured Poets Department." Plus, we dive deep into the nuances between "loving" someone and being "in love," tracing how the word evolved from the ancient Proto-Indo-European root "leubh" yet still doesn't fully capture love's complexity across languages. The "in love" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like, Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/taylor-swift-apostrophe/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 06, 2024
'A' versus 'an.' 'Larruping' rides again. Euonyms. Flavoring.
967. Should you say "a honor" or "an honor"? It's trickier than you think! We explore why articles depend on sounds and regional variations, the difference between "thee" and "thuh," and your stories about delicious phrasings. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/a-versus-an/transcript | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Why we have both "a" and "an: Episode 920 | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, January 30, 2024
From 'hwhat' to 'what': Tracing a letter's disappearing act. Barkhouse.
966. We explore the rise and fall of the letter H: Debates over its name ("haitch" or "aitch"?) and why a once-prestigious pronunciation like "hwhat" now seems old-fashioned. The "haitch" segment was written by Kate Burridge, a professor of linguistics at Monash University, and Catherine McBride, a professor of psychology at Chinese University of Hong Kong. It originally appeared on "The Conversation" and appears here through a Creative Commons license . | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/letter-h/transcript | Share a recording of your familect story with me on Threads , Instagram, or Mastodon . | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . <a href="ht
Tue, January 23, 2024
The listener show! (canceled, think, lettuce, funnily, episode numbers, at about, mangos, musgos)
965. It's a listener question extravaganza! I answer your questions about "canceled," "another think/thing coming," zero plurals such as "fish," the way I reference verbs, episode numbers, "at about," mangos versus green peppers, and muskgos. (And if I didn't answer your question, don't despair. I hope to do another show with listener questions in a month or two.) | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/listener-qs/transcript | Share a recording of your familect story with me on WhatsApp. | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, January 16, 2024
Technology changes how we write. Who was the first Goody Two Shoes?
964. From Nietzsche's writing ball to word processors and beyond, we look at how technology can change the way people write. Plus, we unpack the origin of the phrase "Goody Two Shoes" β it didn't start out as an insult. The "technology" segment was by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum a professor of English and digital studies at the University of Maryland. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license. Read the original: https://theconversation.com/technology-changes-how-authors-write-but-the-big-impact-isnt-on-their-style-61955 The "Goody Two Shoes" segment was by Brenda Thomas, a freelance writer who enjoys writing about a variety of topics in the humanities and education. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/goody/transcript | Share a recording of your familect story with me on WhatsApp. | Grammarpalooza (Get texts from Mignon!): https://joinsubtext.com/grammar or text "hello" to (917) 540-0876. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Please take our advertising survey. It helps! https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Threads . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon<
Tue, January 09, 2024
More than fluff: Understanding 'needless' words. Larruping. Chicken surprise.
963. Strunk and White said to omit needless words, but sometimes "redundant" words can serve a meaningful purpose. Plus, we have the story behind larruping food. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/redundancy/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, January 02, 2024
The psychology (and language) of time. Commas are like people on the subway. Fox chores.
962. We explore why phrases like "time flies" and "fast approaching" reveal deeper perspectives on time β is it us moving or the event? Plus, you may think you know how to use commas, but just like people, they can be more complex than they appear at first glance. The "time" segment was written by by Sarah Duffy, a senior lecturer in English language and linguistics in the Department of Humanities at Northumbria University, Newcastle. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons License . | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/time-language/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, December 26, 2023
Why English has silent letters. Dayjamas.
960. Some English letters are seen but not heard. In fact, more than half the letters in our alphabet are sometimes silent. We look at the many reasons we have these silent letters that make spelling such a challenge, but that also tell fascinating stories about the history of our language. Plus, we look at the origin of the word "pajamas/pyjamas" and why it has two spellings. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/silent-letters/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: Bluesky , Threads , YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Bonus Β· Tue, December 26, 2023
A rizzy word-of-the-year chat (with Jess Zafarris)
961. Prompting, hallucinating, and more! Jess Zafarris, author of "Words from Hell," joins me for a word-of-the-year chat. Hang out with us as we look at how dictionaries are handling new words and meanings that have cropped up around emerging technologies in 2023. "Words from Hell" https://amzn.to/3rZVxo0 Find Jess Zafarris online: Useless Etymology , TikTok , Twitter , Instagram ITEMS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST: Intel deepfake face detector AI chatbots made up their own language : Advanced AP Style Ragan Communications course AI Sidequest newsletter | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/jess-zafarris/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/e
Tue, December 19, 2023
The special sauce of human language. Gotten. NATO alphabet. A1 sauce.
959. Learn why human language goes beyond basic communication to allow spontaneous creativity, expression of identity, and leadership in linguistic change β things animals and chatbots can't quite achieve. Plus, I answer a British listener's question about the confusing way Americans use the word "gotten." The "chatbot" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/chatgpt-gotten/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, December 12, 2023
What's the difference between Hispanic, Chicano, Latino, Latinx, and Latine? Can something 'grow' smaller? Musko.
958. We trace the history, usage, and meaning behind identifiers such as "Hispanic," "Chicano," "Latino," "Latina," "Latinx," and "Latine." Plus, we look at whether metaphors like "grow the business" and "grow smaller" are trendy jargon you should avoid or just regular figurative language. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/latinx-grow/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, December 05, 2023
When does a house become a mansion? Giving someone house.
957. We trace the linguistic history behind "house" and "mansion" to uncover how these two humble words for dwellings grew apart, with "mansion" gaining airs β all because of the Norman invasion. Plus, we look at why someone might ask if a potential suitor "gave you any house." The "house" versus "mansion" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com . | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/house-mansion/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, November 28, 2023
From metal type to metaphor: printing terms that extended their reach. The positive 'anymore.' Gigglemare.
956. How did terms like "stereotype," "boilerplate," and "typecast" make the leap from specialist printing vocabulary to widespread figurative language? We trace the etymology of these and other expressions. Plus, the story of positive "anymore." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/printing-terms/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, November 21, 2023
Why is Black Friday black? The NATO alphabet. Byeloveyou.
955. This week, we're looking at the curious origins and histories behind common idioms and expressions that use "black," like "Black Friday," "black sheep," "in-the-black," and more. Then we switch gears to explore what happens when phonetic alphabets go delightfully rogue, like in comedy bits and songs. The Black Friday segment was written by Julia DiGeronimo, a recent graduate and a freelance writer from Northern New Jersey. | Jack Parr phonetic alphabet comedy skit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfLaY-R9kaU | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/black-friday/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, November 14, 2023
The science of the plot twist. Irregardless. Spug.
954. Uh-oh, "irregardless" isnβt going away anytime soon. Take a deep breath while we dig into this hated wordβs history, from its first appearance in 1795 to today. And then, do you love a good plot twist? In honor of National Novel Writing Month, we look at the psychology of surprises in fiction. The "irregardless" segment was written by Susan Herman , a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor. The "plot twist" segment was written by Vera Tobin , an associate professor of Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/irregardless/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, November 07, 2023
Omnishambles! Military slang across the pond (interview with Ben Yagoda)
953. In honor of Veterans Day, Ben Yagoda tells us tales of military words that marched from the British lexicon to American English and influence the way we speak today. "Omnishambles," "gadget," "boffin" and more! We'll dispel some posh myths, and you'll be gobsmacked by the linguistic invasion.. Find Ben at BenYagoda.com . His forthcoming book, "Gobsmacked! The British Invasion of American English," will come out in fall of 2024. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ben-yagoda/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Brannan Goetschius Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: Bluesky , Threads , YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, October 31, 2023
Cliches. Organic. Bully pulpit. Fimfy.
951. In honor of National ClichΓ© day, we uncover why some overused phrases rub us the wrong way. What is the boundary between idioms, slang, and clichΓ©sβand should we give "adulting" a break? Then, we trace the 700-year history of "organic," from bodily organs to natural growth, and ask whether using a bully pulpit makes someone a bad person. The "cliche" segment was written by Kirk Hazen, a professor of linguistics at West Virginia University, and Jordan Lovejoy, a visiting assistant professor of American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It first appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license ( BY-ND 4.0 ). | Transcript. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Marketing Temp: Kamryn Lacey | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, October 24, 2023
The dark histories behind your favorite scary words, with Jess Zafarris
951. What's the difference between terror and horror? Why was the word for "bear" so scary that it is lost to history? Jess Zafarris, author of "Words from Hell," goes through these stories and more in a scary, spooky etymology romp to help us get ready for Halloween. "Words from Hell" https://amzn.to/3rZVxo0 Find Jess Zafarris online: Useless Etymology , TikTok , Twitter , Instagram | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/jess-zafarris/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, October 17, 2023
Namesake. Commentate. Sprigly
950. Nowthen, a town with an odd little name, helps us understand the word "namesake," and then I have some surprising poll results about the much-hated verb "commentate." The "namesake" segment is written by Brenda Thomas, a freelance writer who enjoys writing about a variety of topics in the humanities and education. | Transcript . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . Pebble . Bluesky .
Tue, October 10, 2023
How to write great topic sentences. Fanilects. Throwawayable.
949. Topic sentences aren't just for students! This week, we have real-life, grown-up examples β and you'll finally understand why that concept your English teacher kept talking about will help you write better business proposals, blog posts, and more. Plus, we have fun looking at fanilects (you read that right, not familects) and weird words such as "unputdownable," "throwawayable," and "untalkaboutable." Cohesive paragraph example from the Indiana University Bloomington Writing Tutorial Services: https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/paragraphs-and-topic-sentences.html | Transcript . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, October 03, 2023
When 'nice' was bad and 'bully' was good. Is 'preorder' redundant? High-intensity transformer.
948. Think you know where words like "bully," "nice," and "bimbo" come from? Think again! Join me as we explore surprising origins of common words. We'll see how terms like "bully" and "nice" changed meaning over time, how "bimbo" switched genders, and where oddly violent words like "amok" and "berserk" originated. Plus, did you know "soon" once meant "immediately"? Learn these twists and turns in the curious histories of familiar words! Plus, we look at the publishing industry meaning of "preordering" books and how it helps authors get on bestseller lists, even though some find the term illogical. And explain why you should preorder books to support your author friends. | Transcript . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, September 26, 2023
Think faster and talk smarter. Tips from Matt Abrahams that will make you a better writer and speaker
947. Do you wish you could think on your feet faster? Well, Stanford business professor and communication expert Matt Abrahams has insights on having great off-the-cuff conversations that are also surprisingly helpful for writers. Matt shares the secrets of chunking when you're writing, tailoring your message for different audiences, and using structures to guide your thinking. Also, as a comfortable speaker but nervous writer, Matt shares his tips on how to get that difficult first draft down on the page. I found his new book, "Think Faster, Talk Smarter," to be incredibly helpful, so I knew I had to get him to share his expertise with you! | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/matt-abrahams/transcript Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford Universityβs Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSBβs Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching students around the world. Outside of the classroom, Matt is a sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant. He has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered IPO road shows as well as Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. His online talks garner millions of views and he hosts the popular, award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart The Podcast . His new book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot provides tangible, actionable skills to help even the most anxious of speakers succeed when speaking spontaneously, such as navigating Q&A sessions, shining in job interviews, providing effective feedback, making small talk, fixing faux pas, persuading others. His previous book Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting has helped thousands of people manage speaking anxiety and present more confidently and authentically. Handles: MattAbrahams.com Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams Instagram & Threads: @MattAbrahams "Stumbling Toward Intimacy," an impromptu TED Talk by Anthony Veneziale | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Le
Tue, September 19, 2023
Did Disney nail the pronunciation of 'Caribbean'? How to write equations. Chuther.
946. It's Talk Like a Pirate Day, which brings to mind "Pirates of the Caribbean," but you can actually pronounce "Caribbean" at least two different ways. Did Disney get it right or wrong? We turn to history for the answer and discover a second fascinating linguistics story along the way! Plus, we answer a listener's question about how to write equations. | Transcript. | American Mathematical Society style guide (PDF). | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, September 12, 2023
Asking experts about language (interview with Steve Kleinedler, former executive editor of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel)
945. What was the famous Usage Panel from the American Heritage Dictionary and how did the panel's opinions influence dictionary entries? Steve Kleinedler, who managed the Usage Panel for many years, joins us this week with all kinds of fascinating inside-the-dictionary stories. David Skinner article about the history of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel David Skinner's book "The Story of Ain't" American Heritage Dictionary Old Tumblr Steve Kleinedler's book "Is English Changing?" Steve Kleinedler on Twitter Kory Stamper's book "Word by Word" Grammar Girl interview with Kory Stamper | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/steve-kleinedler/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-gi
Tue, September 05, 2023
When you shouldn't 'write tight.' 'Behead' versus 'decapitate.' YesHony.
944. Today, we untangle the often confusing web of writing styles. We'll explore the benefits of loose writing in fiction, creative writing, and academic writing, and how you can vary your sentence length to create a rhythm that resonates with your readers. Plus, we use the difference between "behead" and "decapitate" as a sneaky way to talk about the "be-" and "de-" prefixes in a way every word nerd will love. The "tight writing" segment was written by Susan Herman , a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/expanded-writing/transcript | Preorder "The Grammar Daily" | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, August 29, 2023
Say hwat?! 'Anxious' versus 'eager.' Pink stein.
943. Join us for a fascinating romp through the evolution of phrases like "you know," "right?" and "I mean" from Beowulf's time to today. Plus, we look at how people's feelings about using "anxious" to mean "eager" are changing, and how that can affect your writing. The discourse marker segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/anxious-eager | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, August 22, 2023
The wonders of the 'a-' prefix in English. 'Personal' versus 'personnel.'
942. Weβre diving deep into the chameleon-like nature of the "a-" prefix, tracing its journey from Latin, where it often started out as "ad-," to its function as a preposition in French, and its transformative role in Greek that gifts English words like "atypical" and "asymmetrical." You'll be wowed by the versatility of the seemingly humble "a-" prefix as we unveil its covert presence in words like "atom" and its power in creating modern English words like "asexual." Then, we explore the difference between the words "personal" and "personnel" and give you a tip for getting the spelling right every time. The "a-" prefix segment was by Kirk Hazen , a data scientist at CVS Health and a linguist at West Virginia University. He is the author of Introduction to Language (Wiley) and can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-hazen-phd/ | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/personnel/transcript | Preorder "The Grammar Daily" | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . <a href="https://mastodon.social/@gramm
Tue, August 15, 2023
Hilarious typos (and how to avoid them). Why do we 'take' a walk?
941. Whether you've been betrayed by autocorrect or your own fingers, almost everyone has made embarrassing typos. Even the Bible isn't immune: typos led to an old version called the "Sinners Bible"! We have more hilarious examples and, better yet, some tips to help you catch those terrible typos in the future.. Plus, we explore the fascinating world of "light verb" and why we say we "take" a walk and "give" a presentation, even though we aren't really taking or giving anything. The light verbs segment was written by Edwin L. Battistella, who taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he served as a dean and as interim provost. His books include Bad Language: Are Some Words Better than Others? , Sorry About That: The Language of Public Apology , and Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels: Insulting the President, from Washington to Trump . It originally appeared on the OUP blog and is included here with permission. Read the original . | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/proofreading-tips/transcript | Grammar Girl's editing checklist | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . <a href="https://www.tiktok.com
Tue, August 08, 2023
Have you ridden an acoustic bike lately? Write it tight.
940. Pork bacon, manual transmissions, and acoustic guitars: retronyms help us describe the original form of something that has now become a class. But sometimes, retronyms go even further. This week, we discover surprising ways "acoustic" is filling this role. Plus, learn what makes your writing "tight." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/acoustic/transcript | The "tight writing" segment was written by Susan Herman , a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, August 01, 2023
Did you know that on US Army bases, soldiers get a tattoo every day? Keep writing.
939. When I say the word "tattoo," you probably think of body art, but "tattoo" has another meaning that's related to a famous Edinburgh festival that is happening this month. Plus, we look at why you should never stop writing (and reading).ding). The "tattoo" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com . The "aging and writing" segment was written by Roger J. Kreuz, associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Memphis. Richard M. Roberts, a foreign service officer, also contributed. It originally appeared in The Conversation , and appears here through a Creative Commons license. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/tattoo/transcript | For more on writing your novel later in life: An Interview with Bourne Morris. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/753-take-heart-heres-why-you-still-have-time-to-write/id173429229?i=1000462060258 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SXdTOhW9WSI22Ensfyq1I?si=SBf23qt3Rce67Vpyox1qPQ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LFGT1sWmU0 | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501
Tue, July 25, 2023
People have ~feelings~ about the exclamation point (Florence Hazrat interview)
938. Love it or hate it, the exclamation point has been on the red carpet lately because we're using it more. But it also has a fascinating history: the man who invented it was trying to fix a problem that annoyed him. This interview with Florence Hazrat is bursting with fascinating tidbits. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/exclamation-point/transcript | Get Florence Hazrat's book " An Admirable Point " and visit her website . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Bonus Β· Fri, July 21, 2023
15 years of podcasting with Money Girl and Nutrition Diva
In this special bonus episode, I sat down with Laura Adams and Monica Reinagel, who host Money Girl and Nutrition Diva here on the Quick and Dirty Tips network, to celebrate their 15th anniversaries and discuss how much podcasting has changed in this decade and a half. Thanks to Laura and Monica for joining me β and if you're new to Quick and Dirty Tips, make sure you check out Money Girl and Nutrition Diva for the best financial and nutrition advice in audio! Transcript Newsletter LinkedIn Learning writing courses Peeve Wars card game Books VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl Host & Creator: Mignon Fogarty Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Theme music by Catherine Rannus. Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network .
Tue, July 18, 2023
'Less' versus 'fewer.' Fun names for fingers. Scunscreen.
937. Today, we explore the traditional advice of using "fewer" for things you can count and "less" for things you can't, but you'll also learn about the idea of using "less" for singular nouns and "fewer" for plural nouns and how that solves the problem of common exceptions such as time, money, and distance. You'll also learn how to handle the controversial phrases "one less" and "10 items or less." And have you ever wondered why our thumb is called a thumb? Or why the "rule of thumb" is so controversial? We look at the origins of these terms and more, and also touch on the many interesting names for fingers in various languages. Th "fingers" segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor for the U.S. Government. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/less-fewer/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, July 11, 2023
'Inspirational' or 'aspirational'? The surprising dangers of ChatGPT. Spaghetto.
936. Have you ever wondered about the nuanced differences between "aspirational" and "inspirational"? Today, we look at a newer, more cynical meaning of "aspirational." Plus, you've probably heard all about the promise of ChatGPT. Well, we dig into stories of people who were trying to save time, but got in trouble instead. The ChatGPT segment was written by freelance writer Brenda Thomas, who has also worked as an online educator and instructional designer of online courses. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/aspirational/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio Engineer: Nathan Semes Director of Podcasts: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing Associate: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, July 04, 2023
Phrasal verb mysteries and minced oath origins. Night water.
935. Ever been puzzled by the difference between "slow down" and "slow up"? Curious about how they can possibly mean the same thing (or do they)? We answer a burning listener question about why prepositions can be so darn tricky in English. Join us also as we delve into the fascinating world of minced oaths, examining intriguing words like "zounds" and "gadzooks." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/slow-up-slow-down/transcript The "slow down" segment was written by Susan Herman , a former U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor. The "minced oath" segment was by Kirk Hazen , a professor of linguistics at West Virginia University. It was originally published on The Conversation and appears here under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . <a href="https://ma
Tue, June 27, 2023
Unlocking the mystery of 'ever words' and Latin abbreviations. Juna.
934. Ever wondered why "whyever" isn't as popular as "wherever," "however," or "whenever"? Join me as we delve into the world of "-ever" words and their curious usage. We explore the relationship between words like "forever" and "never," and reveal how the "-ever" suffix can intensify meaning. Plus, find out why watching British TV might lead you to use "whyever." But that's not all. This week, we tackle a burning listener question: how do you pronounce Latin abbreviations like "et al."? Should you say the abbreviation or the full phrase? And what about other common Latin abbreviations such as "ibid" and "circa"? Tune in to learn the ins and outs of these tricky linguistic tidbits, and impress your friends with your newfound pronunciation prowess! | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ever-words/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, June 20, 2023
Why words can suddenly look unrecognizable. Learn to love the full stop. Marley.
933. Have you ever looked at a word and it didn't seem like a real word anymore? It's a specific thing that happens in your brain called semantic satiation, and we have the fascinating ins and outs. Plus, we extol the merits of the full stop. The full stop segment was by Joe Moran , a professor of English and Cultural History, Liverpool John Moores University. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/semantic-satiation/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, June 13, 2023
Imagine life as a fiction editor (interview with Amy Schneider, author of the Chicago Guide to Copy Editing Fiction)
932. When I saw Amy Schneider's new book, The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction , I realized that I have never seen a book that specializes in editing just for fiction, and immediately saw that it fills a need. And upon reading it, I realized how well it filled that need, and I knew I had to talk with her. If you've ever thought it would be fun to be a fiction editor, you'll love this interview. Amy Schneider is a copy editor who specializes in fiction, has been copy editing for twenty-eight years, has edited more than five hundred books and anthologies, and now has published this fabulous book. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/chicago-guide-to-copy-editing-fiction/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, June 06, 2023
Darth Vader and the word 'father.' Comparatives and superlatives. Pritinear.
931. Darth Vader wasn't the best father (understatement!), but his name is a wonderful jumping off point to discuss the origin of the word "father." Plus, we explain why I said he wasn't the "best" father and not that he wasn't the "better" father. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/darth-vader-and-the-word-father/transcript | The "father" segment was written by Valerie Fridland. It is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article . Valerie is the author of the book β Like, Literally, Dude ,β and you can find her at ValerieFridland.com . | The "comparisons" segment was written by Bonnie Mills who has been a copy editor since 1996. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 30, 2023
TV changes how you use language. When to use (and not use) 'more' and 'most'
930. How YOU doin? Today weβre going to MacGyver up some fun memories and tips. And then we'll look at the rules about using "more" and "most" or "-er" and "-est." It'll be a yowlie howlie good time! | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/tv-language/transcript | The "TV language" segment was written by Susan K. Herman, a retired U.S. Government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and language instructor. | The "more or most" segment was written by Bonnie Mills who has been a copy editor since 1996. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 23, 2023
Why the heck does 'score' mean 20? How we subconsciously know how to pronounce different plurals.
929. While we were looking into why we use the word "score" to mean "twenty," our minds were blown by how many languages still have remnants of a base-20 counting system. And then we learned the secret rules that explain why some plurals end with an "s" sound and others end with a "z" sound. It was quite a week! | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/score-dogz/transcript | The "score" segment was written by Susan K. Herman, a retired U.S. Government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and language instructor. | The "Cats and Dogz" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 16, 2023
Why English is the best language for Wordle, with Lynne Murphy
928. Listen to the interview that got me playing Wordle again. Lynne Murphy shared all sorts of things you probably didn't know about this game! Lynne Murphy is professor of linguistics at the University of Sussex in England, the author of the book " The Prodigal Tongue ," and the writer of the long-running Separated by a Common Language blog. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/wordle/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 09, 2023
It's all uphill from here (or is that downhill?). Eating like a pig (animal idioms).
927. Whether you're a bird brain or a wise old owl, you'll love this week's episode as we fight an uphill battle to understand a language filled with metaphors. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/uphill-animals/transcript | The "Uphill/Downhill" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, an award-winning writer who runs the writing and editing agency Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com . | The "Animal Idioms" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of " Like Literally, Dude : Arguing for the Good in Bad English." You can find her at valeriefridland.com | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, May 02, 2023
What's wrong with 'there are' sentences? 5 fun facts about Spanish for Cinco de Mayo
926. You may remember being told not to start sentences with "there are," but do you know why? We have the answer! Plus, for Cinco de Mayo, we have five fun facts about Spanish. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/expletives-spanish/transcript | The "Five Fun Facts About Spanish" segment was written by Susan Herman, a former linguist, analytic editor, and language instructor for the U.S. Government. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, April 25, 2023
Have you begged the question lately? What kind of learning is best: online, remote, distance, or virtual?
925. The existence of the manchineel tree does NOT beg the question of how many different ways a tree can actually hurt you. But it does show that you can't always use taste to tell whether something is safe to eat. Plus, Online, Remote, Distance, and Virtual. What Kind of Learning Do You Like? | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/begs-the-question/transcript | The "Online, Remote, Distance, and Virtual Learning" segment was written by Brenda Thomas, who has also worked as an online educator and instructional designer of online courses. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, April 18, 2023
What we get wrong about 'um' and 'uh,' with Valerie Fridland
924. What if I told you that you actually should use "uh" and "um" when you're giving a talk? And what if I told you "dude" was originally an anti-masculine word? Those are just some of the surprising insights from Valerie Fridland's new book, "Like, Literally, Dude." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/valerie-fridland/transcript | Get Valerie's book, "Like, Literally, Dude." | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, April 11, 2023
5 things every writer wants to learn, with Roy Peter Clark
923. America's writing coach, Roy Peter Clark, shares his wisdom about the five things every writer he's ever taught wants to learn. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/roy-peter-clark/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, April 04, 2023
Killer bunnies in medieval manuscripts. The strange rules of 'dozen.'
922. "A dozen of eggs" sounds weird, but why? Rabbits performing violent acts are a common scene in medieval marginalia. But why are they there? Turns outβMonty Python was on to something! | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/dozen-bunnies/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, March 28, 2023
The Rosetta Stone and taxes. Is your sufficiency suffonsified?
921. Taxes, and the words for them, go back all the way to ancient Egypt. Plus, I have much more to tell you about the phrase "I am sufficiently suffoncified"! It's an especially fun week on the Grammar Girl podcast. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/taxes-suffonsified/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | WRITER: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, March 21, 2023
Why we have both 'a' and 'an.' What does it mean to be lonely? Sufficiency.
920. Once you start thinking about it, it's weird that we have both "a" and "an." It gets even weirder from there! Plus, modern loneliness, and its solutions, are quite different from what they were when the word was first coined. We look at the history of this formerly rare word. The segment on "a" versus "an" was written by Neal Whitman, an independent writer and consultant specializing in language and grammar and a member of the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, school board. You can search for him by name on Facebook, or find him on his blog at literalminded.wordpress.com . The segment on the word "loneliness" was written by by Amelia Worsley , an Assistant Professor of English, Amherst College. It was originally published in The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/a-an-loneliness/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | WRITER: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, March 14, 2023
How 'napron' became 'apron' (and what that has to do with newts). 'Ahold' or 'a hold'?
919. Rebracketing is a fascinating process that gives us more words than you might imagine, even words from French and Spanish! Also, I find a surprising answer to the question of which is correct: "ahold" or "a hold." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/napron-ahold/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | WRITER: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, March 07, 2023
Why do people 'drop' a new single? How to pronounce 'often.'
918. Since "drop" can mean both "to release" and "to cancel," it can get confusing. We look at how this confusion came to be (and how to avoid it). Plus, we wade into the debate about whether there's a right or a wrong way to pronounce "often." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/drop-often/transcript The "often" segment was written by Edwin Battistella and originally appeared on the OUP Blog. Read the original here . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 28, 2023
How to actually improve your grammar. Why parallelism is important (and how to use it). Keycoos.
917. For National Grammar Day, we answer one of the most common questions I get: How can I improve my grammar? Plus, I explain why parallelism is important, especially in resume writing. "How to improve you grammar" was written by Susan Herman , a retired U.S. government analytic editor, language analyst, and language instructor. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/improve-your-grammar/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 21, 2023
How writing very short stories can improve all your writing (with Grant Faulkner)
916. Grant Faulkner, author of "The Art of Brevity" and executive director of NaNoWriMo talks with us about how writing very short stories can improve all your writing. (And whether it's worth it to get an MFA these days.) | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/grant-faulkner/transcript | Grant's Website : https://grantfaulkner.com/ | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 14, 2023
Language reveals universal truths about love. 'Wool sweater' or 'woolen sweater'? Grandmother crackers.
913. Love is much more than romance, and different languages reveal universal truths about the different kinds of love. Plus, we look at whether you should write about wool sweaters or woolen sweaters, silk blouses or silken blouses, wood benches or wooden benches. Is it actually OK to use nouns as adjectives? | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/kinds-of-love/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, February 07, 2023
Interview with a creator of 'Schoolhouse Rock'!
914. To mark the 50th anniversary of "Schoolhouse Rock," the Saturday morning cartoon that taught millions of children about grammar, math, and more, we have a special multi-interview podcast, including memories from George Newall, one of the creators of the show. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/schoolhouse-rock/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOSTS: Mignon Fogarty & Holly Hutchings | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, January 31, 2023
What Does the AP Have Against France? Out Over Your Skis. Lands' End. Tolater.
913. This week brought us a silly kerfuffle in which the AP may have insulted France. Plus, we investigate the origin of the phrase "out over your skis" and why the apostrophe seems wrong in the company name Lands' End. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/the-french/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, January 24, 2023
Teddy Bears. The Brothers Grimm. Danger Cluck.
912. We look at who the Teddy is in "teddy bears" and reveal why the Brothers Grimm, from fairytales, were also massively important in linguistics. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/teddy-bears/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . Sources for the Teddy Bear segment Clay, M. βThe History of the Teddy Bear.β "Teddy Bear & Friends website." 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20110723184018/http://www.teddybearandfriends.com/archive/articles/history.html (accessed January 23, 2023). Porterfield, W.R. βHereβs Where All Those Teddy Bears Came From,β "The Milwaukee Journal." Friday, May 21, 1971. Sorel, N. "Word People." American Heritage Press: New York. 1970. p. 281. βteddy bear.β "Merriam-Webster online dictionary." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teddy%20bear (accessed January 23, 2023). βteddy bear.β "Oxford English Dictionary online edition." https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/198513 (subscription requi
Tue, January 17, 2023
Weird punctuation with 'Jr.' Carl's Jr. Hockey.
911. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we cover a bunch of interesting things about labels such as "Jr.," "Sr.," and "III." Plus, we look at the origin of the names Carl's Jr. and Ruth's Chris Steak house. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/comma-before-jr/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . References for the "Jr." segment Garner, B. βJr.; Sr.; III; Etc.β Garnerβs Modern American Usage , 4th edition. Oxford University Press. 2016. p.613-5. βHolidays.β The Chicago Manual of Style Online , 17th edition. 8.89. The University of Chicago Press. https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/book/ed17/part2/ch08/psec089.html (subscription required. accessed January 15, 2023). βIf John Smith Jr. asks for the period in Jr. to be omitted β¦β The Associated Press Stylebook, Ask the Editors. Sept. 06, 2018. https://www.apstylebook.com/ask_the_editors/35499 (accessed January 15, 2023). βInitials in personal names.β The Chica
Tue, January 10, 2023
Inflation, quiet quitting, and "un-" words, like "undressed," that can have two meanings. Gotcha Day.
910. The final Grammar Girl word-of-the-year vote came down to "inflation" and "quiet quitting." We look at the interesting arguments voters made for both. Plus, we look at why some words that start with "un-" mean "not" and others mean "reversed"β and about the especially interesting words that can mean either (and why). | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/2022-woty/transcript "Un-" Words Segment Written by Edwin L. Battistella , author of " Dangerous, Crooked Scoundrels: Insulting the President, from Washington to Trump ." This segment originally appeared on the OUP blog and appears here with permission. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, January 03, 2023
How COVID Changed the Way We Think About Words. How to Write Dates. Prefeed.
909. In honor of 2023, weβll talk about writing dates. And then we talk about a fascinating study about how COVID has changed the way we think about certain words. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/writing-dates/transcript COVID Words Segment Written by Valerie Fridland . Reference: Kleinman D, Morgan AM, Ostrand R, Wittenberg E (2022) Lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on language processing. PLoS ONE 17(6): e0269242. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, December 27, 2022
World Cup Words. The Origin of Toasting. Says.
908. You had word-related questions after watching the World Cup. We have answers! And for the holidays, we look at the origin of toasting with wine (and why it actually IS related to toasted bread). | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/world-cup-words/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, December 20, 2022
Goblin Mode, Woman, & More. Words of the Year, with Kory Stamper
907. The fabulous Kory Stamper, author of "Word by Word," joins me this week to talk about words of the year: how they get chosen, what makes each one different, and what people yearn for in their words of the year. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/words-or-the-year/transcript My guest is Kory Stamper , author of " Word by Word, the Secret Life of Dictionaries ." | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, December 13, 2022
The Wonderful Words of Christmas
906. A'wassailing. Noel. Mistletoe. Trolling the ancient Yuletide carol, and more. We look into the wonderful words of Christmas and their origins β as delightful as a Christmas cookie. You'll be shouting "drink-hail!" forevermore. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/wonderful-words-of-christmas/transcript The first segment was written by Kate Burridge and Howard Manns from Monash University. It appears here through a Creative Commons license. Read the original article . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Tue, December 06, 2022
We found the book!
905. Bonus Episode! You helped solve the mystery of my father's favorite childhood book. I also share quick and dirty tips from my email newsletter, my favorite social media posts, and some of my favorite products (one of which isn't a product at all). | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/we-found-the-book/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Affiliate link to get 40% off your first purchase at Thrive grocery: http://thrv.me/JnaJcb | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon .
Fri, December 02, 2022
What's a Honeyfuggler? 'Through' vs. 'Throughout.' Arriversary.
903. "Through" and "throughout" may seem interchangeable, but they're not. We have some creative memory tricks to help you remember the difference. Plus, we have fun with the word "honeyfuggler." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/what-is-a-honeyfuggler/transcript | Ragan Advanced AP Style Webinar The "through" segment was written by Ryan Paulsen who is an avid word nerd and co-host of the etymology podcast " Lexitecture . The "honeyfuggler" segment was written by Edwin L. Battistella, who teaches linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he has served as a dean and as interim provost. His books include Bad Language: Are Some Words Better than Others? and Sorry About That: The Language of Public Apology . It originally appeared on the OUP blog and appears here with permission. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Facebook . Instagram . <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-g
Fri, November 25, 2022
A Strange Use of 'Said.' Kith and Kin. New Scrabble Words!
903. A listener heard some jargon, and then got annoyed by "said" jargon, so we explored why. Plus, who the heck are your kith? And finally, we got excited about the first new Scrabble words since 2018. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/a-strange-use-of-said/transcript | Ragan Advanced AP Style Webinar | Merriam-Webster Scrabble Website The "said" segment was written by Susan K. Herman, a former editor, language analyst, and language instructor for the U.S. Government. The "kith" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com or on Twitter as @DragonflyEdit . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn . Mastodon . References for the "kith" segment: Ammer, Christine. Kith and kin. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms , 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. Dent, Suzie.
Fri, November 18, 2022
Why Today's 'Thank You' Is Different from an Ancient 'Thank You.' Gerunds.
902. Language reflects culture, so it's no surprise that giving thanks hundreds of years ago was different from giving thanks today. We have the fascinating history. Plus, since "Thanksgiving" is a gerund, we looked at all the interesting things you can do with gerunds in general. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/thank-you-history/transcript The Thanksgiving history segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of the forthcoming book, " Like, Literally Dude ," about all the speech habits we love to hate. You can find her at valeriefridland.com or on Twitter at @FridlandValerie . The gerund segment was written by Neal Whitman, an independent writer and consultant specializing in language and grammar and a member of the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, school board. You can find him on Facebook , on Twitter as @literalminded , and on his blog at literalminded.wordpress.com . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . In
Fri, November 11, 2022
WWII Words. A 'bit' of an Issue. Kleenex.
901. WWII spawned a bunch of new words, including "boffin" and "bonkers." We'll look into the history of these fun words and more in honor of Veterans Day. Plus, we'll talk about why an Australian called her desk being on fire, "a bit of an issue." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/wwii-words-a-bit-of-an-issue-kleenex/transcript | The segment on "a bit" is written by Isabelle Burke , Research Fellow in Linguistics, the Faculty of Arts, Monash University. It originally appeared on Monash Lens and appears here through a Creative Commons license. | My first WWII word round-up. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, November 04, 2022
The Medieval Origins of the @ Symbol. Hyphens in Dual-Heritage Terms. Pitch.
900. The story of the @ symbol is much bigger than email. In fact, it was used for hundreds of years before being saved from obscurity by the invention of electronic communication. I explore the medieval origin story of @, plus share a bunch of fun names for it in other languages. Also, many style books recently removed the hyphen from dual-heritage terms like "Asian American," and I explain why in a segment that includes a tribute to former Los Angeles Times editor Henry Fuhrmann. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/where-did-we-get-the-at-symbol/transcript | Advanced AP Style Webinar , Nov. 9. Use the code MACMIL for a $90 discount. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, October 28, 2022
The Difference Between Magic and Magick. Some Fascinating Spooky Words. Holy Fagachi!
899. Believe it or not, "magick" isn't just a funky way of spelling "magic." The two spellings have different meanings. Plus, we look at the unusual origins of other cool words that make us think of Halloween: "haunt," "grave," "mesmerize," and "macabre." | Segment 1 on "magic" versus "magick" was written by Michaela Dunn . | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/magic-versus-magick | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, October 21, 2022
Randall Munroe of xkcd: Language Chat and Weird Bee Laws.
898. Randall Munroe joined me this week to talk about his language-themed xkcd cartoons, his simple-language project Up Goer V, his biggest pet peeve, his favorite words, and his new book "What If? 2." But I have to confess that my favorite part was his tidbits about the bee laws. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/randall-munroe-of-xkcd | Buy What If? 2. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Buy the Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, October 14, 2022
The Subconscious Rules of Conversation. The Double-Word Problem. Cookie Fish.
897. Have you ever written yourself into a "that that" or a "had had" situation and wondered how you got there? It doesn't mean you're a bad writer! I explain why this happens sometimes and how to best fix it. Also, we talk about the fascinating subconscious rules that guide conversations. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/the-subconscious-rules-of-conversation | Segment 2 is by Valerie Fridland: Website . Twitter . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, October 07, 2022
Wick-ED Fun Pronunciations. Deviled Eggs.
896. If you've ever wondered why we pronounce the "-ed" at the end of "wicked" (and "jagged," "beloved" and more), but don't at the end of words like "aggrieved," this show is for you! You'll also discover why "wicked" is different from "naked" and what's weird about the phrase "wicked witch." Plus, you'll learn why we call some food "deviled." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/the-weird-pronunciation-of-wicked | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, September 30, 2022
When Is a Man a Widow? Where Do We Get the Word 'Blurb'? Sci-Fi Versus Fantasy. Bert and Ernie.
895. A listener asked why he's hearing people refer to men as "widows," and we found a surprising history. Also, I recently mentioned a blurb I wrote, and a reader wanted to know where we get that funny word "blurb." | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/when-is-a-man-a-widow | Merriam-Webster "blurb" article . | Grammar Girl sci-fi versus fantasy article . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, September 23, 2022
Mood & Atmosphere in Fiction. An Interview with Joshua Essoe
894. Whether you're getting ready for National Novel Writing Month or just want to watch movies or read novels with more insight, this interview with fiction editor Joshua Essoe will help you about mood and atmosphere in ways you probably haven't considered before. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/mood-atmosphere-in-fiction-an-interview-with-joshua-essoe | Joshua Essoe's website . | Storybundle book bundles . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, September 16, 2022
Split Infinitives. I Can't Even. Macken.
893. You may be surprised by the origin of the split infinitive "rule" and by the times they are OK...or even necessary! Also, we look at slang phrases that drop whole grammatical elements and how they reinforce that in-group/out-group feeling of slang. | Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/split-infinitives | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings Intern: Kamryn Lacy | Theme music by Catherine Rannus . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube . TikTok . Twitter . Facebook . Instagram . LinkedIn .
Fri, September 09, 2022
Why Some People Say 'Might Could.' The Spanish Influence on English. Mickle Story.
892. We recently got a question about why people use a type of double-verb construction, such as "We might could go to the store." We have the answer! Plus, in honor of the upcoming National Hispanic Heritage Month, we look at the influence Spanish has had on English. You probably know more Spanish words than you realize! Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/why-some-people-say-might-could "Double Modals" was written by Neal Whitman . "The Spanish Influence on English" was written by Susan K. Herman | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Audio engineer: Nathan Semes Editor: Adam Cecil Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina Tomlin Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, September 02, 2022
Accent Hallucination. False Ranges. Thanks, Chris.
891. Your mind will be blown when you learn about accent hallucination. (Mine was!) And then we'll learn how to avoid false ranges. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/accent-hallucination-false-ranges References for the Accent Hallucination segment by Valerie Fridland : Babel, M., & Russell, J. (2015). Expectations and speech intelligibility. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , 137 (5), 2823β2833. Bradlow, A. R., and Bent, T. (2008). Perceptual adaptation to non-native Speech. Cognition 106(2), 707β729. Lev-Ari, S., & Keysar, B. (2010). Why don't we believe non-native speakers? the influence of accent on credibility. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46 (6), 1093-1096: Rubin, D.L. 1992. Nonlanguage factors affecting undergraduates' judgments of nonnative English-speaking teaching assistants. Res High Educ 33, 511β531 Vaughn C. R. (2019). Expectations about the source of a speaker's accent affect accent adaptation. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , 145 (5), 3218. References for the False Range segment by Rhiannon Root : Walsh, B. "Everything's Ranging." The Slot. https://www.theslot.com/range.html (accessed September 1, 2022). Grammar Monkeys (McLendon, L.). "Home, home on the range." Madam Grammar. May 20, 2010. https://madamgrammar.com/tag/false-range/ (accessed September 1, 2022). McIntyre, J. "Getting the range." You Don't Say. February 10, 2010. http://johnemcintyre.blogspot.com/2010/02/getting-range.html (accessed September 1, 2022). "Commas." The Chicago Manual of Style (Q&A), 17th edition. https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Commas/faq0062.html (accessed September 1, 2022). Corbett, P.B. "Everything from this to that." After Deadline: New York Times Blog . August 24, 2010. https://archive.nytimes.com/afterdeadline.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/everything-from-this-to-that/ (accessed September 1, 2022). "Appendix." SeaWorld. https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/penguins/appendix/ (accessed September 1, 2022). | <a href="https://ww
Fri, August 26, 2022
'Skrrt,' 'Bottle Episode,' 'Skeuomorphs' and more. An Interview with John Kelly of Dictionary.com.
890. John Kelly, senior director of editorial at Dictionary.com , talks with Mignon about a bunch of fun new words and about how words get added to the dictionary in general. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/skrrt-bottle-episode-skeuomorphs | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Pinterest TikTok
Fri, August 19, 2022
What's up with Splooting? Capitalizing Titles. Momilltellya.
889. Splooting squirrels have taken the internet by storm. We look at where this fun word comes from and how far back it goes. Plus, I help you decide which title capitalization rules to follow. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/whats-up-with-splooting-capitalizing-titles-momilltellya | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, August 12, 2022
How Gendered Languages Are Changing. Jugopop.
888. This week we take a fascinating look at how highly gendered languages are dealing with the drive to become more inclusive. Plus, we look at the differences between "simple" and "simplistic" and "backward" and "backwards." Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/how-gendered-languages-are-changing-jugopop | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl References for the gendered language segment by Valerie Fridland : Braun, F., Sczesny, S., & Stahlberg, D. (2005). Cognitive Effects of Masculine Generics in German: An Overview of Empirical Findings. Communications (Sankt Augustin), 30 (1), 1-21. Carreiras, M., Garnham, A., Oakhill, J., & Cain, K. (1996). The use of stereotypical gender information in constructing a mental model: evidence from English and Spanish. The Quarterly journal of experimental psychology. A, Human experimental psychology , 49 (3), 639β663. DeFranza, D., Mishra, H., & Mishra, A. (2020). How language shapes prejudice against women: An examination across 45 world languages. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119 (1), 7β22. Eilers, S., Tiffin-Richards, S. P., & Schroeder, S. (2018). Individual differences in childrenβs pronoun processing during reading: Detection of incongruence is associated with higher reading fluency and more regressions. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 173 , 250-267. Stahlberg, D., Braun, F., Irmen, L., & Sczesny, S. (2007). Representation of the sexes in language. In K. Fiedler (Ed.), Social communication. A volume in the series Frontiers
Fri, August 05, 2022
How Using Pliers Improves Your Language. Weird Possessives. Ducky File.
887. An amazing study shows that tool use and language are connected in the brain and shows how using one can make you better at the other, and vice versa. Plus we look at some tricky possessives. Can you say "a friend of mine's car"? Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/how-using-pliers-improves-your-language The tools and language segment is by Claudio Brozzoli a researcher at INSERM Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, and the Impact team at the Karolinska Institute , and Simon Thibault , a Postdoctoral Researcher at Lyon Neuroscience Research Center . It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license. Read the original (without my interjections). | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, July 29, 2022
A Riotous Good Time with Ellen Jovin of the Grammar Table
886. The delightful Ellen Jovin of the Grammar Table (you may have seen her sitting on the street answering grammar questions in your city) joined me to talk about her new book, "Rebel with a Clause," what possessed her to set up the Grammar Table in the first place, why Twitter is vastly better than Facebook for doing language polls, and more. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ellen-jovin-of-the-grammar-table | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, July 22, 2022
Ripe. Lede. Prevent. Awesome. Fulsome. MacGuffin. Daisy.
885. It's time for our quarterly listener question extravaganza! I answer your questions about the words "ripe," "lede," "prevent," "awesome," and "fulsome" and share some knowledge about MacGuffins and the drink known as a daisy. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ripe-lede-prevent-awesome-fulsome-macguffin-daisy | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, July 15, 2022
Why Nobody Says 'You're Welcome' Anymore. Whose. Chimichanga.
884. People often ask why people say "no worries" or "no problem" instead of "you're welcome," and we actually found an answer! Also, we look at whether it's OK to use "whose" for inanimate objects in a sentence such as "The chair whose legs are broken." Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/why-nobody-says-youre-welcome-anymore-whose-chimichanga | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl References for the "you're welcome" segment by Valerie Fridland : Aijmer, Karin. 1996. Conversational routines in English: Convention and creativity. London et al.: Longman. Dinkin, Aaron. J. 2018. It's no problem to be polite: Apparentβtime change in responses to thanks. Journal of Sociolinguistics 22(2): 190-215. Jacobsson, M. 2002. Thank you and thanks in Early Modern English. ICAME Journal 26: 63-80. RΓΌegg, Larssyn. 2014. Thanks responses in three socio-economic settings: A variational pragmatics approach. Journal of Pragmatics 71. pp. 17β30. Schneider, Klaus P. 2005. βNo problem, youβre welcome, anytimeβ: Responding to thanks in Ireland, England, and the U.S.A. In Anne Barron & Klaus P. Schneider (eds.), The pragmatics of Irish English, Berlin & New York: Mouton de Gruyter. pp. 101β139. References for the "whose" segment by Bonnie Mills: American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style. 2005. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 505-6. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Fourth edition. 2006. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 1965. Burchfield, R. W, ed. 1996. The New Fowlerβs Modern English Usage. Third edition. New York: Oxford, p. 563.
Fri, July 08, 2022
Code-Switching. Mignon Snaps Over Numbers. Foomp.
883. The numbers sections of style books finally pushed me over the edge, and I have some stories you won't believe! We also talk about how cool code-switching is. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/code-switching-mignon-snaps-over-numbers-foomp | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, July 01, 2022
Surprising Words Related to 'Freedom.' Double Subjects. Foop.
882. For Independence Day, we look at the word "freedom" and the surprising words that came from the same roots. Plus, we look at odd sentences with double subjects and when you should (and shouldn't) use them. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/surprising-words-related-to-freedom-double-subjects-foop | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl Reference for the "double subjects" segment by Neal Whitman : Huddleston, R. and Pullum, G.K. 2003. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, pp. 1408-1411. References for the "freedom" segment by Valerie Fridland : Lewis, C.S. 1990. βFree.β In Studies in Words. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 111-132. Buck, D.C. 1949. βTerritorial, Social, and Political Divisions; Social Relations.β In A Dictionary of Synonyms in The Principal Indo-European Languages: A Contribution to The History of Ideas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1301-1369. "free, adj., n., and adv.". OED Online. June 2022. Oxford University Press. https://www-oed-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/view/Entry/74375 (accessed June 28, 2022). "freedom, n.". OED Online. June 2022. Oxford University Press. https://www-oed-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/view/Entry/74395?rskey=nb7bUT&result=1&isAdvanced=false (accessed June 28, 2022). "free, v.". OED Online. June 2022. Oxford University Press. https://www-oed-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/view/Entry/74376?rskey=PWZPsN&result=2&isAdvanced=false (accessed June 28, 2022).
Fri, June 24, 2022
'Ant' or 'Ahnt'? Capitalizing Cocktail Names. Archie Bunker.
881. What's up with the fancy-schmancy "ahnt" pronunciation of the word "aunt"? And why are the rules about capitalizing cocktail names so wonky? We have all the answers today! Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/ant-or-ahnt-capitalizing-cocktail-names-archie-bunker References for the "ahnt" segment by Valerie Fridland : Phillips, Betty. (1989). The Diffusion of a Borrowed Sound Change. Journal of English Linguistics , 22 (2), 197β204. Freeborn, Dennis. (1992). From old English to standard Englishβ―: a course book in language variation across time . University of Ottawa Press: Ottawa. Grandgent, C.H. (1899). Franklin to Lowell. A Century of New England Pronunciation . Publication of the Modern Language Association, vol. 14 (2), 207-239. Trudgill, Peter (2008). The Historical Sociolinguistics of Elite Accent Change: On Why RP is not Disappearing. Studia Anglica Posnaniensia 44: 3β12. Walker, John. (1791). A critical pronouncing dictionary . London: Robinson. Wells, John. (1982). Accents of English. Cambridge University Press. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, June 17, 2022
The Many Meanings of 'Father.' How Watergate Changed English. Punim
880. "Father" as a word shows how we humans love to extend our metaphors. Did you know it was only relatively recently that priests were referred to as "father," for example? And then, for the 50th anniversary of the Watergate scandal, we look at the "-gate" suffix and what made it so successful that it has spread all over the world (even to non-English-speaking countries). Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/the-many-meanings-of-father-how-watergate-changed-english | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Sources for the "father" segment by Valerie Fridland "father, n." OED Online. March 2022. Oxford University Press. https://www-oed-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/view/Entry/68498?rskey=gVoRUz&result=1&isAdvanced=false (accessed June 05, 2022). "pope, n.1." OED Online. March 2022. Oxford University Press. https://www-oed-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/view/Entry/147798?rskey=d5Ttqw&result=1&isAdvanced=false (accessed June 06, 2022). "thing, n.1." OED Online. March 2022. Oxford University Press. https://www-oed-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/view/Entry/200786?rskey=dIOiJo&result=1&isAdvanced=false (accessed June 06, 2022). Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). "Abbot." Britannica Academic. Retrieved June 5, 2022, from https://academic-eb-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/levels/collegiate/article/abbot/3248 Elder, Gregory. Nov. 15, 2007. Why do we call priests father? Redlands Daily Facts. https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2007/11/15/why-are-priests-called-father/ (accessed June 06, 2022). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Grammar Girl Social Media Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl</a
Fri, June 10, 2022
Demonyms: Why People from North Carolina Are Called Tar Heels. 'Healthy' Versus 'Healthful.' Sussies 3!
879. Are people from Liverpool really called "Liverpudlians"? Where does the name "Tar Heel" come from? We have the answers to some of the most interesting questions about demonyms: the names for people from specific places. Also, has anyone ever criticized you for using the word "healthy" instead of "healthful"? We explain why that happens. And finally, we've solved the mystery of "sussies." Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/demonyms-why-people-from-north-carolina-are-called-tar-heels-healthy-versus-healthful-sussies-3 | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | Nutrition Diva podcast . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Sources for the Demonyms Segment by Susan K. Herman: | Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias: https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/168427 | CIA World Factbook/Country Profiles/Explore all Countries: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ | East Liverpool, Ohio Mayorβs Office: https://eastliverpool.com/city-department/mayors-office/ | Everything2/Demonyms of the United States: https://everything2.com/title/Demonyms+of+the+United+States | Everything2/Denonyms of the World: https://everything2.com/title/Demonyms+of+the+World | Garner, B. "Denizen Labels." Garner's Modern English Usage, fourth edition. Oxford University Press. 2016. p.259-62. | Government Printing Office Style Manual, Ch. 17, Useful Tables: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/pdf/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016-19.pdf | Merriam-Webster/demonym: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demonym | TimeOut: https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/stupid-things-other-cities-and-states-call-their-r
Fri, June 03, 2022
Are Wisdom Teeth Smart? Capitalizing Degree Names. Sussies 2
878. This week, we look at what makes wisdom teeth so smart, how to properly write the name of your degree, and what's up with the "sussies" familect? Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/are-wisdom-teeth-smart-capitalizing-degree-names-sussies-2 | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl Sources for the Capitalizing Degree Names Segment: GrammarBook.com. βIs It Associate Degree or Associateβs Degree?β The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. https://www.grammarbook.com/ Wikipedia. βAcademic Degree.β Accessed April 13, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_degree CMOS Online Q&A. βPossessives and Attributives.β https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/PossessivesandAttributives/faq0034.html
Fri, May 27, 2022
Whatever Happened to "Thou"?
877. In an age when eels were sometimes used as currency and castles pierced the sky, βthouβ was all the rage. But over time, it disappeared from use. Where did it go? And will it ever make a comeback? This week, we're sharing an episode of Curious State, a brand new podcast from Quick and Dirty Tips. Listen and subscribe to Curious State on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , or wherever you're listening to Grammar Girl. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/whatever-happened-to-thou | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, May 20, 2022
How Spellers Tackle the 'Dreaded Schwa'
876. You'll never view spellers in the bee asking questions the same way again after you learn about the schwa from Brian Sietsema, an associate pronouncer for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, May 13, 2022
Why "'Em" Isn't Short for "Them." The Subjunctive. Sussies.
875. When you say "Go get 'em!" you think that's short for "Go get them," but you're wrong! We look at the fascinating history of some English pronouns. Plus, we look at how Neil Gaiman uses the subjunctive mood in "American Gods" to underscore moments of uncertainty. WHY "'EM" ISN'T SHORT FOR "THEM" Written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of a forthcoming book on all the speech habits we love to hate. She is also a language expert for "Psychology Today" where she writes a monthly blog, Language in the Wild . You can find her at valeriefridland.com or on Twitter at @FridlandValerie . References LΓ³pez, Ignacio. 2007. The social status of /h/ in English. "Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses." 157-166. "em, pron." OED Online, Oxford University Press, March 2022, www.oed.com/view/Entry/85779. Accessed 11 April 2022 . Algeo, J., Butcher, C. A., & Pyles, T. 2014. "The origins and development of the English language." Boston, Mass.: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. THE SUBJUNCTIVE IN FICTION Written by Edwin Battistella, a professor of linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he has served as a dean and as interim provost. He is the author of " Dangerous Crooked Scoundrels: Insulting the President, from Washington to Trump " (OUP, 2020), " Do You Make These Mistakes in English ?" (OUP, 2009), " Bad Language " (OUP, 2005), and " The Logic of Markedness " (OUP, 1996). | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links:
Fri, May 06, 2022
Tomi Adeyemi: The Writing Life and Her New Writing Course.
874. With her book "Children of Blood and Bone" spending 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, Tomi Adeyemi knows what it takes to write a great book. Listen in on my conversation with this charming writer about her thoughts on the writing life and what she has to offer in her new masterclass, The Writer's Roadmap . | Subscribe to the Grammar Girl newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 28, 2022
Scissors, Jeans, and Other Nouns That Are Always Plural. Flat Adverbs. Boteep.
873. Today, we'll talk about some weird nouns that are always plural, and then we'll go two-dimensional and talk about flat adverbs. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 21, 2022
If Earth Looks Like a Blue Marble, Why Is Earth Day Associated with the Color Green? Also, 'Funnest.'
872. The famous NASA "blue marble" image could have influenced people to make blue the color of environmentalism and Earth Day, but green won the day. In honor of the special day, we look at how the meaning of "green" has changed over time. Plus, we investigate the "fun" continuum and whether it's OK to use the words "funner" and "funnest." | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl References for the "funnest" segment 1. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage . Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1994, pp. 469-70. 2. Garner, B. Garner's Modern American Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016, p. 416. 3. The American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005, p. 197. 4. The Grammar Logs. #596, March 24, 2004, https://web.archive.org/web/20190427082852/http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/grammarlogs4/grammarlogs596.htm (accessed April 21, 2022). 5. Wallraff, B. Word Court. 87 (2000). 6. Garner, B. Garner's Modern American Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016, p. 416.
Thu, April 14, 2022
You Know. Doppelganger. Trademarks. Funnily. Chicken Milk.
871. It's "listener question extravaganza" time, so I have some quick hits on discourse markers such as "you know," where we get the word "doppelganger," how to punctuate around trademarks, and the difference between "funny" and "funnily." It's a good one! | SPONSORS: https://masterworks.io/about/disclosure and The Jordan Harbinger Show . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, April 08, 2022
I Cannot Tell a Lie (but I Can Mislead)! And Sometimes People Do It With Percentages.
870. We look at the linguistic difference between lying and misleading, and then because people often lie with numbers, we look at the difference between "percent" and "percentage" and how to use them. | SPONSORS: https://masterworks.io/about/disclosure and https://bit.ly/ggondemand with the code MACMIL and https://bombas.com/grammar and https://monday.com/podcast . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 31, 2022
How Aphasia Causes Difficulty Speaking. Chairdrobe.
869. Prodded by Bruce Willis's family's announcement that he is leaving acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, we revisited language disorders, and the kinds of things we can learn from them. Today's segment was written by Syelle Graves, who has a PhD in linguistics and is the assistant director of ILETC (Institute for Language Education in Transcultural Context). She was also a 40 under Forty alumni award honoree at SUNY New Paltz. You can find her at syellegraves.com . | SPONSORS: https://masterworks.io/about/disclosure and https://bit.ly/ggondemand with the code MACMIL and https://bombas.com/grammar and https://monday.com/podcast . | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 24, 2022
Why Tired People Talk About Being 'Out of Spoons.' Why Nouns Are More Complicated Than You May Think.
A few months ago, I started to notice people talking about spoons in a weird way, so I investigated and found that people are using an interesting concept called "spoon theory." Also this week, we look at why nouns are more complicated than you may think, and we dig into concrete, abstract, collective, and compound nouns--how you can identify them, how you can tell them apart, and what makes them fun. | SPONSORS: https://masterworks.io/about/disclosure and https://bit.ly/ggondemand with the code MACMIL | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 17, 2022
Barracking, Sheilas and Shouts: How the Irish Influenced Australian English
"Barracking," "sheilas" and "shouts": How the Irish influenced Australian English. Plus, what makes "NASA" different from "FBI." | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 10, 2022
The Oxford Comma. And Should You Start a Sentence with 'And'?
Have you ever wondered why it's called the "Oxford comma"? We have the answer to that and many more questions you may have about this controversial punctuation mark. Plus, we'll also talk about why it's fine to start a sentence with "and" (and why you were probably taught that it's not). | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 03, 2022
Is 'Materiel' Just a Fancy Pronunciation of 'Material'? Are Binomials the Same Across Languages?
A listener wondered about the word "materiel." What's its deal (and is it related to "personnel")? Plus, "pepper and salt." "Groom and bride." "White and black." Are binomials the same across languages? | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, February 24, 2022
Why Do We Cringe at 'Pepper and Salt'? Why 'Square' Is Uncool. Quickquish.
"Sticks and stones." "Bride and groom." "Heads or tails." Some word pairs almost always appear in a specific order, and linguists have been investigating why for decades. Plus, after last week's segment about square meals, a listener asked why it's uncool to be a square. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, February 17, 2022
What's Square About a Square Meal? How to Use Parentheses, Brackets, and Braces. Guck.
The idea of a square meal goes back to the 1800s and possibly mining towns, but the word "square" itself has a longer history. Plus, admit it! You don't know how to use curly braces. (We didn't either, but we figured it out.) | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, February 10, 2022
Are People Using 'Commiserate' Wrong? The Origin of (the Word) 'Influenza.' Hersband.
How the "Witch of Wall Street" relates to the word "commiserate." Plus, the interesting origin of "influenza" and other disease names. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, February 04, 2022
Do You Call In, Out, or Off Sick? How Kids Learn Language. Hexaboobiated.
People often tell me they hear others say they'll be absent from work in a different way than they're used to hearing, so I looked into who says what where. Also, we take a deep look at how children learn language and what parents can do to help their children learn better. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 27, 2022
Tips for Learning a New Language: The Fluent Show
Kerstin Cable, host of " The Fluent Show " shares her tips and enthusiasm for learning new languages. We talked about what to do if you're stalled learning a language, what the good things and bad things are about language learning apps (to help you learn how to use them better), the massively underestimated thing that will help you learn a language, and how learning a language can make you more creative. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 20, 2022
Why 'Tiny' Sounds Smaller Than 'Huge.' Nixing the Horrid 'Of.' Kokopelli.
The sounds of certain words make us think of things that are big or small, round or spiky, and the tendency is nearly universal. For example, people can often pick words that refer to something big or small even in languages they don't speak. Here's why. Plus, we look at the ways people sometimes overuse the word "of" and how to fix it. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 13, 2022
'Strollout,' 'Insurrection,' 'Yassify,' and Other Words of the Year for 2021
"Strollout," "insurrection," "yassify," "hard pants" and other words of the year for 2021. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. |Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. |Peeve Wars card game. |Grammar Girl books. |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 06, 2022
Cardsharp. The Old-New Singular 'They.' Grignug.
Was that uncle who wiped the floor with you in a card game a cardsharp or a card shark? Also, we look at what it is about using "they" as a singular pronoun that makes it sometimes stand out and sometimes get overlooked. Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/cardsharp-the-old-new-singular-they-grignug/transcript | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 30, 2021
Questions, Questions, So Many Questions!
I have a big metaphorical pile of questions from listeners in which the answers are too short to be a whole podcast segment, so today, I'm going to string them together and do a bunch of quick hits. We'll talk about color idioms, formatting bullet points, and the words "fulsome," "presently," "anyways," "afterward," and more. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, December 24, 2021
Is "Milk and Cookies" One Thing or Two? A New Language Term: The Santaback. Shoedabakers.
Today we use milk and cookies for Santa to figure out when compound subjects are singular or plural. We also invent a new language term: santaback. We hope you'll share your examples! | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates . | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. | Peeve Wars card game . | Grammar Girl books . |HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 16, 2021
How Lori Rader-Day Wrote a Historical Novel About War Evacuees in Agatha Christie's Vacation Home
Accomplished mystery writer Lori Rader-Day was drawn to the story of children who were evacuated to Agatha Christie's vacation home during WWII, but having never written a historical novel before, she faced challenges. We talk about what she learned along the way while working on "Death at Greenway." | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. https://j.mp/3oooKmK | Peeve Wars card game. http://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | Grammar Girl books. bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 09, 2021
Pretending to Be British. How to Use Ellipses. Spiders.
|HOST: Mignon Fogarty |VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) |Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. |Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . |Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, December 03, 2021
Shibboleth. Greeting Card Grammar. Bunkaree.
Does your group use shibboleths? Plus, I'll help you avoid common embarrassing greeting card mistakes. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. https://j.mp/3oooKmK | Peeve Wars card game. http://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | Grammar Girl books. bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk. | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, November 25, 2021
How to Use a Semicolon, Amirite? Partu.
Amirite? You have the tickets, don't you? Today we talk about those tiny questions at the end of sentences, what purpose they serve, and who is most likely to use them. Plus, we tackle that anxiety producting punctuation mark, the semicolon. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. https://j.mp/3oooKmK | Peeve Wars card game. http://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | Grammar Girl books. bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, November 18, 2021
Penultimate. Veni, Vidi, Vici. Smidge.
In this week's podcast, we discuss why you should never call your girlfriend your penultimate friend. Plus, we have fun and fascinating facts about Caesar and some of the phrases he gave us, such as "veni, vidi, vici" and "crossing the Rubicon." | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. https://j.mp/3oooKmK | Peeve Wars card game. http://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | Grammar Girl books. bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, November 11, 2021
New Words from WWII. How Places Like Featherstonehaugh Get Their Names. Uncoming.
WWII was a rich source of new words for the English language. Before the 1940s, you couldn't tell an eager beaver to shut his pie hole while you were being debriefed by the head honcho. And you'll be amazed by the origin of the word "Jeep." And in honor of NaNoWriMoβbecause you have to name so many things in fictionβwe talked about the most common ways places get their names. | Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe | Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. https://j.mp/3oooKmK | Peeve Wars card game. http://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | Grammar Girl books. bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . | Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . | Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, November 04, 2021
Editing an Anthology: 'Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed'
Today, I talked with Saraciea Fennell, who works in publishing, is behind the Bronx Book Festival, and is also the editor of a new anthology, "Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed," featuring essays from an all-star line-up of Latinx writers. We discussed the thought that goes behind ordering the essays in an anthology, the challenges of trying to edit writers using different dialects into one book, and more. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 28, 2021
Is That a Tombstone, Gravestone, or Headstone? Why Is the Sound of a Human Scream So Terrifying?
The words tombstone and gravestone used to refer to large stone slabs that served as a lid for a tomb or covering for a grave. Also, the human scream has a very particular sound that makes it especially scary (and it's a sound shared by the music in scary movies). Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 21, 2021
Using Present Tense in a Story About the Past. Beck and Call. Tie-Dye Trees.
Have you noticed people switching to the present tense when they're telling stories? It actually has a name: It's called the "historical present tense." This is the article we mentioned if you want to read more about the historical present tense: Schiffrin, Deborah. 1981. Tense variation in narrative. Language 57(1). 45-62. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 14, 2021
Surprise! These Names Are Trademarks. How to Write 'Dos and Don'ts' (or Is That 'Do's and Don'ts'?). Wording Your Mixes.
Many words we use every day are actually trademarks. Did you know about all the words we talked about today? Plus, we talk about some really weird spellings and dunk on "Eats, Shoots & Leaves." Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 07, 2021
The Hedonometer and Your Feelings. What Does 'Schnozz' Mean?
Researchers and companies are harnessing computers to identify the emotions behind our written words. While sentiment analysis is far from perfect, it manages to distill meaning from huge amounts of data β and could one day even monitor mental health. In the second segment of this episode, we answer a listener question about the word "schnozz": is it really from 1980s children's television? Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 30, 2021
How Do You Pronounce 'Tomato'? Why Is 'Chiropractic' Singular. Fish.
In the world of great debates, there is one that has been long enduring and still keeps language prescriptivists awake at night: Is it "tom-ay-to" or "tom-ah-to"? Now, this may not seem as pressing as whether nuclear fusion is possible, but to people in the linguistic trenches, it is pretty darn close. After all, how many linguistic pronunciation ambiguities have been so long running and widely known that they have actually inspired a song? In the second segment of the show, we explore why "chiropractic" is such an outlier for "-ic" words. Read the companion article on Quick and Dirty Tips. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Social Media Links: https://twitter.com/grammargirl https://facebook.com/grammargirl https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl https://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl https://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl https://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 23, 2021
The Power of Very Specific Words, with Joel Schwartzberg
The author of " The Language of Leadership ," Joel Schwartzberg , explains how you can make small tweaks to your language to make a big difference in your influence. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 16, 2021
How to Really Talk Like a Pirate. When Do You Need a Comma Before 'Because'?
Based on the history of who was sailing the high seas, it's a good bet pirates sounded a lot more multicultural than Olβ Long John Silver would have us believe. We also discuss when you need a comma before "because" to avoid confusion. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 09, 2021
Why and When 'Very Unique' Is Wrong. Capitalizing 'Delta Variant' (or Not). Happy to You.
Instead of grinding your teeth about "very unique," pat yourself on the back for recognizing a widespread case of lexical broadening. Plus, we talk about why some people capitalize "Delta variant" and some don't. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 02, 2021
Naked Idioms. Short-Lived. Capitalizing Earth. Hector Protector.
We naked apes have been making up sayings with the word "naked" for a long time. Plus, we talk about how to pronounce "short-lived" and when to capitalize "earth." Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 26, 2021
The Origin of 'Honeymoon.' 'Where' Versus 'In Which.' Fevesteter.
What does getting married have to do with honey and the moon? What is tricky about the word "where"? Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 19, 2021
Weird Words for Alcohol. Starting a Sentence with 'However.' Fam-ished.
What does "Dutch courage" mean? And 10 other weird words for alcohol. Plus, the special thing you have to pay attention to when you start a sentence with "however." Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, August 13, 2021
How Storytelling Makes a Difference (and How to Do It Well)
As much as we'd like to believe that people are convinced by facts, years of cognitive research show that we are convinced by stories and emotions (and then we often find facts to support our decisions). Since storytelling matters, we talked about how to do it well. To sign up for my Advanced AP Style webinar, go to http://bit.ly/apstyle21 and use the code MACMIL to save. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Theme music by Catherine Rannus at beautifulmusic.co.uk . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 05, 2021
What's the Opposite of Deja Vu? Commas Between Adjectives
You know about deja vu, but do you know about jemais vu, presque vu, deja lu, deja entendu, and deja reve? Plus, we help you figure out when to put commas between adjectives. It's tricky, but we have a simple two-pronged test. Answers to the quiz at the end of the show: 1) It's an easy five-mile hike. 2) That was a long, hard run. 3) They endured a tough marital situation. To sign up for my Advanced AP Style webinar, go to http://bit.ly/apstyle21 and use the code MACMIL to save. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 29, 2021
The Best Stories from 15 Years of Grammar Girl
We've gone through a lot of stories and tips in 15 yearsβmore than a thousand. Today, I picked a few of my favorites for you. To sign up for my Advanced AP Style webinar, go to http://bit.ly/apstyle21 and use the code MACMIL to save. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 22, 2021
What the Two Spellings of Stationary/ery Have to Do with Booksellers. Why Pronunciations Change.
"Stationary" and "stationery" have the same ultimate origin, but they evolved to have different meanings and one became tied to paper goods. Also, a recent survey in the UK highlighted pronunciations that annoy people. We look at which ones and why. THIS WEEK ONLY: Make a donation up to $1,000 at Donors Choose , and I'll match it until we reach our $7,500 goal. Visit https://donorschoose.org/grammar and use the code GRAMMARGIRL. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 15, 2021
'Fish' or 'Fishes'? Why Do We Call Out 'Nothing' as 'Bupkis'?
"Fish" really does have two plurals. Usually you want "fish," but we talk about the odd examples when "fishes" is the right choice. Plus, "bupkis" can mean "nothing" or "something worthless," but it has a funny origin! Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Grammar Pop iOS game. Peeve Wars card game. Grammar Girl books. HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 08, 2021
'If' Versus 'Whether.' Why We Say 'The Exception That Proves the Rule.'
"If" and "whether" are often interchangeable, but sometimes using one or the other will change the meaning of your sentence. And if you've ever wondered why we say, "the exception that proves the rule" (like I did), you'll love this week's episode. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 01, 2021
Trundle, Amble, Roam, and Shamble. How Some Preposition Use Has Changed Over Time.
We look at the surprising origins of some of our favorite words for walking. Plus, how do you know when to write "The car almost ran me over" versus "The car almost ran over me"? Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 24, 2021
Pedantic Nonsense Up with Which I Will Not Put! 'Discreet' or 'Discrete'?
Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 17, 2021
Starting a Sentence with a Conjunction: Right or Wrong? Good 'Subpar' and Bad 'Subpar.'
Many people have been taught that it's wrong to start a sentence with a conjunction, but nearly all major style guides say doing so is fine. Neal Whitman investigates why there seems to be such a difference between what teachers say and what style guides say. Also, we look at why sometimes "subpar" is good, and sometimes "subpar" is bad. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 10, 2021
How Long Is a Good Sentence? 'Cord' or 'Chord'? Grumple.
How Long Is a Good Sentence? 'Cord' or 'Chord'? Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 03, 2021
What Made 'Friends' Funny. How Cicadas Got Their Name. Dog Replacer.
You laughed and laughed while watching "Friends." One reason it was funny is that the writers took what you expect from a conversation and flipped it on its head. Plus, how cicadas got their name, and why they aren't the same thing as locusts. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 27, 2021
Is 'Graduated College' Wrong? Five Wonderful Latin Phrases.
I'm hearing "graduated college" much more often. Is it still wrong? Plus, five bona fide Latin phrases you can use to describe something wonderful. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 20, 2021
'Bring,' 'Take,' and 'Carry.' 'The Queen's Gambit.' Sweepy Thing.
We go through the simple rules for "bring" and "take," but then talk about the fun exceptions and dialect forms. Plus, how "The Queen's Gambit" can help us remember the difference between "gambit" and "gamut" (with "gamble" thrown in for good measure). Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 13, 2021
Writing Dialogue. 'Associate Degree' or 'Associate's Degree'? Wiffy.
Is that dialogue feeling off? We're here to help! Plus, how to write about degrees this graduation season. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 06, 2021
'Ketchup' or 'Catsup'? How to Punctuate Questions. Gmoing Gmoing.
Have you seen the tomato sauce spelled two different ways? "Ketchup" is the better spelling, but the history of the word is pretty interesting. We also look at how to punctuate questions, especially the weird ones! Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 29, 2021
What Does βOp-Edβ Really Mean? The Perfect Paragraph Length. Items.
"Op-ed" may not mean what you think it means. Then we discuss how long a paragraph should be. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 22, 2021
The Intrusive "Of." What Makes English Weird.
We talk about the difference between "a prince of a fellow" and "not too good of a time," and then we look at two things that make English especially weird. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 15, 2021
How to Write Faster. The Origin of the Odd Letter W
12 practical tips and tools that will help you write faster in the time you already have. Also, we explore why we call a letter that looks like two V's a "double U." Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 08, 2021
'Borrow' and 'Lend.' When to Use 'Nor.' Boncho.
We use a children's book and a Shakespeare play to talk about "borrow" and "lend," and then we help with the complexities of using "neither" and "nor." Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 01, 2021
Squirrelly Animal Verbs. 'People,' 'Peoples,' and 'Persons': Why It Matters.
8.17 To hog, to ram, to bird dog. We run through a fun list of animal-inspired verbs. Plus, amazingly, it wasn't that long ago that usage experts recommended "persons" instead of "people." And what's the deal with "peoples." Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 25, 2021
A vast number of words have surprising origins. We talked about some today, including "scientist," "impressionist," "beatnik," and "paradigm."
A vast number of words have surprising origins. We talked about some today with author Ralph Keyes, including "scientist," "impressionist," "beatnik," and "paradigm." Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 18, 2021
'Normalcy' or 'Normality'? A Punctuation Question from a Famous Movie Line. Taco Cats.
Did you know that in the book "Gone with the Wind," Rhett Butler said "My dear..." instead of "Frankly, my dear..."? Also, are we getting back to normalcy or normality? One of these words came from a misspeak (followed by a doubling-down) by William Harding. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 11, 2021
It's Not Just March. Other Months Have 'Ides' Too! Are You on the Pig's Back Today?
Instead of bewaring the ides of March, I'm going to beware engaging with the Roman calendar. What a fascinating mess! In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we also look at some fun Irish phrases. On the pig's back, anyone? Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 04, 2021
813 - The History of National Grammar Day. My Favorite Resources. Anniversity
Have you ever wondered WHY we celebrate National Grammar Day? Who started this thing anyway? And if you want to do your own grammar research, I'll help you get started. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, February 25, 2021
812 - Kibosh. Sidekicks. Misolation.
The origin of "kibosh" is a long-standing mystery in the English language. Yiddish? A whip? Clog-makers tools? We investigate. Also, sidekicks play interesting and important roles in fiction. Does your Watson or Robin meet expectations? A familect story about misolation. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, February 18, 2021
811 - Inigo Montoya and Coining Phrases. 'Dose' or 'Dosage'?
Coin a phrase? It does not mean what you think it means. And get your dose (or dosage?) right. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, February 11, 2021
810 - Words out of Time. Why 'OK' Is OK.
Would words and phrases like "operative" and "pump him for information" be out of place in a novel set in the 1800s? We investigate! And we also look at the two spellings of "OK/okay," and I explain why I prefer "OK." (It has a fun history.) Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, February 04, 2021
809 - Rethink Descriptions Like 'Diabetic.' The Wonderful World of Italics,
Should you call someone a diabetic or a person with diabetes? Also, are you confused about when to use italics? We have the basics (and something that might be changing)! Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 28, 2021
808 - 6 Latin Abbreviations You Should Know. 'Imply' or 'Infer'?
6 Latin Abbreviations You Should Know. 'Imply' or 'Infer'? Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 21, 2021
807 - Why We Call Them Sea 'Shanties.' A Trick to Remember How to Spell 'Conscience'
If you're enjoying sea shanties these days, have you wondered why they're called "shanties"? Plus, I always have a hard time remembering how to spell "conscience." Here's my trick for getting it right. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 14, 2021
806 - Why You Should Try Fanfiction. How to Find Tricky Pronunciations.
Why writing fanfiction can make you a better overall writer. Plus, my tricks for figuring out tricky pronunciations. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 07, 2021
805 - 'Acedia': the lost name for the emotion we're all feeling right now
"Acedia": the lost name for the emotion we're all feeling right now. Plus, when does "thank you" need a hyphen? Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 31, 2020
804 - Another Think/Thing Coming. 'Sanction,' 'Cleave,' 'Dust,' and More
Are Americans ruining the put-down "You've got another think coming," or was it the British band Judas Priest? Also, everyone loves Janus words like "sanction," "cleave," and "dust." We talk about what makes them special. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 24, 2020
803 - Pandemic, COVID, anderhalvemetersamenleving: 2020 Words of the Year
It's the Oscars of the language world: word-of-the-year data analysis and voting! A spirited conversation with Merriam-Webster's Emily Brewster about the 2020 words of the year. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 17, 2020
802 - Brandon Sanderson on Writing, Character and Place Names, and the Future
Brandon shares funny stories about character and place names gone wrong, his writing struggles, and what the future holds for his work. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 10, 2020
801 - How to Get Your 'Just Deserts.' Comma After 'But'? Why?
More people get the phrase "just deserts" wrong than get it right, but we're here to help! Also, why do some people put a comma after "but"? They shouldn't, but we have some theories about why they do. (But don't.) Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, December 03, 2020
800 - What Did You Step On? And Is That a Desert or a Dessert?
Here's why you can ignore zombie rules and why it's actually better to write "What did you step on?" than "On what did you step?" (But also when you can't ignore those rules!) Then, I have two great memory tricks to help you remember the spellings for "dessert" and "desert." They relate to camels and, well, food. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, November 26, 2020
799 - What 'Whence' Has to Do with 'Where Are You At?' 'Regime' or 'Regimen'?
Why the decline of 'whence' and 'whither' led to 'Where are you at?' And weird memory tricks to help you remember the difference between 'regime,' 'regimen,' and 'regiment.' (Don't say you weren't warned!) Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, November 19, 2020
798 - Why 'Hilarious' Is Funnier than 'Hysterical.' How to Start a Novel.
The root of "hysterical" may surprise you (and make you want to use "hilarious" instead). Also, things to remember when starting a novel. Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, November 12, 2020
797 - Why Dickens' Character Names Are So Revealing. 'Continual' or 'Continuous'?
What Dickens can teach you about choosing your characters' names. Plus, how to remember the frustratingly different meanings of "continuous" and "continual." Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, November 06, 2020
796 - What Is a 'Crony'? Why Doesnβt 'Veterans Day' Have an Apostrophe?
What Is a 'Crony'? Why Doesnβt 'Veterans Day' Have an Apostrophe? Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 29, 2020
795 - Why People Use Scare Quotes. 'Dialog' or 'Dialogue'?
We have some theories on why people write things such as "'fresh' meat." Plus, we dig in to the two spellings of "dialog" (or is that "dialogue"?). Read the transcript: Scare Quotes . 'Dialog' or 'Dialogue'? Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 22, 2020
794 - Create Characters as Great as Hamlet. How to Format Internal Dialogue
6 steps to help you create gripping characters. Plus, we talk about how to format internal dialogue: italics, quotation marks, or nothing? Read the transcript: Character Creation. Formatting Internal Dialogue. Reedsy Character Profile Template Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Grammar Pop iOS game. Peeve Wars card game. Grammar Girl books. HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 15, 2020
793 - Why Journalists Use Misspellings Like 'Lede' and 'Spox'
Journalists "bury the lede," not the "lead." But why do they spell it that way? And what do HTK, TK, and CQ stand for? From "hed" to "spox," here's all the journo jargon that's fit to print. Read the transcript: Lede Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 08, 2020
792 - A Totally, Like, Bitchin' Podcast About 'Like'
It's not lazy and it's not just filler, but using "like" too much can still get you in trouble. Read the transcript: Like Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, October 01, 2020
791 - 'Although' Versus 'While.' Why We Write with Cliches (and How to Stop)
What happens when I discover that my pet peeve is wrong? Also, why do we write with cliches? Should we stop, and if so, how? Read the transcript: Although . Cliches . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 24, 2020
790 - 'Laureate' Is Good. Why Is 'Resting on Your Laurels' Bad? 'Smarmy.'
If getting laurels is good, and being a Nobel laureate is good, how did we get to "resting on your laurels" being bad? Also, we learn that the word "smarmy" started as a joke (in fact, a kind of familect story). Read the transcript: Laurels . Smarmy . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 17, 2020
789 - How to Make Your Readers Laugh. 'Whoa' or 'Woah'?
Believe it or not, there are actually rules to being funny. Also, do you think "woah" is a separate word from "whoa"? Some people do, and they think it has a separate meaning. Read the transcript: Humor Writing . Whoa . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 10, 2020
788 - Why 'Out of Pocket' Means Both 'Inappropriate' and 'Unavailable'
People have been asking about the "unavailable" meaning of "out of pocket" for decades, but there's also an "inappropriate" meaning that is spreading. Read the transcript: Out of Pocket Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, September 03, 2020
787 - Why We Associate Political Parties with the Colors Red and Blue
Nick and Hannah explain "red" and "blue," the origin of "POTUS," why the Declaration of Independence is the greatest break-up letter ever written, and more. Read the transcript: The Interview Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 27, 2020
786 - 'Doomscrolling' (OK, Doomer). 'Each Other' or 'One Another'?
Whether you call it "doomscrolling" or "doomsurfing," it's not your fault that you feel compelled to do it. "Doom" has an interesting history though. Also, in honor of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," we talk about being excellent to each other (or should that be one another?). Read the transcripts: Doomscrolling . Each Other . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 20, 2020
785 - 'Gantlet' or 'Gauntlet'? Do You Want to Say 'Had Went'?
Have you been told to write "run the GANTLET"? Here's why you shouldn't. Also, editor Ben Yagoda explains why he's so tempted to use "had went" instead of "had gone." Read the transcripts: Gauntlet . Had Went . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag @GrammarGirl to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Grammar Pop iOS game. Peeve Wars card game. Grammar Girl books. HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 13, 2020
784 - A Historical Tip for Remembering When to Use 'Historical.' Put More Thought into Your Punctuation.
Kamala Harris's selection as Joe Biden's running mate is important, significant, and a number of firsts, but should we call it "historic" or "historical"? (Also, learn about the time a woman shook her fist at me.) Plus, Edwin Battistella has some great examples that show how small changes in punctuation can change the meaning and pacing of your work. Read the transcripts: Historic . Punctuation . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 06, 2020
783 - How Hurricanes Get Their Names. When You Should Avoid Using Contractions.
Isaias. Mitch. Andrew. Jimena. How hurricanes get their names, and why you'll see some names twice and others never again. Also, have you ever heard that you shouldn't use contractions in your writing? We have the real story. Read the transcripts: Hurricanes . Contractions . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 30, 2020
782 - What are those dots over letters? Why does 'money' have a plural, and how do you spell it?
What are those double dots over letters in English? Why does "money" have a plural, and how do you spell it? Read the transcripts: Diaeresis . 'Monies' or 'Moneys'? Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 23, 2020
781 - Blursday or Whensday? Middle Grade Versus Young Adult Fiction
Blursday is a popular word to use when you don't know what day of the week it is. It captures that disoriented feeling when everything is a blur. And our wonderful fiction editor Diana Pho is back with a comparison of middle grade and young adult fiction. You'll learn a lot! Read the transcripts: Blursday. Middle Grade Versus Young Adult Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 16, 2020
780 - Which Comes First? Who or Where?
We started to wonder about the question words in the phrase "Who does what and goes where when." Read the transcript . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 09, 2020
779 - How You Can Help the OED. Capitalizing 'Black.' How Playwriting Techniques Can Improve Your Writing.
Imagine the bragging rights: The OED needs your help antedating words. Why you should capitalize "Black." How playwriting techniques can improve your writing. Read the transcripts: OED . Black . Playwriting . OED Antedating Link: public.oed.com/appeals/oed-antedatings Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 02, 2020
778 - Do We Say 'Red Skies at Night, Sailor's Delight' Because of the Saharan Dust Plumes? Also, 'Yoiks!'
The Saharan dust plumes can make the sky red, but they aren't the source of the old saying "Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies in the morning, sailor take warning." That comes from clouds! Also, we talk about which came first: "yikes" or "yoiks." Read the transcripts: Red Skies . Yoiks . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 25, 2020
777 - How to Write Fight Scenes (and How to Get Started as a Fiction Editor)
Fiction editor Joshua Essoe gives his best tips for writing fight scenes (hint: it's not about the fighting). And he describes how he got his first editing gig, which has led to a solid career as a freelance fiction editor. Get Joshua's book, Essoe's Guides to Writing: Action Sequences . Read the transcript . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 18, 2020
776 - Why a Detective Searched for 'Clews' in a 1929 Novel. βSystemicβ or βSystematicβ?
Our writer was surprised when he came across "clew" instead of "clue" in a detective novel from 1929, and the explanation includes a great story about the origin of the word "clue." Also, people have been wondering about the difference between "systematic" and "systemic." They come from the same root, but have subtle differences in meaning. Don't get it wrong! Read the transcripts: βClueβ or βClewβ? βSystemicβ or βSystematicβ? Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 11, 2020
775 - Why We Talk About 'Bad Apples.' 'A Few' Versus 'a Couple'
We started to wonder why people seem to forget the second half of the saying about bad apples. Plus, we settle a dispute about the difference between "a couple" and "a few." Read the transcripts: Bad Apples . A Couple and a Few . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 04, 2020
774 - Roy Peter Clark on Civic Clarity
Roy Peter Clark has been teaching writing at the Poynter Institute since 1977 and regularly offers up some of the best writing advice I see. Today, we talked about Writing differently during the pandemic Living up to your duty as a writer to achieve civic clarity Creating his new book, " Murder Your Darlings " Learning that one of his best writing tips (which he shares) is as old as Roman times Being a putter-inner instead of a taker-outter Read the transcript: Roy Peter Clark interview . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 28, 2020
773 - Postal Zones. Reenter. Bougie.
How postal zones led to ZIP codes. Why I like to put a hyphen in "re-enter." How "bougie," which today has a negative connotation, came from an older word that meant simply "middle class." Read the transcripts: ZIP Codes . Re-enter . Bougie . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 21, 2020
772 - The History of ZIP Codes and Addresses (Plus How to Write Them)
If you've ever wondered how to capitalize 'ZIP Code' (or is that 'ZIP code' or 'zip code'?), this one is for you. Plus, I have an interview with Deirdre Mask about this history and importance of addresses in general. It's fascinating! Read the transcripts: ZIP Codes . Deirdre Mask Interview . Links mentioned in the podcast: ESRI Tapestry . Missing Maps . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 14, 2020
771 - Writing Lessons from Bad Job Applications
Our guest, Lindsay McMahon of the All Ears English podcast, recently hired and now shares the lessons she learned going through a lot of bad rΓ©sumΓ©s and cover letters. Read the transcripts: Dos and Don'ts for Job Applications . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 07, 2020
770 - 'Muslim' or 'Moslem'? 'Fishfolk'? 'Fishist'? What Is the Gender-Neutral Term for 'Fisherman'?
Why do we use the new spelling "Muslim" and not the older spelling "Moslem" anymore? Also, we talk about AP Stylebook updates and end up on a fun tangent about a gender-neutral term for "fisherman." Read the transcripts: Muslim . AP Style Update s. Fisherman . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 30, 2020
769 - Why Do We Say 'Cool Your Heels'? What's Up With 'Zhuzh'?
Here's why we say "cool your heels" and "cool your jets"βthey're different! Also, we take a close look at the word "zhuzh" which means to make something more interesting or attractive. You may have never seen it spelled before, and there's a reason. Read the transcripts: Cool Your Heels . Zhuzh . Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcast. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 23, 2020
768 - Why Aren't We 'Whelmed'? And Cabin 'Fever,' Anyone?
We know we can be overwhelmed. Why aren't we ever just whelmed? Also, maybe it was having cabin fever that made us start thinking about all the English idioms that use the word "fever." Read the transcripts: Whelmed . Fever Idioms . Nina Simone video of " Rags and Old Iron ." Leave a review on Grammar Girl's Podchaser profile before April 30, 2020, to benefit Meals on Wheels. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 16, 2020
767 - The semicolon is so much more interesting than you imagine
From 19th century grammatical duels to modern day suicide prevention campaigns, the semicolon has a long history of inspiring strong emotions. Read the transcript. The Semicolon Profile of Lindley Murray Leave a review on Grammar Girl's Podchaser profile before April 30, 2020, to benefit Meals on Wheels. Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 09, 2020
766 - 'Flaunt' and 'Flout.' 'Band Together.'
The word "flaunt" and "flute" are strangely related (flue of shame, anyone?), but don't use either of them to mean "flout." Read the transcripts. 'Flout' and 'Flaunt.' ' Band Together. ' Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 02, 2020
765 - Say No to Marshall Law. How 'Vaccine' Is Related to 'Cow.'
Why you could be forgiven for (briefly) getting excited about "Marshall Law." Plus, the word "vaccine" is related to cows. That's a surprise! Read the transcripts. Martial Law . Vaccine and Vaccination . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 26, 2020
764 - Skeleton Crew. Hunker Down. Uncharted. Existential.
Times are terrible, but no matter what is happening, we will always have interesting words and phrases to explore. Read the transcripts. Skeleton Crew . Hunker Down . Uncharted . Existential . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course . Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 19, 2020
763 - How to Write Better Email. 'Pandemic' vs. 'Epidemic.' 'Canceled' vs. 'Cancelled.'
Are you writing more email? We have seven ways to do it better. Also, we'll help you understand the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic and when you should use "canceled" versus "cancelled." Read the transcripts. Email . Pandemic . Canceled . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 12, 2020
762 - How to Pronounce 'Celtic.' 'Whiskey' or 'Whisky'?
Sports fans say "Seltik." Historians say "Keltik." Here's the deal. Plus, have you ever noticed that Irish whiskey and Scottish whisky are spelled differently? Read the transcripts. Celtic . Whiskey . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Grammar Pop iOS game . Peeve Wars card game . Grammar Girl books . HOST: Mignon Fogarty VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe http://twitter.com/grammargirl http://facebook.com/grammargirl http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 05, 2020
761 - Why It's Called 'Daylight Saving Time.' The Origin of the Word 'Woman.'
We're moving our clocks forward this weekend, but do you know why we call it "daylight saving time"? Plus, I have some other time-related tips. Finally, in honor of International Women's Day, we look at the surprising origin of the words "woman" and "queen." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Earnest: http://earnest.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, February 27, 2020
760 - What Is Genre. 'Bangs' Versus 'Fringe.'
How to figure out which genre you love or how to describe the book you're writing so the publishing industry will understand where it fits. Also, we explain how Americans came to call fringe "bangs." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, February 20, 2020
759 - What Does βMardi Grasβ Mean? "Drive to Work" Versus "Drive Home"
Itβs the end of February, which means Mardi Gras is almost here! When we think of Mardi Gras, we picture parties, parades, and beads. But did you ever wonder what βMardi Grasβ means? Also, we answer a questions about why we need the "to" in "drive to work" but not in "drive home." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, February 13, 2020
758 - Why 'XOXO' Means 'Hugs and Kisses'
You may write "XOXO" to means "hugs and kisses," but do you know how those symbols get their meaning? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Earnest: http://earnest.com/grammar | Modern Mentor podcast: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, February 06, 2020
757 - The days of the week are names you've known your whole life, but do you know their origin?
Saturday and Tuesday come from different places. The days of the week are names you've known your whole life, but have you ever wondered about their origin? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | http://helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com | Modern Mentor podcast from QDT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, January 30, 2020
756 - High Odds or Low Odds?
In this Super-Bowl-themed episode, we learn why "high odds" and "low odds" are confusing, we learn why you want a disinterested referee, and in honor of the Puppy Bowl, we learn when to capitalize breed names. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Earnest: http://earnest.com/grammar GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, January 23, 2020
755 - How to Write Anything
Develop this one skill and you'll write better essays, profiles, movie reviews, complaint letters, and more. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, January 16, 2020
754 - The Tie Between Ann Landers and 'Could Care Less.'
Language experts actually have theories about why people say they "could care less" (instead of they "couldn't care less"). We dig deep to find the root of the problem. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, January 09, 2020
753 - Take Heart! Here's Why You Still Have Time to Write Your First Novel
In this interview, I talk with Bourne Morris about starting a writing career after you've retired. Bourne had one amazing career running a large advertising agency, a second as a journalism professor, and is now the author of four novels including her newest, "A Woman of Two Minds." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, January 02, 2020
752 - Why Do Asian Languages Have So Many Different Scripts?
You donβt have to learn a new script when you learn Norwegian, Czech, or Portuguese, let alone French, so why does every East Asian language require you to learn a new script? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, December 26, 2019
751 - Why Are There So Many Spellings for 'Hanukkah'? (Or Is That 'Chanukah'?)
Hebrew and English don't use the same alphabet, which is why you see so many different spellings for "Hanukkah." The word is transliterated from Hebrew instead of being directly translated from Hebrew. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, December 19, 2019
750 - Pitch Black. Frankincense and Myrrh.
The sky is so dark in the Northern Hemisphere these days that it feels pitch black by 5:00 PM. Here's why call it "pitch black." Also, we know what gold is, but why did the three wise men give gifts of frankincense and myrrh? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code: GRAMMAR | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, December 16, 2019
749 - How to Identify Your Main Point. It's Harder Than You Think!
You think you know what you're trying to say, but are you making it clear? Joel Schwartzberg, author of "Get to the Point" has some great tips for, well, getting to the point. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, December 12, 2019
748 - Your Language Affects Your Perception of Time. 'Star Wars' Languages.
Do you think of the future as being in front of you or behind you? It might depend on what language you speak. Also, we explore the many languages of 'Star Wars.' LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Waterpik: https://waterpik.com/grammar Code: GRAMMAR | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code: GRAMMAR | Teach for America: https://teachforamerica.org/grammargirl | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, December 09, 2019
747 - You Don't Have to Get Up on Stage for Improv to Boost Your Creativity
Are you looking for a way to jumpstart your creativity and writing? You may be surprised to find out how much techniques from improv can help! You'll love this interview with Jorjeana Marie, the author of "Improv for Writers." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar code: GRAMMAR | Bombas: https://bombas.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, December 05, 2019
746 - How to Make Family Names Plural. How Come We Ask 'How Come?'
Making last names plural? Addressing more than one sister-in-law? More than one Mister? We show you how to address them properly. Also, we investigate why we sometimes ask "How come?" instead of "Why?" LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code: GRAMMAR | Teach for America: https://TeachForAmerica.org/grammargirl | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, December 02, 2019
745 - 'More Than' Versus 'Over.' Is a Hamburger a Sandwich?
The AP Stylebook changed its stance on using "over" to mean "more than." Plenty of people were shocked, but they shouldn't have been. And then we debate the linguistics of whether a hamburger is a sandwich. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Waterpik: https://waterpik.com/grammar Code: GRAMMAR | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code: GRAMMAR | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, November 28, 2019
744 - Cold Turkey, Talk Turkey, and More. The Weird Origin of the Cornucopia.
Have you ever wondered what cold turkey has to do with quitting a habit? We have the answer to that and we look at other turkey idioms. And continuing the Thanksgiving theme, we also explore the weird origin of the cornucopia. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Teach for America: https://teachforamerica.org/grammargirl | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar code:GRAMMAR | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, November 25, 2019
743 - How to Get Your Characters Right (Especially When They Aren't Like You)
In this interview, Diana Pho, a two-time Hugo nominated editor with Tor.com Publishing, helped me understand the role of sensitivity readers and how to write a diverse cast of characters without completely screwing it up. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Earnest: https://earnest.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, November 21, 2019
742 - Famous Quotations. Silent Letters.
You may think that quotation you love came from Plato or G. K. Chesterton, but are you sure? Also, we look at why it's tricky to to figure out why a letter is silent in certain words. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Ways to get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code:GRAMMAR| Canvas People: Text GRAMMAR to 64-000 | Proactiv: https://proactiv.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, November 18, 2019
741 - Behind the Scenes in Publishing.
If you're interested in publishing a YA novel (or are just interested in how publishing works), this interview with Kat Brzozowski about Swoon Reads and what happens behind the scenes is for you. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Capterra: https://capterra.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Fri, November 15, 2019
740 - Do You Know When to Use Quotation Marks? Also, How to Create a House Style.
Do you know when to use quotation marks? How about single quotation marks? Also, you know about the major style guides (AP, Chicago, etc.), but do you also have your own house style guide? Here's why you should! LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar code: GRAMMAR | Native: https://nativedeodorant.com code: GG | Waterpik: https://waterpik.com/grammar code: GRAMMAR | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, November 11, 2019
739 - The Problem with Sarcasm. Filthy Lucre.
People have been trying to create sarcasm punctuation marks for years, but the solution is already in our hands. Plus, have you ever wondered why we call money "filthy lucre"? We did! LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code:GRAMMAR | Bombas: https://bombas.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, November 07, 2019
738 - Can a Boy Raised by Wolves Learn to Speak Human Language? It Depends.
The story of Victor of Aveyron, a boy who was raised by wolves and taught us about language. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code:GRAMMAR | Bombas: https://bombas.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, November 04, 2019
737 - Curtis Chen: Using NaNoWriMo to Kickstart Your Novel
How you can use NaNoWriMo to jumpstart your fiction writing. Plus, more extreme measures to move your writing forward...if you're up for it. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Waterpik: https://waterpik.com/grammar Code: GRAMMAR | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, October 31, 2019
736 - Ghastly Words for Ghosts. Quid pro Quo.
In honor of Halloween, we look at ghastly words for ghosts. Also, people have been asking how to properly use the phrase "quid pro quo," so we have the answer. (Do you know the plural?) LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Hallmark: https://hallmark.com/grammar Code:GRAMMAR | Knowing: Robin Williams podcast: https://us.macmillan.com/podcasts/podcast/knowing/ | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, October 28, 2019
735 - Dave Itzkoff on Writing a Biography of Robin Williams
LINKS AND SPONSORS | Ways to get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Capterra: https://capterra.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, October 24, 2019
734 - Ghost Words
In honor of Halloween, we talk about ghost words such as "phantomnation," "gravy," "twill," and more. Words that shouldn't exist. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Bona: https://bona.com/grammar | Masterclass: https://masterclass.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, October 21, 2019
733 - Why People Hate Words Like 'Moist'
When people have a negative physical reaction to a specific word, it's called word aversion (not misophonia as some people mistakenly presume). "Moist," "pustule," and "panties" are just a few of the words that come up over and over. In this episode, I talk with a psychologist to see what we know about these kinds of feelings. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Earnest: https://earnest.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, October 17, 2019
732 - How to Write a Conclusion. βRebutβ or βRefuteβ?
Writing a conclusion can be the hardest part of writing an essay. We have help! Also, a listener asked me to explain the difference between "rebut" and "refute." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Purple: Text GRAMMAR to 84888 | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, October 14, 2019
731 - Compound Possession. 'Friday' or 'On Friday'?
In this show, we answer two listener questions: 1. Should you write about "Bill and Ted's trip" or "Bill's and Ted's trip"? 2. Should you say you'll listen "Tuesday" or "on Tuesday"? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Passenger List Podcast: https://passengerlist.org | Masterclass: https://masterclass.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, October 10, 2019
730 - Turning a Podcast into a Novel: 'The Bright Sessions' to 'The Infinite Noise'
Lauren Shippen, the creator of one of my new favorite audio dramas, "The Bright Sessions," talks about turning a podcast into a novel and about going from working alone to working on multiple projects and managing whole teams. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Bona: https://bona.com/grammar | Capterra: https://capterra.com/grammar | Native: https://nativedeodorant.com Promo Code:GG | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, October 07, 2019
729 - Making Words That End in Y Plural.'Primer' Pronunciation.
If you've ever wondered why "primer" is sometimes pronounced "primmer," this show is for you! We also talk about why you make words that end in Y plural in different ways. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Bombas: https://bombas.com/grammar | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, October 03, 2019
728 - How English Words Came Into French After World War II
French authorities tried to keep English out of their language, but βtank,β βbulldozer,β and βjeepβ got the ball rolling, and it kept going from there. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT | Earnest: https://earnest.com/grammar | Purple Mattress: Text GRAMMAR to 84888 | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, September 30, 2019
727 - The Quirky Australian 'Crime' Tense. 'Hopefully.'
A listener asked why Australians use the present perfect tense in a way you won't hear in British or American English. You'll often hear it in crime reports or on the radio. Also, we look at a slightly controversial use of the word "hopefully." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Proactiv: https://proactiv.com/grammar | Bartleby Writer: https://bartleby.com/write/grammargirl | GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, September 26, 2019
726 - A Cup of Joe. βSmokeyβ and βSmoky.β
In honor of National Coffee Day, we talk about the origin of coffee and all its nicknames. Plus, I'll help you remember the difference between "smoky" and "smokey" with a little help from Smokey Bear. LINKS AND SPONSORS | TED Talks Daily: https://www.ted.com/about/programs-initiatives/ted-talks/ted-talks-audio | Bona: https://bona.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, September 23, 2019
725 - Interviewing, Story Structure, and Writing Tools with Jonathan Small
If you've ever been nervous before interviewing someone, struggled to write a good lede, or just want to get some tips on handy tools for writers, this interview with Jonathan Small is for you. LINKS AND SPONSORS | TED Talks Daily: https://www.ted.com/about/programs-initiatives/ted-talks/ted-talks-audio | Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/grammar | Embark: https://embarkvet.com promo code: GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, September 19, 2019
724 - Why Esperanto Is an Amazing Language. 'Fall' or 'Autumn'?
Created on purpose and easy to learn, Esperanto will amaze you. Once you learn the origin of "fall," you'll look at trees in a whole new way. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Bona: http:/bona.com/grammar | Masterclass: http://masterclass.com/grammar| Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, September 16, 2019
723 - Grammar Girl #723. Tips for Fact Checking. Why We Use the Term 'Watershed Moment.'
Learn from our fact checking tips that come from years of experience. Also, we answer a listener question about why we call something a "watershed moment." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Merrill Financial Advisor Development Program: http:/careers.bankofamerica.com | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, September 12, 2019
722 - 'Math' or 'Maths'? Irregular Verbs.
Have you ever wondered why the British say "maths" and "in hospital" and Americans say "math" and "in the hospital"? We have some answers. Also, we look at why the most common verbs tend to be irregular. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Native: http://nativedeodorant.com code: GG | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, September 09, 2019
721 - Verbing Nouns. 'It Is I' or 'It Is Me'?
Alan wonders what to think about his co-workers "solutioning" problems. Also, we investigate whether you should tell people "It is I" or "It is me." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Merrill Financial Advisor Development Program: http:/careers.bankofamerica.com | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, September 05, 2019
720 - Getting Your Tricky Conditionals Right. Wheelhouse.
We think there are better ways to talk about conditionals (such as "If Squiggly knew the answer...") than to use the vague terms first, second, and third conditionals. Also we look at why people talk about things being "in their wheelhouse." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Bombas: http:/bombas.com/grammar | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Blinkist: http://blinkist.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, September 02, 2019
719 - Why 'Literally' Doesn't Mean 'Literally' Anymore. Video Games for Language Learning.
If you hate how people misuse words like "literally" and "awesome," at least you can learn that there's a name for that kind of misuse: semantic bleaching. Also, have you ever considered using World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV to learn a language? Research says maybe you should! LINKS AND SPONSORS | Merrill Financial Advisor Development Program: http:/careers.bankofamerica.com | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Embark: http://embarkvet.com code: GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, August 29, 2019
718 - Writing Scripts and Speeches. Ask and Aks.
Writing for speech is different from writing for print. The "aks" pronunciation for "ask" has a nearly 1000-year history. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Babbel: http://babbel.com | Blinkist: http://blinkist.com/grammar Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, August 26, 2019
717 - Words that Sound Funny
Use these tricks to get a laugh. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Merrill Financial Advisor Development Program: http:/careers.bankofamerica.com | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Proactiv: http://proactiv.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Fri, August 23, 2019
716 - What's Up With Words That Are Spelled the Same but Sound Different?
SUS-pect and sus-PECT. IN-valid and in-VALID. English is filled with words that are spelled the same but sound different. We dug in and found a few interesting reasons. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Bank of America.: http://careers.bankofamerica.com | Babbel: http://babbel.com | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, August 19, 2019
715 - POV. Plus 'Tinderella,' 'phubbing,' and more words at the intersection of relationships and technology.
We rock. You rock. They rock. Understanding point of view in fiction. "Tinderella," "phubbing," and more words at the intersection of relationships and technology. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Merrill Financial Advisor Development Program: http:/careers.bankofamerica.com | True & Co.: http://trueandco.com/grammar code: GRAMMAR | Magoosh Test Prep: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Fri, August 16, 2019
714 - Eponyms: Cardigan, Dunce, Quisling, and More.
Some words get their names from people, and when they do, the stories are usually fascinating. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | True & Co.: http://trueandco.com/grammar code: GRAMMAR | Babbel: http://babbel.com | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, August 12, 2019
713 - More Apostrophe Mayhem. Dyslexia Writing Tips
One of the most common questions I get is how to make a word like "Kansas" possessive. There isn't a right or wrong answer, but I can help you decide which is best for you. Also, we have tips on how to make your work easier to read for people with dyslexia. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code:GRAMMAR | Bank of America: http://careers.bankofamerica.com | Relationship Doctor Podcast | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, August 08, 2019
712 - Apostrophe Catastrophe. What (or Who) Is a Cipher?
It's not your fault apostrophes are confusing. We have help. Also, I called someone a "cipher," and my husband didn't know what that meant. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR | True & Co.: http://trueandco.com/grammar code: GRAMMAR | Native: http://nativedeodorant.com code: GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, August 05, 2019
711 - Misheard Song Lyrics and Eggcorns. The Ampersand.
When you mishear song lyrics, the resulting (often funny) error is called a mondegreen. We have the story about why and the run-down on similar funny errors. Also, did you know the ampersand used to be the last "letter" in the alphabet? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code:GRAMMAR | Blinkist: http://blinkist.com/grammar | Bombas: http://bombas.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | PEEVE WARS CARD GAME | https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, August 01, 2019
710 - Vacay. Why Some People Call Green Peppers 'Mangoes'
It's time to take off, and we have 10 words to describe it. Also, we dig in to an interesting mystery: Why some people call green peppers "mangoes." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code:GRAMMAR | Audible: http://audible.com/GG or text GG to 500-500 | Proactiv: http://proactiv.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, July 29, 2019
709 - Surprise! The History of Semicolons Is Exciting.
I talked with Cecelia Watson, author of the new book "Semicolon" about how grammar writers in the 1800s became fabulously wealthy, struggled to create rules, and had vicious arguments; and we talked about how researching the book changed her approach to teaching writing and a whole bunch more. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Bank of America: http://careers.bankofamerica.com | Blinkist: http://trueandco/grammar code: GRAMMAR | Babbel: http://babbel.com | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, July 25, 2019
708 - Why Alcohol Is 'Hard.' 'Phenomena' or 'Phenomenon'?
A listener asked why we call some kinds of alcohol hard drinks and spirits, so we found the answer! Also, I'll help you remember the difference between "phenomenon" and "phenomena." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code:GRAMMAR | Blinkist: http://blinkist.com/grammar | Babbel: http://babbel.com | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, July 22, 2019
707 - How and Why the Internet Is Changing Language
Gretchen McCulloch studies how people use language on the internet, and today we talked about her new book, "Because Internet." I bet you'll recognize yourself or your friends in her insights. I did! LINKS AND SPONSORS | Embark: http://embarkvet.com promo code: GRAMMAR | Babbel: http://babbel.com | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, July 18, 2019
706 - Sometimes It's Not a Bad Idea to Dumb Down Your Language.
Why sometimes it's not a bad idea to dumb down your language. LINKS AND SPONSORS | True & Co: http://trueandco.com/grammar code:GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Tue, July 16, 2019
705 - 'Blue Collar,' 'Bluestocking,' and 'the Blue Hair Brigade.' 'Oral' Versus 'Verbal.'
We talk about the origins of the phrases "blue collar," "bluestocking," and "blue hair," and discuss whether you should follow a rule you may not have even heard before: Don't use "verbal" to mean "spoken." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Blinkist: http://blinkist.com/grammar Native: http://nativedeodorant.com code:GRAMMAR | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/APStyle2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, July 11, 2019
704 - Present Tense When Writing About Fiction. The Poop Emoji and Eggcorns.
If you're writing about fiction, especially time-shifting fiction, it can be tricky figuring out whether to use present tense or past tense. We have help! Also, I answer a listener question about a funny mix up about the poop emoji. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Cove: http://withcove.com/gg | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar | http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, July 08, 2019
703 - Why There Are 9 Different Ways to Pronounce the Letter T
We count nine different allophones of the letter T. Odds are good you'll recognize them all (and some of them may annoy you). LINKS AND SPONSORS | Babbel: http://babbel.com/grammar | True & Co: http://trueandco.com/grammar CODE: GRAMMAR | Bombas: http://bombas.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar | http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, July 04, 2019
702 - βAll of a Suddenβ or βAll of the Suddenβ? βBaitedβ or βBatedβ Breath?
I had a listener insist the wrong way of saying "suddenly" was right, so I had to look into it. Also, I'll help you spell "bated breath" properly (and explain why it looks so weird). LINKS AND SPONSORS | Babbel: http://babbel.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, July 01, 2019
701 - βBiweeklyβ or βSemiweeklyβ? βFoward' and βForward.β
Today I have a Quick and Dirty Tip about the difference between βbiweeklyβ and βsemiweekly,β and I respond to a listener question about why I pronounce βforwardβ without the R. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Babbel: http://babbel.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, June 27, 2019
700 - When to Capitalize 'Google.' Why Zero is 'Love' in Tennis.
Today I answer a listener question about how to write "Google" when you use it as a verb, and we talk about the strange scoring system in tennis. Wimbledon is upon us! LINKS AND SPONSORS | Blinkist: http://blinkist.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, June 24, 2019
699 - When to Capitalize Computer Terms. StetWalk
Today I answer listener questions about how to write about a Word document, a PDF file, or a zip file. And learn how to play along with #StetWalk! LINKS AND SPONSORS | Stitcher App: http://stitcherapp.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, June 20, 2019
698 - 'Subpoena.' When To Capitalize 'The' in Titles.
I could never remember how to spell "subpoena" until I came up with a memory trick! Also, we go over the tricky cases of when to capitalize the word "the" in titles such as The New York Times and The Chicago Manual of Style. Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don't. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, June 17, 2019
697 - What Anyone Can Learn From the College Essay Process
Even if you're not applying to college right now, the format of the college essay has a lot to teach about writing and self-reflection. A college essay can be an exploratory journey that ends up being about much more than getting into college. College Essay Guy, Ethan Sawyer, talks about how he helps students find their story. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Stitcher App: http://stitcherapp.com/grammar | True and Co.: http://trueandco.com/grammar | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, June 13, 2019
696 - Hyphens in Ages. The Emphatic 'This.'
We talk about when to use (and not use) hyphens in ages, and when it's OK to say, "I listen to THIS podcast that covers language" instead of "I listen to A podcast that covers language." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Start With This: http://startwiththispodcast.com | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Mon, June 10, 2019
695 - 'Armageddon' or 'Apocalypse'? Numbers in Dialogue.
Watching the new show "Good Omens," we started wondering about the difference between Armageddon and the apocalypse. Also after helping a friend with an editing dispute about numbers in dialogue, we wanted to pass on some advice about style guides and editing. LINKS AND SPONSORS | True and Co: http://trueandco.com/grammar CODE: GRAMMAR | Aspiration App | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Thu, June 06, 2019
694 - Country Names and βTheβ: The Ukraine or Ukraine. Theater Idioms.
You used to hear people say "the Ukraine," but now it's just "Ukraine." We know why! Plus, in honor of the Tony Awards, we talk about idioms from the theater. LINKS AND SPONSORS | How to Be Yourself Book: http://bit.ly/beyourselfgrammar | Bombas: https://bombas.com/grammar | Campfire Pro: http://campfiretechnology CODE: QUICKNDIRTY | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Tue, June 04, 2019
693 - What's Wrong with Saying Something Is 'Very Unique'?
What's wrong with saying something is "very unique"? Plus, autological words like "longer." LINKS AND SPONSORS | Family Ghosts Podcast: https://familyghostspodcast.com/ | Audible: https://audible.com/GG or text GG to 500-500 | Aspiration App Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, May 30, 2019
692 - Godzilla, Cryptids, and Dilemma Comments.
Merriam-Webster added the word βcryptidβ to its dictionary, and βGodzilla: King of the Monstersβ is hitting theaters, so it seemed like a good time to talk about a few monster words and to answer an important question: Is Godzilla a cryptid? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Feminist Folklore Podcast: https://www.feministfolklore.com/ | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, May 27, 2019
691 - BONUS: Introducing Science Rules! with Bill Nye
Bill Nye is on a mission to change the worldβone phone call at a time. On his new podcast, Science Rules!, he tackles the curliest questions on just about anything in the universe. Perhaps youβve wondered: Should I stop eating cheeseburgers to combat climate change? How often should I really be washing my pillowcase? Can I harvest energy from all those static-electricity shocks I get in the winter? Science Rules! is out NOWβfind it in your favorite podcast app.
Thu, May 23, 2019
690 - The Spelling Bee Kids
The author of "Beeline" reveals where those funny example sentences come from in the spelling bee and what the success of young spellers can tell us about Generation Z. LINKS AND SPONSORS | Grammar Girl Email Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, May 20, 2019
689 - More or most? Majority or plurality? The many (how many?) ways to describe amounts.
How many do you need for a "majority." When "a couple" isn't two. And more.
Thu, May 16, 2019
688 - Dangling Participles
What are participles and why do they dangle? LINKS AND SPONSORS | Graduation Sweepstakes: http://bit.ly/qdtlifeaftercollege | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, May 13, 2019
687 - What It's Like to Be a Book Editor and Translator
Palgrave Macmillan executive editor Elisabeth Dyssegaard is from Denmark and also works as a translator. LINKS AND SPONSORS | http://bombas.com/grammar | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, May 09, 2019
686 - The 'Dilemma' Dilemma. 'Big Bang Theory" Words and Language.
The 'Dilemma' Dilemma. 'Big Bang Theory" Words and Language. LINKS AND SPONSORS | http://stamps.com Code:GRAMMAR | http://startwiththispodcast.com | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, May 06, 2019
685 - How to Find Work as a Freelance Writer. Adventure.
Tips for new graduates or anyone who is trying to get started as a freelance writer. Plus, the adventurous origin of the word "adventure." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: http://bit.ly/YoutubeGrammar | Twitter: http://bit.ly/TwitterGrammarGirl | Facebook: http://bit.ly/FacebookGrammarGirl | Pinterest: http://bit.ly/PinterestGrammarGirl | Instagram: http://bit.ly/InstagramGrammar | LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/LinkedInGrammar | LINKS AND SPONSORS | http://bit.ly/AspirationGrammar http://gs.columbia.edu/podcast Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, May 02, 2019
684 - βUnquoteβ or βEnd Quoteβ? Cinco de Mayo. Horse Idioms.
Today we have a couple of fun, timely segments (Cinco de Mayo! The Kentucky Derby!) and we answer a listener question about whether Grammar Girl is misspeaking. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: http://bit.ly/YoutubeGrammar | Twitter: http://bit.ly/TwitterGrammarGirl | Facebook: http://bit.ly/FacebookGrammarGirl | Pinterest: http://bit.ly/PinterestGrammarGirl | Instagram: http://bit.ly/InstagramGrammar | LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/LinkedInGrammar | LINKS AND SPONSORS | http://bit.ly/AspirationGrammar Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, April 29, 2019
683 - βSoβ and βSo Thatβ: What Type of Conjunction Are They?
βSoβ and βSo Thatβ: Coordinating or Subordinating Conjunction? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: http://bit.ly/YoutubeGrammar | Twitter: http://bit.ly/TwitterGrammarGirl | Facebook: http://bit.ly/FacebookGrammarGirl | Pinterest: http://bit.ly/PinterestGrammarGirl | Instagram: http://bit.ly/InstagramGrammar | LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/LinkedInGrammar | LINKS AND SPONSORS | Before Breakfast podcast http://bit.ly/AspirationGrammar Door Dash App (use the code GRAMMAR for $5 off) Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, April 25, 2019
682 - Do You Drop Your T's? 'Sneaked' and 'Snuck.'
Young women are leading language change again! This time, it's dropping T's in words like "Vermont" and "important." Also, we look at how "snuck" is sneaking up on "sneaked." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: http://bit.ly/YoutubeGrammar | Twitter: http://bit.ly/TwitterGrammarGirl | Facebook: http://bit.ly/FacebookGrammarGirl | Pinterest: http://bit.ly/PinterestGrammarGirl | Instagram: http://bit.ly/InstagramGrammar | LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/LinkedInGrammar | LINKS AND SPONSORS | Bona: http://bit.ly/BonaGrammar | Capterra: http://bit.ly/CapterraGrammar | Aspiration: http://bit.ly/AspirationGrammar | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarWebinar2019 | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, April 22, 2019
681 - 'The Dictionary of Difficult Words,' an Interview with Jane Solomon
Doppelganger, estival, and funambulist. Jane Solomon shares the story behind her new book, "The Dictionary of Difficult Words." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl |Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS | Song Salad Podcast | http://calm.com/grammar | Aspiration App | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: https://www.ragan.com/rd/Z19TC02-MACMIL | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, April 18, 2019
680 - Wakandan, Groot, and Other Languages of the Marvel Universe. Easter and Passover.
Wakandan, Groot, and more. The movies in the Marvel universe are filled with interesting real and made-up languages. Plus, did you know Easter and Passover are linguistically related? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS | http://bona.com/grammar | http://stamps.com code:GRAMMAR | Aspiration App | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: https://www.ragan.com/rd/Z19TC02-MACMIL | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, April 15, 2019
679 - Brussels sprouts? Scotch eggs? Swedish meatballs? Which food names can you trust?
Some foods really do come from a certain city or region, others have names that are tied to the location but not in the way you think, and some are outright fakers. We get to the bottom of Brussels sprouts, Scotch eggs, Swedish meatballs, French dressing, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS | Before Breakfast Podcast | Aspiration App | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: https://www.ragan.com/rd/Z19TC02-MACMIL | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, April 11, 2019
678 - Moolah, Clams, and Scratch. God, Godsend, and Godfather.
Paying our taxes made us think about slang words for money, and all the upcoming religious holidays made us wonder which "god" words to capitalize. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS | Aspiration App DoorDash App. Code: GRAMMAR http://grammar.robinhood.com Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: https://www.ragan.com/rd/Z19TC02-MACMIL | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, April 04, 2019
676 - The Language of 'Game of Thrones'
Thereβs so much excitement about the 'Game of Thrones' finale that we just had to include a segment about on it this weekβs show. Not just because we love dragons and swordsβwe do! β but because a core part of the series has been the languages the characters speak. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS | Grammar Girl's AP style webinar: https://www.ragan.com/rd/Z19TC02-MACMIL | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, April 01, 2019
675 - Why Verbs Like 'Witness' Are Weird
A listener asked why a sentence using the verb "witness" sounded weird, and we found a surprising answer. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS | LaVar Burton Reads http://www.levarburtonpodcast.com/ | Calm http://calm.com/grammar | INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET | https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/sites/default/files/IPA_Kiel_2015.pdf | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, March 28, 2019
674 - How You Can Benefit Year-Round from NaNoWriMo
Grant Faulkner's organization has worked with hundreds of thousands of writers, and he has some advice for you. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS | http://campnanowrimo.org | https://gastropod.com/ | INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET | https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/sites/default/files/IPA_Kiel_2015.pdf | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, March 25, 2019
673 - Schwa-ify This! Scrabble Stories
A scene from "The Princess Bride" will help you understand the schwa. Plus, how one Scrabble tournament got out of hand. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS http://capterra.com/grammar | INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/sites/default/files/IPA_Kiel_2015.pdf | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, March 21, 2019
672 - How a Semicolon Brought Two Writers Together
Jennifer Miller and Jason Feifer, authors of "Mr. Nice Guy," talk about how the semicolon brought them together, how they wrangle working as a writing team, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | LINKS AND SPONSORS http://stamps.com (click the microphone and type in GRAMMAR) | http:// bona.com/grammar | Peeve Wars: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, March 18, 2019
671 - Why We Have Both 'Color' and 'Colour'
British versus American spelling. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | SPONSORS AND LINKS | http://bona.com/grammar | http://grammar.robinhood.com | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, March 14, 2019
670 - Equinox. Is Irish the Same as Gaelic?
What Is the Equinox? Is Irish the Same as Gaelic? | FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl | Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl | Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl | Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl | Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl | SPONSORS AND LINKS | http://bona.com/grammar | http://grammar.robinhood.com | GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME | Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad | For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop | GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS | http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page | GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, March 11, 2019
669 - 'Red Tape,' 'Red Herring,' 'Paint the Town Red,' and More 'Red' Idioms.
This week, we investigate the origin of "red tape" and other "red" idioms. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS http://calm.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, March 07, 2019
668 - What's Wrong with 'These Ones'? Faith and Begorrah, We Have Irish Phrases for St. Patrick's Day!
Faith and begorrah, we have Irish phrases for St. Patrick's Day! Plus, a listener asks whether it's wrong to say "these ones" and "those ones." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS ThirdLove: http://thirdlove.com/grammar (for 15% off your first order) Enter the 300 Million Download Contest: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/grammargirlcontest3002019/ GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, March 04, 2019
667 - Why ducks say "quack-quack" in English but "ga-ga" in Japanese.
FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, February 28, 2019
666 - Double Negatives.
In this week's Grammar Girl podcast, we talk about why double negatives aren't always wrong. You just need to be careful with them. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS Enter the 300 Million Download Contest: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/grammargirlcontest3002019/ GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, February 25, 2019
665 - Language News Chat
Mignon and Neal talk about language influencing memory, OFOM, university language programs, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS Enter the 300 Million Download Contest: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/grammargirlcontest3002019/ Bombas: http://bombas.com/grammar (for 20% off your first purchase) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, February 21, 2019
664 - Benjamin Dreyer and His Unusual Pet Peeves
New York Times bestselling author Benjamin Dreyer talks about his pet peeves, how he found his voice, why his book largely ignores AP style, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS Capterra: http://capterra.com/grammar Native: http://nativedeodorant.com code GRAMMAR AP Style Webinar: http://ow.ly/1Z7030nuTU0 Grammar Girl Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/grammargirlsurvey GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, February 18, 2019
663 - D-Day. Why I Want a Salad-Salad.
What does the "D" in "D-Day" mean? What makes a salad-salad different from a plain old salad? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl LINKS AND SPONSORS Unknown History podcast Tales podcast AP Style Webinar: http://ow.ly/1Z7030nuTU0 Grammar Girl Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/grammargirlsurvey GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, February 14, 2019
662 - 'Racket' or 'Racquet'? Never Misspell 'Bureaucracy' Again.
When to use "racket" and "racquet," never forget how to spell "bureaucracy" again, the origin of winter storm words. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS Robinhood: http://grammar.robinhood.com Babbel: http://babbel.com Josie and Johnny Are Having a Baby With You AP Style Webinar: http://ow.ly/1Z7030nuTU0 Grammar Girl Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/grammargirlsurvey GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, February 11, 2019
661 - How Paula Brackston picks her charactersβ names and uses language to set a tone.
Mignon and Paula Brackston (author of "The Witch's Daughter" and "The Little Shop of Found Things") talk about how Paula picks her charactersβ names, how she uses language to set a tone, and how she juggles working on multiple books at once. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl LINKS Paula Brackston's Website: http://www.paulabrackston.com/ AP Style Webinar: http://ow.ly/1Z7030nuTU0 Grammar Girl Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/grammargirlsurvey GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Thu, February 07, 2019
660 - 'Irregardless' or 'Regardless'? Crime Words.
Why do people say "irregardless" and where do we get words like "sleuth," "red herring," and "gumshoe"? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS Mythology Podcast: http://parcast.com/mythology ThirdLove: http://thirdlove.com/grammar AP Style Webinar: http://ow.ly/1Z7030nuTU0 Grammar Girl Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/grammargirlsurvey GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL
Mon, February 04, 2019
659 - Normans, Ralls, and Voicemail
I want you to share your family's word stories, and I tell one of my own to get you started. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS AP Style Webinar: http://ow.ly/1Z7030nuTU0 Grammar Girl Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/grammargirlsurvey GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK. VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL.
Thu, January 31, 2019
658 - 'Wage,' 'Wager,' and 'Wed'
It's a Super Bowl episode! Grammar Girl investigates how "wager" is related to "wed" and "mortgage." Why does the saying "The wages of sin is death," treat "wages" as singular when it's most often plural? Plus, what does it mean to 'punt' something? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS AND LINKS AP Style Webinar: http://ow.ly/1Z7030nuTU0 Capterra: http://capterra.com/grammar Babbel: http://babbel.com or download the app. Grammar Girl Listener Survey: http://bit.ly/grammargirlsurvey GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, January 24, 2019
657 - 'Tip of the Hat" or 'Tip Your Hand'? 'Yeah No.'
This week, we figure out why you tip both your hat and your hand, and then we take a fascinating look at why people use the seemingly illogical phrase "Yeah no." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://pewtrust.org/grammar (The 'After the Fact' Podcast) http://takecareof.com, promo code GRAMMAR50 http://grammar.robinhood.com GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, January 17, 2019
656 - βRelapseβ or βRecurβ? 'Kneeled' or 'Knelt.' βMethinks.β
This week, I have a Quick and Dirty Tip about the difference between the words βrelapseβ and βrecur,β another Quick and Dirty Tip about the difference between βkneeledβ and βknelt,β and a meaty middle about the word βmethinks.β Methinks youβll like it! FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, January 10, 2019
655 - βMyriadβ or βMyriad Ofβ? What Is a Run-On Sentence?
This week, we talk about the controversy over "a myriad of" and (clutch your pearls!) "myriads" and explain why a run-on sentence isn't just a really long sentence. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, January 03, 2019
654 - 'Stint' or 'Stent'? How to Pronounce 'Coyote.'
This week, I give you a memory trick--based on an amazing story from history--for remembering the difference between "stint" and "stent," and we look at why people pronounce "coyote" at least five different ways. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, December 27, 2018
653 - How to Use an Asterisk. Journaling.
This week, we learn the ins and outs of using an asterisk and talk about the many ways to keep a journal. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://meettailor.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, December 20, 2018
652 - βPurposely' or 'Purposefully'? Yule.
In this week's Grammar Girl podcast, I help you stop misusing "purposefully" and delve into the history of yuletide. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, December 13, 2018
651 - 'Capitulate' or 'Recapitulate'? Colons.
This week, we investigate why "capitulate" and "recapitulate" have such different meanings when they seem so similar, and we review how to use colons. It's probably more complicated than you think because different style guides have different recommendations. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://meettailor.com/grammar http://getquip.com/grammar http://quickanddirtytips.com/offers GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, December 06, 2018
650 - 'Wreaked' or 'Wrought'? 'Crescendo.' Could We Understand Aliens?
This week, we'll explore the difference between "wreaked" and "wrought," learn a trick to never misuse or misspell "crescendo" again, and answer the question: Could we understand alien beings? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://littlepassports.com/grammar http://meettailor.com/grammar RAGAN.COM ADVANCED AP STYLE WEBINAR https://www.ragan.com/rd/Y18TC03-MACMIL GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, November 29, 2018
649 - 'Ado' or 'Adieu'? Pronouns and Antecedents
This week, we'll tease apart the ado/adieu eggcorn and make some funny sentences using pronoun/antecedent errors. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://littlepassports.com/grammar The Poshmark app: Code GRAMMARGIRL5 at sign up. http://getquip.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, November 22, 2018
648 - Does Your Language Influence How You Think?
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis claims that the language you speak determines the way you think. It's been widely debunked, but we go through some studies that seem to support it and some studies that don't. It's all fascinating! FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://littlepassports.com/grammar The Poshmark app, code GRAMMAR GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, November 15, 2018
647 - Pronoun Order. βFlierβ or βFlyer.β The Plural of βMouse.β
This week, I have a Quick and Dirty Tip about pronouns and how you should order them, another Quick and Dirty Tip about how to spell βflyerβ (or is that "flier"?), and a meaty middle about the plural of the word βmouse.β FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://littlepassports.com/grammar http://simplecontacts.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, November 08, 2018
646 - 'Blond' or 'Blonde'? How 'Trolloping' Became a Word.
Have you ever wondered why we have two ways to spell "blond(e)"? Also, I share some fascinating American frontier history that reveals how "trolloping' became a word. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://mgemi.com/grammar http://littlepassports.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, November 01, 2018
645 - Interview with New York Times bestselling author Courtney Summers
This week is a special show. I interview Courtney Summers, the author of the New York Times best-selling novel "Sadie," and learn what it was like to work on a book that also had a podcast component and what inspires Courtney to write such dark novels. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/grammargirl Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS Poshmark App + the code Grammar http://getquip.com/grammar UPCOMING CONFERENCE https://www.soundeducation.fm/ GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, October 25, 2018
644 - 'Sit' or 'Set'? Monster Names.
This week, teaching a dog to sit can help you remember "sit" versus "set," and we get ready for Halloween with words that come from monster names. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS Book: "I'll Be There for You" UPCOMING CONFERENCE https://www.soundeducation.fm/ GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, October 18, 2018
643 - βIn the Limelight.β βAβ or βAnβ?
This week, we figure out why we say people are "in the limelight," and we explain the rules for using "a" and "an"--many people misunderstand the rules (or were taught wrong). FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://mgemi.com/grammar http://nutrafol.com/grammar UPCOMING CONFERENCE https://www.soundeducation.fm/ GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, October 11, 2018
642 - 'Regard' Versus 'Regards.' Languages Without Numbers.
This week, we tease out when to use "regard" and when to use "regards," and we learn about fascinating languages that don't have numbers. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://ancestry.com/grammar http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/women_in_charge.html UPCOMING CONFERENCE https://www.soundeducation.fm/ GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, October 04, 2018
641 - 'Myself.' βGet the Skinny.β
This week, I help people learn how to use the word "myself" (and talk about some interesting dialects) and investigate about why we say we "get the skinny" on something. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSOR http://ancestry.com/grammar UPCOMING CONFERENCE https://www.soundeducation.fm/ GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, September 27, 2018
640 - Can a Screw Screw Itself into a Board? (Middle Voice)
This week, we look at an interesting kind of sentence that's written in the "middle voice." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://campaignmonitor.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, September 20, 2018
639 - Great Paragraphs. Falling off the Turnip Truck.
Go beyond formulaic essay rules and create paragraphs that will hook your readers. Also, we figure out why people say they didn't just fall off the turnip truck. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://campaignmonitor.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, September 13, 2018
638 - 'None.' How Pirates Talked.
Some people say only "none is" is right, but we tackle "none are." Plus, we have an extra fun segment about pirate-speak for Talk Like a Pirate Day. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://blinkist.com/grammar http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, September 06, 2018
637 - βMacGyver.β βSemicolons.β
Last week, I talked about "MacGyvering" things, so this week, I explain what I meant. Plus, I talk about one of the most contentious punctuation marks: the semicolon. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://bit.ly/grammarwebinar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, August 30, 2018
636 - 'To Boot.' Duck Tape. 'Can' and 'May.' Pronouns.
This week, I have more evidence that "quick and dirty" is from the Pacific Northwest, why we say "to boot," whether the correct name is "duct tape" or "duck tape," whether it's really wrong to say "Can I go to the bathroom," and an excerpt from an interview with June Casagrande about pronouns. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://TakeCareOf.com (offer code GRAMMAR) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://bit.ly/grammarwebinar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Fri, August 24, 2018
635 - 'Quick and Dirty.' 'Momentarily.' Short Subjects.
For everyone who has wondered why we're called the "Quick and Dirty Tips" podcast network, I have the origin story. Plus, we'll talk about how annoyed you should get when people use "momentarily" to mean "in a moment" and why you should favor shorter subjects and backload your sentences. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://blinkist.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://bit.ly/grammarwebinar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, August 16, 2018
634 - 'Rack' or 'Wrack'? How to Eliminate Adverbs.
Did you know that "wrack" is a word for seaweed? I didn't! Also, getting rid of adverbs usually improves your writing, but not always. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://bit.ly/grammarwebinar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Bonus Β· Tue, August 14, 2018
BONUS: Words for Color
Hear one of my favorite segments from a recent Stitcher Premium bonus episode. These are normally available for only Stitcher Premium subscribers, but we want you to see what you're missing! Subscribe to Grammar Girl at Stitcher Premium and use the code GRAMMAR for a free month to get ad-free episodes and bonus episodes as well as premium content from other podcasts such as Freakonomics and Tell Me Something I Don't Know. Read the transcript at https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/fascinating-words-for-colors-and-the-battle-of-magenta Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, August 09, 2018
633 - Is That Comment Facetious, Sarcastic, or Sardonic? Cleft Sentences.
Is That Comment Facetious, Sarcastic, or Sardonic? Cleft Sentences. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://bombas.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://bit.ly/grammarwebinar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, August 02, 2018
632 - 'Ask' as a Noun. Ships as 'She.'
This week we answer a listener question about "the ask" and look at whether it's OK to call boats, cars, and countries "she." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://blinkist.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, July 26, 2018
631 - Anniversaries. Conversate.
It's the 12th anniversary of the Grammar Girl podcast! Or is that the 12-year anniversary? No! In honor of this illustrious event, we look at why people say they "conversate" and why they may want to think twice about it. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://bombas.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) TED Talks Daily GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, July 19, 2018
630 - Who Wrote the ABC Song? Shark Idioms!
This week, we talk about who wrote the alphabet song that helps people learn their ABCs, and we investigate six silly idioms about sharks. #SharkWeek FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://babbel.com/GG (offer code GG) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK.
Thu, July 12, 2018
629 - 'Gourmet' or 'Gourmand'? Why July 14 Is Called Bastille Day.
In honor of Bastille Day (July 14), we talk about the difference between a gourmet and a gourmand, and we talk about words the French and English use to insult each other. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://blinkist.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, July 05, 2018
628 - Why 'Bag' and 'Beg' Sound the same to some people? Does 'Texas' Mean 'Crazy'?
This week, weβll talk about why I pronounce the word βaggravateβ in a way that irritated many of you, the difference between βintermentβ and βinternment,β and why Norwegians use the word "Texas" to mean βwildβ or βcrazy.β FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://babbel.com/GG (offer code GG) http://bombas.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, June 28, 2018
627 - How to Write a Great Cover Letter. 'Kinda' and 'Wanna': Real Words or Not?
How to write a great cover letter. Also, we say "kinda," "wanna," and "gonna," so why don't we write them? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://magoosh.com (offer code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, June 21, 2018
626 - βAggravateβ Versus βIrritateβ What Is a Functional Shift?
Some people say you shouldn't use "aggravate" to mean "irritate" or "annoy." It has to do with the word's origin. Also, does it irritate you when people use "invite" as a noun? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://blinkist.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, June 14, 2018
625 - βDinnerβ or βSupperβ? How to Write a Thank-You Note
βDinnerβ or βSupperβ? How to Write a Thank-You Note FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: http://youtube.com/thegrammargirl SPONSORS The Splendid Table Podcast http://awaytravel.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, June 07, 2018
624 - βTrooperβ and βTrouper.β Why Is It Called a Spelling Bee?
This week, we talk about the difference between a "trooper" and a "trouper," about why a spelling bee is called a "bee," and about a bunch of other "bee" idioms. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://babbel.com/GG (offer code GG) http://magoosh.com (offer code GRAMMAR) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, May 31, 2018
623 - 'Calvary' or 'Cavalry'? Spelling Bee Interview.
If you have trouble remembering how to pronounce "cavalry," I have a memory trick for you. Plus, if you love the spelling bee (or are just curious about how it works), I have a great interview with Paige Kimble, the executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS The Splendid Table Podcast http://audible.com/GG or text GG to 500-500. http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (offer code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, May 24, 2018
622 - Is a Troop One Person or a Group? Repetition
Is a troop one person or a group, and what's up with obviously repetitive phrases such as "It is what it is"? FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Troops: http://bit.ly/troop-troops Repetition: http://bit.ly/drink-drink FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://magoosh.com (use the promo code GRAMMAR) http://babbel.com/GG (use the promo code GG) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar (use the promo code GRAMMAR) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, May 17, 2018
621 - βCouncilβ or βCounselβ? Direct and Indirect Quotations. Oxymorons.
People have been confusing "council" and "counsel" since the 16th century. Sometimes you put single words such as "yes" and "no" in quotation marks, and sometimes you don't. We investigate three weird oxymorons: "bridegroom," "spendthrift," and "fail-safe." FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 'Council' or 'Counsel'? http://bit.ly/council-counsel Direct and Indirect Quotations: http://bit.ly/direct-quotation Oxymorons: http://bit.ly/odd-oxymorons FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://magoosh.com (use the promo code GRAMMAR) http://casper.com/savings (expires May 29) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, May 10, 2018
620 - When to Capitalize 'Mom.' In the Doldrums.
Whether you capitalize "mom" depends on how you are using the word, and did you know that "the doldrums" are an actual location? FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Capitalizing "Mom": http://bit.ly/capitalize-mom In the Doldrums: http://bit.ly/in-the-doldrums FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://magoosh.com (use the promo code GRAMMAR) http://storyworth.com/grammar (use the promo code GRAMMAR) http://stitcherpremium.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, May 03, 2018
619 - Co-worker. Barefaced and Baldfaced Lies. Mixed Metaphors.
Co-worker. Barefaced and Baldfaced Lies. Mixed Metaphors. FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Does Co-Worker Always Take a Hyphen? http://bit.ly/co-worker-hyphen Barefaced or Baldfaced Lie? http://bit.ly/barefaced-baldfaced Mixed Metaphors: http://bit.ly/mixed-metaphors FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://juicebeauty.com/grammar (use the promo code GRAMMAR20) http://magoosh.com (use the promo code GRAMMAR) GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, April 26, 2018
618 - Jazz and Thunder. Say Your Piece (or Peace)?
Are sports team names singular or plural? Do you say your piece or say your peace? FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE http://bit.ly/sports-teams http://bit.ly/say-your-piece FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://juicebeauty.com/grammar (use the promo code Grammar20) http://mrclean.com/grammargirl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, April 19, 2018
617 - 'Lay' and 'Lie.' 'Grill' and 'Grille.' 'Warsh.'
This week, we talk about why people say "warsh" instead of "wash"(it's called in the intrusive R), about why we have two spellings for the word that sounds like "grill," and how to remember the difference between "lay" and "lie." FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 'Lay' and 'Lie' http://bit.ly/layLie 'Grill' and 'Grille' http://bit.ly/grill-grille 'Warsh' http://bit.ly/wash-warsh FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://juicebeauty.com/grammar (use the promo code Grammar20) http://mrclean.com/grammargirl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, April 12, 2018
616 - The Prodigal Tongue. Odoriferous. Battle Royale.
This week, I have a delightful excerpt from Lynne Murphy's new book "The Prodigal Tongue" about the differences between British and American English, a tip about words for smells, and a tidbit about the term "battle royale." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://juicebeauty.com/grammar (use the promo code Grammar20) http://mrclean.com/grammargirl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, April 05, 2018
615 - Humor with Adverbs. Noisome. Receipts. Case Quarters.
This week, we talk about how adverbs can be squishy in what they modify and how that can lead to funny double meanings, about the difference between "noisy" and "noisome," about why people say they "have the receipts," and about the meaning and origin of "case quarter." FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE: Adverbs: http://bit.ly/funnyAdverbs Noisome: http://bit.ly/Noisome Receipts: http://bit.ly/TheReceipts Case Quarter: http://bit.ly/CaseQuarter FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, March 29, 2018
614 - Illeism. Named For or After? Misinformation and Disinformation.
When famous characters or people like Hercule Poirot and LeBron James refer to themselves by their own name, it's called illeism, and it can actually be a useful psychological technique. Then, we explore the difference between being named for someone and named after someone. Finally, we use a carrot hoax from World War II to explain the difference between misinformation and disinformation. FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE: Illeism: http://bit.ly/illeism Named For or After: http://bit.ly/named-for-after Misinformation and Disinformation: http://bit.ly/dis-mis FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, March 22, 2018
613 - Dictionary.com Starts Defining Emoji (an interview with Jane Solomon)
Dictionary.com has added emoji definitions to its site, and I have an interview with the lexicographer behind the decision, Jane Solomon. Emoji are a lot more linguistically complex than you may imagine. Plus, I remind you of the difference between "aw" and "awe" and the origin that will help you use "awe" especially well. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Fri, March 16, 2018
612 - The Pin/Pen Merger. American. 'Half-Staff' or 'Half-Mast'?
This week, we talk about why some people say "pin" and "pen" the same way, why citizens of the United States call themselves "Americans" when other people live on the American continent too, and why flags can be flown at half-mast or half-staff. FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE The Pin/Pen Merger http://bit.ly/pin-pen-merger 'American' http://bit.ly/demonyms 'Half-Staff' and 'Half-Mast' http://bit.ly/half-mast-staff FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, March 08, 2018
611 - Pudding. "There Are" Sentences. Winning Limerick
This week, we talk about why we say "the proof is in the pudding," why "there are" sentences can be so confusing (what the heck is the subject in such as sentence?), and read the winning limerick from the ACES National Grammar Day limerick contest. FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 'The Proof Is in the Pudding' http://bit.ly/ProofPudding 'There Are' Sentences http://bit.ly/expletiveSentences FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop SALE: GRAMMAR GIRL'S NYT BESTSELLER IS CURRENTLY ON SALE AS AN E-BOOK FOR ONLY $2.99 BARNES & NOBLE http://bit.ly/2F8WuRu AMAZON http://amzn.to/2ozVfAr Thank you to Ellen Hendriksen of the Savvy Psychologist podcast for being the voice of this week's show! https://www.ellenhendriksen.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
Fri, March 02, 2018
610 - Top 10 Grammar Myths. How 13 Dog Breeds Got Their Names.
Celebrate National Grammar Day (March 4) by forsaking these common language myths. Also, enter our limerick contest and we might read your limerick in the next Grammar Girl podcast. (Details: http://bit.ly/ACES_limerick2018). Also, some dog breed names are obvious ("retriever," anyone?), but we have the origin of 13 that are more mysterious. FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE GRAMMAR MYTHS http://bit.ly/grammarTop10 DOG BREEDS http://bit.ly/dogBreedNames FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Thank you to Ellen Hendriksen of the Savvy Psychologist podcast for being the voice of this week's show! https://www.ellenhendriksen.com/
Thu, February 22, 2018
609 - Pull Idioms. Surprising Food Names. Dillydally.
You're sure to be surprised by the origin of at least one of these idioms that use the word "pull." Plus, we talk about foods that get their names from the dish in which they're cooked and the difference between "dilly dilly" and "dillydally." FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE PULL IDIOMS http://bit.ly/PullIdioms FOOD NAMES http://bit.ly/NamesFromPans DILLYDALLY http://bit.ly/Dillydally FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopiPad For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPop GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, February 15, 2018
608 - Dilly Dilly. How Many Prepositions Can You Put in a Row?
This week, we look a sentence from "Cannery Row" and wonder how it can have so many prepositions in a row, and we find the origin of "dilly dilly." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, February 08, 2018
607 - Brainstorming. Call Out Sick? Synesis.
This week, we talk about tricks to help you get started writing a new essay, article, or novel; whether it's wrong to say you "call out sick"; and what's up with a grammatical concept called "synesis" that can let you break some rules. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, February 01, 2018
606 - Levidromes, Tom Swifty Jokes, and new OED Words.
Levidromes, Tom Swifty Jokes, and new OED Words. Plus, how "phony" is related to a jewel con. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, January 25, 2018
605 - A Homophone Error at the SAG Awards. Lectern or Podium? Capitalizing Award Names
How a homophone mix up led to Judi Dench bread jokes. Also, the difference between a lectern, a podium, and a dais, and a Quick and Dirty Tip about capitalizing award names. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Bonus Β· Mon, January 22, 2018
BONUS: Introducing Launch
This week, I'm excited to share a bonus clip from a new podcast called Launch. Three out of five people dream of writing a book. Few follow through. What does it take to take that from dream to reality? Screenwriter John August (Go, Big Fish, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) sought to find out as he tackled something heβd only ever dreamed of: writing a novel. From Wondery, this is a show about putting something out into the world. How will it turn out? Youβll know when we do.
Thu, January 18, 2018
604 - Origin of 'Gerrymandering.' Is 'Data' Singular or Plural?
This week we explore the origin of the word "gerrymander" and dive into the debate about whether "data" is singular or plural (or both). FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, January 11, 2018
603 - Words of the Year, Why You Shouldn't Use 'Eskimo,' 'Canon' or 'Cannon'?
This week I apologize for using the word "Eskimo," go through all the interesting 2017 words of the year, and give you a tip to remember the difference between "canon" and "cannon." SPONSOR: Visit http://audible.com/GG or text GG to 500-500 to start your 30-day trial and get a free audiobook. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, December 28, 2017
601 - 'Based In' or 'Based Out Of.' Omitting 'That'
Based on, based off, based in, based out of...people are changing the way they use prepositions with "based." Also, people can get overzealous about deleting every "that" they can find in a sentence. Here's why you need it sometimes. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, December 21, 2017
600 - How to Pronounce 'Caramel.' Sports Idioms
Have you been pronouncing "caramel" wrong your whole life? Also, we discuss interesting sports idioms including "in the crosshairs," "jump the gun," and "slam dunk." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, December 14, 2017
599 - Delicious English Words (Chocolate, Guacamole) with Aztec Roots
Chocolate, guacamole, and more yummy words we get from Aztec languages. Also, why "lock, stock, and barrel" means "all of it" and what it has to do with Sir Walter Scott. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/delicious-english-words-chocolate-guacamole-aztec-roots FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Fri, December 08, 2017
598 - Gifting and Regifting. Take a Decision.
Is "gifting" a word, and is regifting rude? Also, do you "take" a decision or "make" a decision? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, November 30, 2017
597 - Eskimo Words for Snow. Write a Book!
I bust the myth that Inuit have hundreds of words for snow, and I share an excerpt from Jack Gantos' new book "Writing Radar" that will help you pledge to write a book. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&amp;amp;amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, November 16, 2017
595 - 'Side' Words. What Is a Bailiwick?
While you're planning your Thanksgiving side dishes, enjoy a segment about English "side" words. Plus, what is a bailiwick? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, November 09, 2017
594 - The Plural of 'Batman.' Why Smart People Struggle with Shakespeare Too.
I debate what the plural of "Batman" should be (it's not straightforward!) and explore why the language of Shakespeare is hard to understand, even if you're smart. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, November 02, 2017
593 - The Origin of English: Proto-Indo-European.
We explore the origin of English (and other languages) all the way back to the language known as Proto-Indo-European. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, October 26, 2017
592 - "Sofa" or "Couch"? "Skeleton" Idioms.
This week, we talk about the difference between "sofa," "couch," and all the other words for that piece of furniture. Plus, to get in the mood for Halloween, we explore four idioms about skeletons. SPONSOR http://topcashback.com/grammar FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, October 19, 2017
591 - 'Cannot' or 'Can Not'? 'Dead' Idioms.
This week, we talk about the difference between "cannot," "can not," "can't," and (horrors!) "cant." Plus, in honor of Halloween, we reveal the origin of three idioms about death. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl SPONSORS http://topcashback.com/grammar http://blinkist.com/grammar GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, October 12, 2017
590 - How to Write an Apology
How to avoid the worst apologies (the "if" apology, the passive voice apology, the reverse apology, and the florid fauxpology) and write a good apology letter. THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, October 05, 2017
589 - The "Ruth's Chris" Apostrophe. Thingamajigs.
This week, I talk about what's up with the weird apostrophe in "Ruth's Chris Steak House" and where we get placeholder names like "thingamajig" and "doohickey." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG SPONSORS http://magoosh.com offer code: GRAMMAR http://barkbox.com/grammar Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, September 28, 2017
588 - Why People Mimic Accents. Why People "Have Your Six."
This week, I talk about why we mimic accents, about how to pronounce "espresso," about interesting idioms that include the number six. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG SPONSORS http://babbel.com/grammar offer code: GRAMMAR http://blinkist.com/grammar Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, September 21, 2017
587 - More British & American Differences. Quotation Marks with Periods and Commas
Quotation Marks with Periods and Commas FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GRAMMAR POP Optimized for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 For all iOS Devices: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Fri, September 15, 2017
586 - UK and US English. 'Bad' or 'Badly'?
Unusual differences I noticed between British and American English on a recent trip. Plus, why you should say you "feed bad" and not that you "feed badly." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, September 07, 2017
585 GG. Rainy Idioms. "Because," "Due To," "Since," and "As"
This week, we talk about rainy idioms and when to use "because" for "due to" and "since." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page THE GRAMMAR DAILY 2018 CALENDAR http://amzn.to/2f8jPDG AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Fri, September 01, 2017
584 GG. Pipe Dream. Comma Before a Quotation.
The woman who won more than $750 million in the Powerball lottery described it as a "pipe dream," so we look at the origin of the term. Also, whether to use a comma to introduce a quotation is probably more complicated than you think. We have four rules (and examples) to help you get it right. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Fri, August 25, 2017
583 GG Important or Importantly? Time Traveler Words
This week I tell you why you can ignore people who don't like "more importantly," and we talk about words that were new in 1555, 1967, 1977, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, August 17, 2017
582 GG. How to Use Quotations. Stop Calling Yourself a Grammar Nazi
What do you call yourself? A grammar lover, grammar peever, stickler, grammar grouch, grammando, grammar Nazi? Sure, it's all in fun, but it's time to rethink that last one. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, August 10, 2017
581 GG. Riffle and Rifle. Worcestershire Sauce.
Worcestershire is pronounced nothing like it is spelled, and Gloucester and Leicester are the same way. We'll talk about some linguistic phenomena that explain the drastic changes. Also, did you know there's a different between riffling through something and rifling through something? You will after this week's show! FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, August 03, 2017
580 GG. Introductory Paragraphs. One of The...
Listeners sent in many more interesting phrases from obsolete technologies, and we also talk about how to write a great introductory paragraph and tricky sentence that include "one of the [plural nouns]"--which verb do you use? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, July 27, 2017
579 GG Language Games. Jerry-Built. And Female Juniors
We talked about "jury-rigged" a few months ago, and everybody wanted to know about "jerry-built," so here you go! Also, we have lots of listener feedback about non-English language games that are like Pig Latin. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, July 20, 2017
578 GG Words from Obsolete Technology
Some words survive long after the technology that made us use the words in the first place. Today, we look at words we get from typewriters, old telephones, and more. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, July 13, 2017
577 GG The Trump Jr. Punctuation Kerfuffle. Generation Names.
FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon GRAMMAR GIRL AP STYLE WEBINAR http://bit.ly/2u9wuPn Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, July 06, 2017
576 GG Critique or Criticize? Games Like Pig Latin
Do you "critique" a novel or "criticize" it? People used to object to one of these two words. And you told me about Pig-Latin-type games in your languages, and I have the run down! This segment is just for fun. Or should that be unfay? Or fubun? Or fulfun? FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
Thu, June 29, 2017
575 GG Gestures. Elbow Grease. Capitalizing Directions.
Knowing when to capitalize a directional word such as "south" can be tricky. I have some guidelines. We also explain why we tell people to use "elbow grease" and review some research on gesturing that will blow your mind. Do you wonder why you talk with your hands, even when you're on the phone? Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Thu, June 22, 2017
574 GG Commas with Transition Words. Double Whammy.
Have you ever wondered how to use a comma with 'however' (or if you even should)? Weβve got the scoop on using commas and semicolons with 'however,' 'therefore,' and other conjunctive adverbs and transition words. Also, you can trace 'double whammy' back to the Lilβ Abner comics. How fun! Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Thu, June 15, 2017
573 GG Until, Till, and 'Til. Dad Jokes.
You've heard them called "dad jokes," but have you ever wondered why? We have a definition and also what we think is the perfect example of a dad joke. Also I'll explain how "until" and "till" are completely separate words and why you should just straight out avoid " 'til." Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2rSMqR8. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, June 08, 2017
572 GG Themself. Comma Splices.
You've finally accepted that it's OK to use the singular 'they'--sometimes--but now you have to decide whether to use 'themself' or 'themselves.' Don't worry, the new Chicago Manual of Style has you covered, and we talk about it today. Also, I've been getting complaints about comma splices, so it's time for a refresher. Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2ramGjn Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page SHOPPING AT AMAZON ANYWAY? USE OUR AFFILIATE LINK AND HELP THE SHOW! http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Thu, June 01, 2017
571 GG Lego or Legos? Why English Spelling Reform Is Doomed.
If it bothered you last week that I called the toys Legos, you'll like this week's first topic: Lego or Legos? You'll probably like it if you weren't bothered too! Also, in honor of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, we talk about why English spelling reform is doomed. Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2rAkD9r. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR YouTube video of people pronouncing "murder." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRtMyLFF3eY Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Fri, May 26, 2017
570 GG Burned or Burnt? Why English Spelling Is a Mess.
Burned or Burnt? Why English Spelling Is a Mess. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Thu, May 18, 2017
569 GG. Explain vs. Explanation. How to Outline.
If you've ever wondered why "explain" has an I but "explanation" doesn't, we have the answer. Also, need help jumpstarting your writing process? Here's why composing an outline is key. (Plus, could Grammar Girl be replaced by a robot?) FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR MAY 24 AP STYLE LIVE WEBINAR http://www.ragan.com/rd/Y17TC04-MACMIL Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Fri, May 12, 2017
568 GG. In or Among. Weird Words.
This week we talk about why you might describe someone as "among bushes" instead of "in the bushes," and we talk about how we get weird words like "gaga," "flip-flop" and "dillydally." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR MAY 24 AP STYLE LIVE WEBINAR http://www.ragan.com/rd/Y17TC04-MACMIL Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Thu, May 04, 2017
567 Is Pig Latin a Real Language?
This week we talk about the origin of the word "harbinger" (and I sing about swans) and whether Pig Latin qualifies as a language. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR MAY 24 AP STYLE LIVE WEBINAR http://www.ragan.com/rd/Y17TC04-MACMIL Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Thu, April 27, 2017
566 GG. Off Your Feed. Animal Language.
Off Your Feed. Animal Language.
Thu, April 20, 2017
565 GG. Solving Crimes with Language. Apple, Podcasts, and Prepositions.
Apple, Podcasts, and Prepositions. Forensic Linguistics.
Thu, April 13, 2017
564 GG. Preposition or Adverb?
The weird complications about words such as "up" and "over" that make people fight about whether they are prepositions or adverbs. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR
Fri, April 07, 2017
563 GG Singular 'They'
Singular 'They'
Fri, March 31, 2017
562 GG AP Style and Chicago Manual of Style Updates
AP Style and Chicago Manual of Style Updates FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR
Thu, March 23, 2017
561 GG $10 Million Comma. Ambiguous Sentences. Tribute to Bill Walsh
The $10 Million Comma. Ambiguous Sentences. A Tribute to Bill Walsh.
Thu, March 16, 2017
560 GG Devil's Advocate. 3 Tips for Creating Sentences with Punch
This week we talk about why we call someone a "devil's advocate" and why the rules of writing are the same for good lawyers and good thriller writers. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR PODCAST LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR
Fri, March 10, 2017
559 GG. Abbreviations. And Then the Murders Began. Runcible. Haiku.
This week, I have a Quick and Dirty Tip about how to define abbreviations that you use over and over in a document and a tidbit about a fun internet meme called #LaidlawsRule. And, to finish our little poetry kick over the last couple of weeks, I have a tidbit about a word that comes from the old nonsense poem βThe Owl and the Pussycatβ and the winner of the National Grammar Day haiku contest.
Fri, March 03, 2017
558 GG How to Write Good Survey Questions
How to avoid biasing your questions and annoying your respondents.
Thu, February 23, 2017
557 GG Double Dactyl Poetry
Write a double dactyl poem in honor of National Grammar Day. FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Double Dactyl Poetry: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/9136 FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon TAKE OUR LISTENER SURVEY http://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR
Thu, February 16, 2017
556 GG Tumult. Bull in a China Shop. Always, Never, Usually, Often, Most, and More
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Tumult: http://bit.ly/2lSXWtI Absolutes: http://bit.ly/2kD6CTf DISCOVERY CHANNEL 'BULL IN A CHINA SHOP' VIDEO http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/bull-in-a-china-shop/ FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, February 09, 2017
555 GG. Toe/Tow the Line. Pled or Pleaded. Animal Idioms.
This week we talk about "toeing the line," "pled" versus "pleaded," and animal idioms such as "There's an eel under the rock." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, February 02, 2017
554 GG 'Reticent' or 'Reluctant.' Which' or 'That.'
This week we talk about the difference between "reluctant" and "reticent" and when to use "which" or "that." FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Fri, January 27, 2017
553 GG Not Only, But Also. Leave in the Lurch. Month Names.
This week we talk about a common error you should avoid when using "not only" with "but also." We examine why we talk about leaving someone "in the lurch." What's a lurch? And finally, we look at the interesting origins of the month names in English. FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, January 19, 2017
551 Capital vs Capitol. Citing Podcasts and Websites
Are people in the capitol or capital this weekend? Also, why do citations even matter and what should you look for in a source? SPONSORS Download the Dunkin' app and enroll in DD Perks with the code PODCAST to get a free Dunkin' beverage. GlassesUSA.com/Grammar with the code grammar55 gets you 55% off. (Some exclusions apply.) UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page (The e-book of "The Grammar Devotional" is just $2.99 right now! AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, January 12, 2017
551 GG. Words of the Year. Writing Tips.
This week, we discuss the words of the year and four simple ways to write better in the new year. UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, January 05, 2017
550 GG Enormity or Enormousness? Badminton
This week we discuss whether there is really a difference between "enormity" and "enormousness" and about how badminton (not badmitten) got its name. UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, December 29, 2016
549 GG Hone/Home In. Apostrophes.
A great memory trick to remember the difference between homing and honing (plus a complete aside about spiderwebs). Also, an solution to the mystery of why you sometimes see "farmers market" with and apostrophe and sometimes you see it without an apostrophe. UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, December 22, 2016
548 GG. What Makes Good Stories.
Whatβs your favorite book and why? The questions are more than just a way to fill your online dating profileβtheyβre insights into how beloved stories push our psychological and neurological buttons. How does good writing grab you by the brain? My fellow QDT host, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen, leads us through four things your brain relishes in a good story.
Thu, December 15, 2016
547 GG 'A While' or 'Awhile'? Writing Dialogue
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Writing Dialogue http://bit.ly/writing_dialogue 'A While' or 'Awhile'? http://bit.ly/a-while UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, December 08, 2016
546 GG Anxious/Eager. If Not.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Anxious or Eager? http://bit.ly/anxiouseager If Not: http://bit.ly/ifnot SPONSORS http://sockclub.com/grammar and the code "grammar" http://www.audible.com/gg UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, December 01, 2016
545 GG Read the Riot Act. The Changing English Language.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE English Is Flexible http://bit.ly/EnglishIsFlexible Read the Riot Act http://bit.ly/ReadTheRiotAct SPONSORS http://sockclub.com/grammar and the code "grammar" http://blurb.com/grammar and the code "grammar" UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, November 24, 2016
544 GG. Pilgrim Names. Pronouncing Foreign Words
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Pronouncing Foreign Words: http://bit.ly/2fiPCQf SPONSOR http://blurb.com/GRAMMAR and the promo code GRAMMAR for 25% off. http://sockclub.com and the promo code GRAMMAR for 15% off. UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, November 17, 2016
543 GG. By the Wayside. How to Pronounce 'Biopic'
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE By the Wayside http://bit.ly/2fNt0aq Pronouncing "Biopic" http://bit.ly/2fwymYl SPONSOR http://audible.com/gg UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Fri, November 11, 2016
542 GG. 'Aloud' or "Out Loud'? Strong Voice
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 'Aloud' or 'Out Loud'? http://bit.ly/aloud-out-loud Crafting a Strong Voice: http://bit.ly/strong-voice SPONSOR http://blueapron.com/grammar UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, November 03, 2016
541 GG Before or Prior To? Foreign Language Syndrome
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 'Prior To' or 'Before'? http://bit.ly/prior-to Foreign Language Syndrome: http://bit.ly/foreign-language-syndrome SPONSOR http://Audible.com/gg UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, October 27, 2016
540 GG. Cemetery or Graveyard? Peer Editing. To Calendar.
UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl GET GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, October 20, 2016
539 GG Capitalizing Job Titles. I.e. Versus E.g. Sentence Diagramming
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Capitalizing Job Titles http://bit.ly/capitalize-titles I.e. Versus E.g. http://bit.ly/IE-EG Sentence Diagramming http://bit.ly/sentence-diagram SPONSORS http://modcloth.com code:grammar http://blueapron.com/grammar UPDATED AP STYLE INTERACTIVE WEB COURSE http://www.ragan.com/Z5AC03-MACMIL AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Fri, October 14, 2016
538 Alumni. Words from Bookmaking. Beyond the Pale
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Alums or Alumni? http://bit.ly/alum-alumni Words from Bookmaking http://bit.ly/bookmaking-words Beyond the Pale http://bit.ly/beyond-the-pale SPONSORS http://modcloth.com code grammar http://audible.com/gg AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Fri, October 07, 2016
537 GG "Further" Versus "Farther." Horse's Mouth
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE "Further" Versus "Farther" http://bit.ly/FurtherFarther Straight from the Horse's Mouth http://bit.ly/HorsesMouth SPONSORS ModCloth http://modcloth.com Code: grammar Casper http://casper.com/gg Code: gg AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, September 29, 2016
536 GG Hit the Bestseller List: How to Style Your Words Like a Bestselling Author
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Canceled or Cancelled? http://bit.ly/cancelled-canceled Why Homecoming is HoCo: http://bit.ly/homecoming-hoco The Bestseller Code: Jodie Archer and Matthew Jockers, the authors of The Bestseller Code, give some quick tips on how to style your words like a bestselling author. http://bit.ly/BestsellerCode SPONSORS http://ag.co/grammar Use the code "grammar" at checkout for a discount. http://blueapron.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, September 22, 2016
535 GG Anyways or Anyway? Topic Sentences
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Anyway or Anyways? http://bit.ly/AnywayAnyways How to Write a Good Topic Sentence: http://bit.ly/Topic-Sentence SPONSORS http://ag.co/grammar Use the code "grammar" at checkout for a discount. AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, September 15, 2016
534 GG. Bridget Jones. Pay Dirt. Dashes.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Bridget Jones's Baby: http://bit.ly/JonesPossessive Pay Dirt: http://bit.ly/PayDirtIdiom Dashes: http://bit.ly/HowToUseEmDash SPONSORS http://ag.co/grammar Use the code "grammar" at checkout for a discount. http://igloosoftware.com/grammargirl AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, September 08, 2016
533 GG. Etc. Short Shrift. Prepositions
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE How to Pronounce 'Etcetera': http://bit.ly/pronounce-etc Short Shrift http://bit.ly/short-shrift Prepositions Aren't Literal: http://bit.ly/not-literal SPONSORS http://ag.co/grammar Use the code "grammar" at checkout for a discount. http://audible.com/gg AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl-book-page
Thu, September 01, 2016
532 GG Loose or Lose. You Wazzock.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 'Loose' or 'Lose'? http://bit.ly/LooseLose Origin of 'Loose as a Goose' http://bit.ly/LooseGoose You Wazzock! http://bit.ly/wazzock SPONSOR http://ag.co/grammar Use the code "grammar" at checkout for a discount. AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl
Thu, August 25, 2016
531 GG Writing Dual POVs. Space Operas and Soap Operas.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Writing Dual POVs: http://bit.ly/DualPOVs Soap Operas: http://bit.ly/Space-Opera SPONSORS http://magoosh.com Use the code "grammar" at checkout for 20% off. http://ag.co/grammar Use the code "grammar" at checkout for a discount. AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl
Thu, August 18, 2016
530 GG Whom. Preorder. Badger, Weasel, Ferret.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE "Who" Versus "Whom": http://bit.ly/Who-Whom Preorder: http://bit.ly/CanISayPreorder Idioms of the Forest: http://bit.ly/BadgerWeaselFerret SPONSORS http://magoosh.com Use the code "grammar" at checkout for 20% off. http://casper.com/gg Use the code "GG" at checkout for $50 off. AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl
Thu, August 11, 2016
529 GG Latin Words. Batten Down the Hatches
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Words from Latin: http://bit.ly/words-with-latin-origins Batten Down the Hatches: http://bit.ly/batten-down SPONSORS http://magoosh.com Use the code "grammar" at checkout for 20% off. http://igloosoftware.com/grammargirl AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrammarGirl
Thu, August 04, 2016
528 GG Adjectives. Logical Fallacies
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 5 Types of Fallacies: http://bit.ly/2agt9oQ Order of Adjectives: http://bit.ly/2at4U1U SPONSORS: http://magoosh.com Use the code "grammar" at checkout for 20% off. http://audible.com/gg AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, July 29, 2016
527 GG 'Lit' or 'Lighted.' Why Some Words Become Homophones
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE 'LIT' OR 'LIGHTED'? http://bit.ly/LitOrLighted ALVEOLAR FLAPPING: http://bit.ly/AmericanHomophones SPONSORS: http://magoosh.com Use the code "grammar" at checkout for 20% off. http://weebly.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, July 22, 2016
526 GG Types of Third Person Point of View. Flammable and Inflammable
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE WHY DOES "INFLAMMABLE" MEAN "FLAMMABLE"? When weβre describing something that burns easily, we say itβs flammable, but "inflammable" means the same thing and was the original word, so why do we have both? http://bit.ly/inflammableORflammable THIRD PERSON: There are three main types of third person point of view in literature: third person limited, third person omniscient, and third person objective. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Here's the run-down and some examples. http://bit.ly/thirdpersonPOV SPONSORS: http://magoosh.com Use the code "grammar" at checkout for 20% off. http://weebly.com AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, July 15, 2016
525 GG Food Idioms. 'Affective' or 'Effective'
Why do we say 'Take it with a grain of salt' and other food idioms? Is it 'affective' or 'effective'? FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE: http://bit.ly/affective-effective http://bit.ly/food-idioms SPONSORS: http://magoosh.com Use the code "grammar" at checkout for 20% off. http://igloosoftware.com/grammargirl AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, July 07, 2016
524 - Affect Versus Effect. How to Pronounce The
HOW TO PRONOUNCE "THE": Did you know there are two ways to pronounce "the," and the rule that governs which pronunciation you choose is kind of like how you choose between "a" and "an"? "AFFECT" VERSUS "EFFECT": I get asked whether to use "affect" or "effect" all the time, and it is by far the most requested grammar topic, so I have a few memory tricks to help you remember. SPONSOR http://audible.com/gg Recommended book: "Bluescreen" by Dan Wells AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl HASHTAG Use #WhereIListen to tell me your listening story on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. WIRED ARTICLE about the vibrating direction belt: http://www.wired.com/2007/04/esp/
Thu, June 30, 2016
523 GG Sightseeing. On Accident Versus by Accident
SIGHTSEEING: A listener asked, βWhy is it sightseeing and not siteseeing? Aren't you seeing sites? Sightseeing sounds redundant.β Interesting question! ON ACCIDENT or BY ACCIDENT: A listener asked, "What is the deal with the term on accident? I've always used by accident, but I've noticed a lot of pretty smart people . . . I've noticed them using on accident. So, am I wrong?" Sometimes when I get questions like this I can't find an answer, but in this case, I hit pay dirt! I was lucky enough to find an entire research paper on the topic. SPONSOR http://weebly.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl HASHTAG Use #WhereIListen to tell me your listening story on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Thu, June 23, 2016
522 GG Hearty or Hardy? How English Became English. Jury-Rigged.
HEARTY OR HARDY? A listener named Cheryl left a comment on the Grammar Girl Facebook page asking me to write about the difference between hearty and hardy. She wrote, βI am a writer and get confused on the usage of the two adjectives. Love your podcast and appreciate your shows and tips!β HOW ENGLISH BECAME ENGLISH. Today, I have an excerpt from Simon Horobinβs new book, How English Became English. I especially liked the part about English in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Asia because I donβt know as much about these forms of English as I do about American and British English; so it brings a new perspective that I havenβt been able to share with you in the past. JURY-RIGGED. Youβve probably heard of something being jury-rigged. That means patched together in a temporary manner. But what does rigged mean? And how does a jury get involved? Turns out, one doesnβt. SPONSORS http://care.com/grammar http://igloosoftware.com/grammagirl AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 16, 2016
521 GG Is Funnest a Word? How to Pronounce Adirondack.
HOW TO PRONOUNCE ADIRONDACK: Apparently, Iβve been mispronouncing "Adirondack" my whole life, and thanks to the listeners who let me know. WRITING FOR AUDIO: A listener named Tim wrote that he heard someone on NPR say that another person βoften frequentedβ a venue, and Tom thought the phrase "often frequented" sounded redundant. IS FUNNEST A WORD? Researching the word βfunnestβ and its close relation βfunnerβ turned out to be a lot less fun than I had hoped. The opinions are so varied that I became completely engrossed and frustrated and forgot to call my mother on her birthday. SPONSORS http://casper.com/gg (and the offer code gg) http://weebly.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, June 10, 2016
520 GG Band Names. Woman or Female?
BAND NAMES: When referring to a rock band, do I use the single form "is" or "are"? Does the band name dictate the usage? WOMAN OR FEMALE? The question of word choice is rising againβIs Hilary Clinton the first "female" presidential nominee from a major party or the first "woman" nominee? SPONSOR http://audible.com/gg PODCAST AWARDS: You can vote every day through June 12. http://podcastawards.com AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, June 02, 2016
519 GG RBIs. Principal and Principle. Run of the Mill
HOW TO MAKE RBI PLURAL: Baseball season has started, so itβs a good time to answer questions from listeners who have asked how to make an abbreviation such as "RBI" plural. PRINCIPAL OR PRINCIPLE? Today weβre going to recall that the principal is indeed your βpal,β but weβll also see that a principal can be so much more. In this episode weβll talk about the various ways to use βprincipleββthatβs βp-l-eββand βprincipalββthatβs βp-a-l.β RUN OF THE MILL. Why we say "run of the mill" instead of "run of the mine" or "run of the kiln." SPONSORS http://amazon.com/kindleforkids http://weebly.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 26, 2016
518 GG Are You Interurban? Vonnegut's Famous Semicolon Quotation Was Taken Out of Context. Off the Cuff.
ARE YOU INTERURBAN? When you split your time between the East Coast and the West Coast, you can call yourself βbicoastal.β What about when youβre splitting your time between two cities, like a listener named Jeff, who splits his time between New York City and Boston? VONNEGUT'S FAMOUS SEMICOLON QUOTATION. I couldnβt imagine that any talented writer would so universally dismiss an entire punctuation mark. Not one to take things at face value, I went searching and quickly found that the Vonnegut quotation, so often offered with a giddy air of insider superiority, is taken out of context. Here are the details. OFF THE CUFF. Imagine you were wearing an old-time dress shirt. One with stiff, starched, white cuffs. Those cuffs were sometimes several inches long! You could write a lot of notes on something that long. SPONSORS http://amazon.com/kindleforkids http://weebly.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 19, 2016
517 GG Why Do We Call It Commencement? When to Delete "It"
COMMENCEMENT: Last week a professor in my department asked me why we call a graduation ceremony βcommencementβ when the event marks the end of college. βTo commenceβ means βto begin,β not end, so it seems like an odd name for the ceremony. DELETE 'IT': Want a timeless, painless tip that quickly helps you clarify your writing? Look for it. What William Cobbett said two centuries ago still rings true: βThe word it is the greatest troubler that I know of in language. It is so small, and so convenient, that few are careful enough in using it." SPONSOR http://amazon.com/kindleforkids AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 12, 2016
516 GG Celsius Versus Centigrade. 'Between' Versus 'Among'
Celsius Versus Centigrade: Anders Celsius was a Swedish astronomer who invented a thermometer based on the boiling point and freezing point of water. We know a slightly improved version of his thermometer by the Celsius name and by the word "centigrade." This centigrade thermometer was named in honor of Celsius in 1948 at the ninth International Conference of Weights and Measures. 'Between' Versus 'Among': Many people believe "between" should be used for choices involving two items and "among" for choices that involve more than two items. That can get you to the right answer some of the time, but it's not that simple. The traditional rule you learned is actually a myth. SPONSOR http://amazon.com/kindleforkids AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, May 05, 2016
515 GG Home vs. Away? How to Make Product Names Plural
Away Versus Home? A listener named Alan wrote, βWhen using the word versus, does it make a difference as to what is placed before and what is placed after? For example: Roe versus Wade or Red Sox versus Yankees. In other words, by rule is one the challenger, and the other the challenged?β How to Make Product Names Plural: Two Silicon Valley guys were talking on Twitter about whether they should say they have two iPad Pros or two iPads Pro. Then Schiller jumped in to say: βOne need never pluralize Apple product names. Ex: Mr. Evans used two iPad Pro devices.β People on Twitter generally seemed to think this seemed ridiculous and Business Insider, Mac Rumors, and others turned it into a story. Woohoo, Twitter spat! SPONSORS http://audible.com/gg http://weebly.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Fri, April 29, 2016
514 GG Brouhaha. New Words. One Fell Swoop.
Last week, ESPN fired Curt Schilling because of offensive remarks he made on social media, and in his follow-up statement, Schilling referred to the brouhaha, but he misspelled the word as brew ha ha, like the name of a beerfest in my hometown. (Follow along on the website: http://j.mp/brouhaha-origin) Merriam-Webster added "athleisure" to the unabridged dictionary, but the editors had been watching the word for a while before they decided to add it. In a "Words Weβre Watchingβ blog post in July of 2015, they wrote β'Athleisure' refers to casual clothing β like yoga pants, sweat pants, and hoodies β that are designed to be worn both for exercising and for doing (almost) everything else.β (Follow along on the website: http://j.mp/2016NewWords) Most people know that if you do something in one fell swoop, you do it all at once--as in, βI sat down last night and made my website in one fell swoop.β But what does "fell" mean? And who is swooping? (Follow along on the website: http://j.mp/one-fell-swoop) PODCAST AWARDS Nominate Grammar Girl for Best Education Podcast at http://PodcastAwards.com (They'll ask for the show URL. Use this: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl) SPONSORS http://Earnest.com/grammar http://weebly.com/grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon E-BOOK: GRAMMAR GIRL'S QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING On sale for $2.99 through April: Kindle: http://amzn.to/1RRJDAe Nook: http://bit.ly/1qmUsBi FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 21, 2016
513 GG North or Northbound. Subjunctive Verbs.
Carrie from New Orleans asked me to help her understand whether she should say "I wish I were more perceptive" or "I wish I was more perceptive." It's a great question because it's something that a lot of people don't know. (Follow along on the website: http://j.mp/subjunctive-verbs) A listener named Cyndi works in the auto claims department at an insurance company and asked how to use directional words--for example, when should she use "north" and when should she use "northbound"? (Follow along on the website: http://j.mp/north-or-northbound) PODCAST AWARDS Nominate Grammar Girl for Best Education Podcast at http://PodcastAwards.com (They'll ask for the show URL. Use this: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl) SPONSOR http://MeetEarnest.com/grammargirl AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon E-BOOK: GRAMMAR GIRL'S QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING On sale for $2.99 through April: Kindle: http://amzn.to/1RRJDAe Nook: http://bit.ly/1qmUsBi FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 14, 2016
512 GG Titled or Entitled? AP Style Updates. Into Thin Air.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Titled or Entitled? http://j.mp/titled-entitled AP Style Updates http://j.mp/APstyle2016 Into Thin Air http://j.mp/into-thin-air SPONSORS http://IglooSoftware.com/grammargirl http://casper.com//gg and use the code GG AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon E-BOOK: GRAMMAR GIRL'S QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING On sale for $2.99 through April: Kindle: http://amzn.to/1RRJDAe Nook: http://bit.ly/1qmUsBi FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, April 07, 2016
511 GG Pronouncing Pulitzer. Navajo Codes in WWII
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Pronouncing Pulitzer: http://j.mp/227C9M1 Navajo Codes: http://j.mp/1S3FXIA SPONSORS http://verbling.com (Discount Code: grammargirl) http://audible.com/gg AMAZON AFFILIATE CODE http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon E-BOOK: GRAMMAR GIRL'S QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING Kindle: http://amzn.to/1RRJDAe Nook: http://bit.ly/1qmUsBi FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 24, 2016
509 GG Charlie Chaplin Grammar. S-Backing.
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE Charlie Chaplin Grammar: http://j.mp/22qGqfA S-Backing: http://j.mp/1nT2mR5 SPONSORS http://verbling.com Promo code: grammargirl http://lifelock.com Promo code: grammar AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 17, 2016
508 GG. Haiku Winners. Great Story Ideas
FOLLOW ALONG ON THE WEBSITE National Grammar Day Haiku Winners: http://j.mp/1Uk71t5 14 Tips for Coming Up with Freelance Story Ideas You Can Sell: http://j.mp/1Uk7746 "The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing" by Zachary Petit WINNERS INFO https://twitter.com/SnoozeInBrief https://twitter.com/monicasharman https://twitter.com/sesquiotic https://twitter.com/larry_kunz SPONSORS http://verbling.com Promo code: grammargirl http://lifelock.com Promo code: grammar FOLLOW GRAMMAR GIRL Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, March 10, 2016
507 Patty or Paddy? Needs Washed
Follow along on the website: 'Patty' Versus 'Paddy' http://j.mp/1U4uezm 'Needs Washed' http://j.mp/1QF9QS2 Find Grammar Girl on social media Twitter: http://twitter.com/grammargirl Facebook: http://facebook.com/grammargirl Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/thatgrammargirl Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl Instagram: http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl Sponsor: Lifelock.com or 1-800-867-0974. Promo code: Grammar Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Fri, March 04, 2016
506 GG Subordinate Clause Examples
βSubordinate clauseβ is the name youβre more likely to have learned in school, but the other name, βdependent clause,β may help you better understand what they do because adding that subordinating conjunction to the head of the clause makes it dependent on a main clause. Today, I have an explanation, plus examples with zombies! Also, featured listeners and National Grammar Day news. Sponsor: http://audible.com/gg Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Grammar Girl Books: http://j.mp/allGGBooks
Thu, February 25, 2016
505 GG Maudlin. Vocabulary Words
Follow along on the website: Maudlin: http://j.mp/1LdS5K8 Vocabulary Words: http://j.mp/20W9uc9 See all of Grammar Girl's books: http://j.mp/allGGbooks Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, February 18, 2016
504 GG Shined or Shone? Idioms About Tea
Follow along on the website: Shined or Shone? http://j.mp/1WuMUGd Idioms About Tea http://j.mp/1PURxpj Sponsor: http://casper.com/gg Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, February 11, 2016
503 GG What Is a Canard?
Follow along on the website: What Is a Canard? http://j.mp/23YcgBZ What's the Origin of 'Straw Man'? Sponsor: http://audible.com/gg Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, February 04, 2016
502 GG. Straw Man. Wicked.
Follow along on the website: What Is a Straw Man Argument? http://j.mp/1T0UtGo Why Do We Pronounce the '-ed' in 'Wicked'? http://j.mp/1K1lg2H Sponsor: http://IglooSoftware.com/grammargirl Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Share the story of how or why you listen to the podcast: http://facebook.com/grammargirl New: Grammar Girl LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl
Thu, January 28, 2016
501 GG Word Families. Caucus
Follow along on the website: Word Families http://j.mp/1PkoXk9 What Is a Caucus? http://j.mp/23v6TKx Sponsor http://feverbornbook.com Amazon Affiliate Link http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, January 21, 2016
500 GG Redundancy. Letters of Recommendation.
Follow along on the website: Redundancy:http://j.mp/1PGcT99 Letters of Recommendation: http://j.mp/20fJRVo Sponsors: http://audible.com/gg http://feverbornbook.com Wow! It's episode 500. Thanks to everyone. Tell me your story about how you listen. Leave it as a comment on the post pinned to the top of the page at http://facebook.com/GrammarGirl.
Thu, January 14, 2016
499 GG Current or Currant? Singular They
Follow along on the website: Current or Currant? http://j.mp/22WDk4j Singular They http://j.mp/1UL2gFO Sponsor http://igloosoftware.com/grammargirl Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, January 07, 2016
498 GG A Joke About a Mongoose. Writing Dates.
Follow along on the website: Mongoose Joke: http://j.mp/1RmNGqh Writing Dates: http://j.mp/1OSwvWV Sponsor: http://audible.com/gg When you shop at Amazon, start at our affiliate link to support the show: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, December 31, 2015
497 GG Should You Capitalize 'the Force' from Star Wars?
Should You Capitalize 'the Force' from Star Wars?
Thu, December 24, 2015
496 GG Plural of Hippopotamus
Follow along on the website: http://j.mp/1O78HCs Support the show by using our Amazon affiliate link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Grammar Pop iOS game: http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, December 17, 2015
495 GG Pair. Misusing βSoβ and βVery.β Even Keel
Follow along with the articles on the website: http://j.mp/QDTgrammar Recommended book: The Grammar Devotional Sponsors: http://mackweldon.com (20% off with the promo code "grammar") http://thirdlove.com/grammar (30 day free trial)
Thu, December 10, 2015
494 GG Pair. Forensic Linguistics. In Cold Blood
Follow along on the website: http://j.mp/QDTgrammar Pair Forensic Linguistics In Cold Blood Sponsor: http://thirdlove.com/grammar Sponsor: http://SockFancy.com Use the code "grammar" for $10 off. Quick And Dirty Tips Amazon Affiliate Link. Start your shopping here to support the show: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Grammar Girl's Books: http://j.mp/allGGbooks Grammar Pop iPad Game: http://bit.ly/14eeMDb
Thu, December 03, 2015
493 GG Hoofs or Hooves? Color Phrases
Follow along on the website: Hoofs or Hooves? http://j.mp/1lyLAFV Color Phrases: http://j.mp/1NszDMS Sponsor: http://audiblepodcast.com/GG Recommended Book: The Red Queen's Run Support the show when you shop at Amazon: http://quickanddirtytips.com/Amazon Grammar Girl's AP Style Webcast: http://bit.ly/GrammarGirlAPStyle
Fri, November 27, 2015
492. GG. Blue. Kith and Kin
This week, we look at 10 different meanings of the word "blue," including two that are the opposite of each other, and we learn what "kith" means in "kith and kin." Happy Thanksgiving. Follow along on the website: 10 Meanings of 'Blue': http://j.mp/1T2oBOm Kith and Kin: http://j.mp/1jiXWjW Sponsors http://thirdlove.com/grammar http://sockfancy.com Use the code "grammar" If you're shopping at Amazon, we appreciate it when you use our link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, November 12, 2015
490 GG Formatting URLs in Text
Follow along on the website: How to Format URLs: http://j.mp/1HIBW8x
Thu, November 05, 2015
489 GG Dialogue Tags. Writing Fight Scenes. NaNoWriMo
Follow along on the website: Dialogue Tags: http://j.mp/1Q4HqCm Dialog or Dialogue? http://j.mp/1MbksDL Writing Fight Scenes: http://j.mp/1Mgc4pR Sponsor: http://AudiblePodcast.com/GG Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/Amazon
Thu, October 29, 2015
488 GG Hallowe'en. Apostrophes. The Garden Path
Follow along on the website: Hallowe'en: http://j.mp/1k7T8yM Apostrophes: http://j.mp/1Ms9wH7 Garden Path: http://j.mp/1PTv9zH Sponsor: EverAlbum.com/grammargirl Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon AP Style Webinar: http://bit.ly/GrammarGirlAPStyle
Thu, October 22, 2015
487 GG Wolf or Woof. Interrobang. Riding Roughshod
Follow along on the website: Wolf or Woof: http://j.mp/1PFqnFX Interrobang: http://j.mp/1OQWQrY Riding Roughshod: http://j.mp/1jzyQOO EverAlbum http://everalbum.com/grammargirl Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon Open Room Media Podcast: http://j.mp/OpenRoomMediaPodcast
Thu, October 15, 2015
486 - Suffragette. Ginormous
Follow along on the website: Suffragette: http://bit.ly/1jruUj6 Ginormous: http://bit.ly/1R1M5SG Amazon Shopping Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/amazon
Thu, October 08, 2015
485 GG Firstly. Exclamation Points. Leeway.
Follow along on the website: First or Firstly? http://bit.ly/1MgTPMZ Exclamation Points: http://bit.ly/1GyzcKj Leeway: http://bit.ly/1VHTZaw http://QuickAndDirtyTips.com/amazon
Thu, October 01, 2015
484 GG Mantel or Mantle? Bulleted Lists
Follow along on the website: 'Mantel' or 'Mantle'? http://bit.ly/1L5bN8A How to Format a Bulleted List: http://bit.ly/1j1P2bz Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/offers
Thu, September 24, 2015
483 GG Sort, Kind, or Type? Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms
Follow along on the website: Sort, Kind, or Type? http://bit.ly/1Fvq3a9 Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms: http://bit.ly/1YCzN98 Amazon Affiliate Link: http://quickanddirtytips.com/offers
Thu, September 17, 2015
482 GG Amused or Bemused. Being Bilingual. Positive Anymore.
Follow along on the website: 'Amused' or 'Bemused'? http://bit.ly/1KT1NkH Bilingual: http://bit.ly/1Ko9Lf2 Positive 'Anymore': http://bit.ly/1W4tWHe http://quickanddirtytips.com/offers
Thu, September 10, 2015
481 GG And/Or. That Should Be a Word.
Follow along on the website: And/Or: http://bit.ly/1JT153a That Should Be a Word: http://bit.ly/1f59xlb Start your Amazon shopping from our link and help support the show: http://QuickAndDirtyTips.com/offers
Thu, September 03, 2015
480 GG Matriculate. Diminutives. Crocodile or Alligator?
Follow along on the website: Matriculate: http://bit.ly/1oPSBkJ Diminutives: http://bit.ly/1Qaatld Crocodile or Alligator? http://bit.ly/1KsTHPu Sponsors: http://quickanddirtytips.com/offers http://audible.com/GG
Fri, August 28, 2015
479 GG Scrabble in Different Parts of the World
Scrabble in Different Parts of the World
Thu, August 20, 2015
478 GG Why English Has Silent Letters
Follow along on the website: Fictitious Versus Fictional: http://bit.ly/1Nmnr0A Silent Letters: http://bit.ly/1hqOjQl Adult, Adolescent, Adultery: http://bit.ly/1KwPAvM Sponsor: http://edx.org/gg
Thu, August 13, 2015
477 GG Scrabble Extravaganza
Follow along on the website: Scrabble Expert Interviews: http://bit.ly/1MqVrZF
Thu, August 06, 2015
476 GG Zero Percent, Prefixes and Suffixes, Malapropisms
Follow along on the website: Zero Percent http://bit.ly/1Mnyu8v Prefixes and Suffixes http://bit.ly/1ejOkD3 Malapropisms: http://bit.ly/1eT5tDU Thanks to Audible for supporting our podcast. For a special summer promotion to encourage reluctant readers to embrace books, go to Audible.com/patterson
Fri, July 31, 2015
281 How Do Words Get in the Dictionary?
Follow along on the website: How Do Words Get in the Dictionary? http://j.mp/1IHGSKr
Thu, July 23, 2015
475 GG How a Comma Can Get You out of a Parking Ticket
Follow along on the website: Numbers in Parentheses: http://bit.ly/1GGZDfs Comma Law: http://bit.ly/1CW2mqj Minions: http://bit.ly/1TSiDB4 QDT Block Party: http://apple.co/1gA1pKr Sponsor: http://edx.org/gg
Thu, July 16, 2015
474 GG Flesh Out. Last Names. Hat Trick.
Follow along on the website: Flesh Out or Flush Out? http://j.mp/1TDrE0x Last Names: http://j.mp/1V57cHH Hat Trick: http://j.mp/1Mv2j4O Help the show by taking our short survey: http://podsurvey.com/grammar Grammar Girl on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/realgrammargirl/
Thu, July 09, 2015
473 GG How Understanding Toy Story Can Help You Get into College
Follow along on the website: Ban Together or Band Together? http://j.mp/1JTe7xl How Understanding 'Toy Story' Can Help Get You into College. http://j.mp/1S7L4Ik Left Holding the Bag. http://j.mp/1gmXhNG Sponsor: http://AudiblePodcast.com/GG
Tue, June 23, 2015
472 GG Citizen or Resident? Let's and Let Us. Newfangled.
Follow along on the website: Citizen or Resident? http://j.mp/1BBaE67 Let's and Let Us: http://j.mp/1SL2NaP Newfangled: http://j.mp/1NbEVcJ Survey: http://podsurvey.com/grammar Sponsor: http://DiscountFilters.com/GG
Thu, June 18, 2015
471 GG Size versus Sized. When Is It OK to Be Redundant? Mind Your Pβs and Qβs.
Follow Along on the Website: 'King-size' or 'King-sized'? http://bit.ly/1AN2M1x When Is It OK to Be Redundant? http://bit.ly/1eRM9rl What Does "Mind Your P's and Q's Mean"? http://bit.ly/1AN1qUh Grammar Pop: j.mp/1H5YiSj]
Fri, June 12, 2015
470 GG Prepositions in Shakespeare
Follow Along on the Website: How Many Spaces After a Colon? http://bit.ly/1EFJVQF Prepositions in Shakespeare http://bit.ly/1Rwb7KU A Treat http://bit.ly/1AAwmqw
Thu, June 04, 2015
469 GG Kudos. Crossword Puzzles. Squad Goals. June 4, 2015.
Follow Along on the Website: The Meaning of Kudos http://bit.ly/1SEAko0 What Does 'Squad Goals' Mean? http://bit.ly/1JhBqmC Crosswords http://bit.ly/1d23nAV
Thu, May 28, 2015
468 GG Congratulations. Food Names That Come From Countriesβ¦or Not. Tall Poppy Syndrome.
Follow Along on the Website: Congratulations http://bit.ly/1HM9mVo Food Names that are Totally Fake http://bit.ly/1HM9ww0 Tall Poppy Syndrome http://bit.ly/1KAcYxc Sponsor: http://AudiblePodcast.com/GG
Thu, May 21, 2015
467 GG Deep Seeded or Deep Seated?, Lewis Carroll: He Loved to Play with Language, Japanese Words in English
Follow along on the website: Deep Seeded or Deep Seated? http://bit.ly/1IRDyQj Lewis Carroll: He Loved to Play with Language http://bit.ly/1GsAh9S Japanese Words in English http://bit.ly/1F06qAl
Thu, May 14, 2015
466 GG Healthy Versus Healthful. The Best SAT Essay Ever. Fast and Loose
Follow along on the website: Healthy Versus Healthful http://bit.ly/1Hem0wb The Best SAT Essay Ever Article: http://bit.ly/1H4dr4c PDF of the Essay: http://j.mp/1cVMKHV Fast and Loose http://bit.ly/1A1704R
Thu, May 07, 2015
465 GG Two Spaces After a Period?
Follow Along on the Website: Yay, Yea, Yeah, and Yes. Two Spaces After a Period? http://bit.ly/1IlSO7G English Words from Spanish Grammar Pop iPad http://apple.co/1GRVVA6 Grammar Pop Universal http://apple.co/1Kn9gmZ Sponsor: http://AudiblePodcast.com/GG (Recommended book of the week: Station Eleven)
Thu, April 30, 2015
464 GG Weird Conditionals
Follow along on the website: Fiance or Fiancee: http://j.mp/1HI4wcy If-Clauses: http://j.mp/1DA19Qe Dark Horse: http://j.mp/1Othuk5 Sponsors: http://thegreatcourses.com/grammar http://mprofs.com/grammargirl (code GRAMMARGIRL)
Thu, April 23, 2015
463 GG Most or Almost. Parallel Structure. Follow Suit
Follow along on the website: Most or Almost http://j.mp/1bz6joG Parallel Structure http://j.mp/1EwygtV Follow Suit http://j.mp/1yUH2PL Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj Sponsor: The Great Courses http://thegreatcourses.com/grammar
Thu, April 16, 2015
462 GG Everyday. Ain't. Eponyms
Follow Along on the Website: Everyday Versus Every Day http://j.mp/1FvEiFz Ain't http://j.mp/1cjF1CP Eponyms http://j.mp/1EjPhGa Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, April 09, 2015
461 GG Between You and Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen
Follow along on the website: Smitten http://j.mp/1aLWFyC Between You and Me (Excerpt) http://j.mp/1H6eg0b Spick and Span http://j.mp/1a7LdMr Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, April 02, 2015
105 Yoda Grammar (Reissue)
Follow along on the website: Yoda Grammar http://j.mp/1P06VCE
Thu, March 26, 2015
460 GG Global English: Prepone, Do the Needful, and More
Follow along on the website: Parentheses and Subject-Verb Agreement http://j.mp/1FWMySM Global English http://j.mp/19U43aG Stand in Line or Stand on Line? http://j.mp/1bxpONX Try our iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, March 19, 2015
459 GG Subject-Verb Agreement
Follow Along on the Website: 'Wrong' Versus 'Wrongly' http://j.mp/1xjQN9H Subject-Verb Agreement http://j.mp/1xClTnM Is 'Heighth' a Word? http://j.mp/1GvnEIq Vote in the Podcast Awards http://j.mp/1G4ixy8
Fri, March 13, 2015
458 GG Can You Process These Tricky, but Grammatical, Sentences?
Follow along on the website: Does E-Book Need a Hyphen? http://j.mp/1wCjVs6 Can You Process These Tricky, but Grammatical, Sentences? http://j.mp/1HPgFLq The Meaning of Minions http://j.mp/1Gy6wBx Please Vote in the Podcast Awards http://j.mp/1G4ixy8
Thu, February 26, 2015
456 GG Is Starting a Sentence With So Condescending?
Follow Along on the Website When "First" Is Redundant http://j.mp/1wtjhgT Is Starting a Sentence With So Condescending? http://j.mp/1wthqsn Synecdoche http://j.mp/1FAUDua Watch Grammar Girl's TEDx Talk http://j.mp/ggTEDx
Fri, February 20, 2015
Announcement
There was a death in my family, so I don't have a show this week. I'll be back next week. If you're looking for something new to listen to while I'm away, try one of the other Quick and Dirty Tips podcasts. Some of them are listed here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-dirty-tips/id173429229?mt=2
Thu, February 12, 2015
455 GG Why Do We Drive on Parkways and Park on Driveways?
Follow along on the website: Dreamed or Dreamt? http://j.mp/1E2oQBF Parkway, Driveway, and Dooryard http://j.mp/1zNdcei Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo http://j.mp/1EbYdtP Watch my TEDx talk: Who Votes for New Words? http://j.mp/ggTEDx
Thu, February 05, 2015
454 GG Splitting Infinitives
Capitalizing Theories. Splitting Infinitives. Samuel Johnson.
Thu, January 29, 2015
453 GG Less Versus Fewer
Follow along on the website: Capitalizing Time Periods http://j.mp/1z4W6bX Less Versus Fewer http://j.mp/1yP50d4 Bee's Knees http://j.mp/1DiC0dw ---- Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, January 22, 2015
452 GG Why People Misuse Prepositions
Follow along on the website: Compliment Versus Complement http://j.mp/184vjlA Saving Our Prepositions http://j.mp/1yOHBdJ How 8 Fonts Got Their Names http://j.mp/1xZXLdg Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, January 15, 2015
451 GG Impossible Participals
Follow along on the website. Commas Before "Jr." http://j.mp/1BYaNOx Impossible Participles http://j.mp/1u2BXCZ Onomatopoeia http://j.mp/1AXQQZa Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, January 08, 2015
450 GG Is Sign Language Universal?
Tons of fascinating tidbits about sign language from interpreter David Peach Follow along online: http://j.mp/1EQ3dsJ Find David online: http://twitter.com/dpeach http://learnsigns.com Sponsor: http://AudiblePodcast.com/GG Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop: http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, January 01, 2015
449 GG Double Possessives
Follow along on the website: Transitive Versus Intransitive Verbs http://j.mp/1AUkNaZ Double Possessives http://j.mp/1x8OVy2 Try my iOS game, Grammar Pop http://j.mp/1H5YiSj
Thu, December 25, 2014
448 GG How Our Brains Process Hyperbole
Follow along on the website: Champ Versus Chomp http://j.mp/1Cp9TsZ Hyperbole http://j.mp/1HkXt6c Adulting http://j.mp/1sNOALZ
Thu, December 11, 2014
446 GG Why Don't People Say "Thou" Anymore
Read along on the website: What Does "Xmas" Really Mean? http://bit.ly/1xkSUsL Why Don't People Say "Thou" Anymore? http://bit.ly/1sv4joy Who Says "Kitty-Corner" and Who Says "Catty-Corner" http://bit.ly/1yTXXkt Grammar Girl books make a great gift! http://bit.ly/1xkT3fC
Thu, December 04, 2014
445 GG Why Do People Say "Like" All the Time?
Read along on the website" Is "Boughten" a Word? http://j.mp/1tUEecu Did Valley Girls Invent "Like"? http://j.mp/12CCHlG Is German Chocolate Cake from Germany? http://j.mp/1w4pyyW Learn More About my December 12 Writing Webcast http://bitly.com/ggwebcast
Thu, November 27, 2014
444 GG Between You and Me
Read along on the website: Lightning versus Lightening http://bit.ly/121kVb0 Between You and Me http://bit.ly/1AnHpif How Teddy Bears Got Their Name http://bit.ly/1AnH8fc Sign up for my December 12 corporate webcast. http://bitly.com/ggwebcast
Thu, November 13, 2014
442 GG Make Me a Sandwich
Based on Versus Based off. Make Me a Sandwich: A Joke About Verbs. How to Pronounce Zero
Thu, November 06, 2014
441 GG Mic or Mike? Simple or Simplistic? Uppercase and Lowercase
Mic or Mike? Simple or Simplistic? Uppercase and Lowercase. Visit the website: http://bit.ly/1qEiW2m
Thu, October 30, 2014
440 GG How to Plan a Novel
For NaNoWriMo: How to format a character's thoughts, how to plan a novel, and the surprising newness of the novel format. Visit the website: http://bit.ly/13DNlJ8
Thu, October 23, 2014
439 GG Texting, Coffins, and Death
Today, with Halloween in mind, I have a Quick and Dirty tip about the difference between a casket and a coffin; and an excerpt from David Crystalβs new book, Words in Time and Place, that goes through the many words we have for death and dying. Finally, I saw something shocking in a formal document a few weeks ago, so I have a tidbit about text messaging and language. Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1sXJDC5
Thu, October 16, 2014
438 GG Why Do People Say Punctuation Out Loud?
"Vaccine" Versus "Vaccination." Syelle Graves explains why people say things such as "We never leave any soldier behind. Period," and more generally, the relationship between speech and writing. A doozy of an eighteenth-century grammar rule: Don't use "who" to refer to children. Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1Fc7Lrk
Thu, October 09, 2014
437 GG Whatβs the difference between England, Great Britain, and the UK?
I know all you European listeners think itβs ridiculous that Americans donβt know the difference between England and Britain, but a British friend told me that many of you donβt know the difference between Britain and the United Kingdom, and that this would be a good topic for a podcast even though people should already know. Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1D7rupV
Thu, October 02, 2014
436 GG Why People Have Always Been Confused About Apostrophes
An interview with Ammon Shea about the confusing history of apostrophes. Hanged Versus Hung. The story of the Victorian Great Exhibition, where Adolphe Sax displayed his invention: the saxophone.
Thu, September 25, 2014
435 GG We Might Could Harvest the Corn
Yes, you can start a sentence with "because." Here's how to do it. What are helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs), and why do people in some regions say things such as "might could" and "might should"? English writers didn't always use a dot over the letter "i." We'll talk about when and why they started. Visit the website: http://bit.ly/1phbhWH
Thu, September 18, 2014
434 GG Ya Shank: The Made-Up Swear Words of 'The Maze Runner'
Insults, swear words, and world-building for young adults: In an interview with James Dashner, I got the inside scoop on the language of "The Maze Runner." Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1poctaV
Thu, September 11, 2014
433 GG Why People Mix Up the Pronouns "Me" and "I"
I can tell you which pronouns to use, but it takes a linguist to explain WHY people get confused. Here, Gretchen McCulloch reveals the fascinating reason that people struggle with sentences such as "Billy and me went to the store." Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1vrTG2g
Thu, August 28, 2014
431 GG Words That Aren't Words
In this podcast, you get a Quick and Dirty Tip about where to put periods and commas relative to quotation marks, an excerpt from Ammon Shea's book "Bad English," and a tidbit about a 1921 poem called "Alphabet of Errors." Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1v0iNsF
Thu, August 21, 2014
430 GG The Plural of Money. This Is Your Brain on Writing. Egregious
In this week's podcast, Grammar Girl discusses the plural of money, how to use "egregious," and talks with Ellen Hendriksen from The Savvy Psychologist podcast about the findings from an experiment done by German researchers in Germany who studied peopleβs brains while they were actively writing. Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1AUhYp5
Thu, August 14, 2014
429 GG How to Use the Conjunction βNorβ
How do you use the conjunction "nor" and why is it so special it deserves a podcast of its own? Neil Whitman explains. Visit the website to read the full transcript: http://bit.ly/1oOCyOR
Thu, August 07, 2014
428 GG Crash Blossoms
Why the Associated Press accidentally made people think another Malaysian airplane had crashed, and what it tells us about language. Visit the website to read the full transcript: http://bit.ly/1rs4BXJ
Thu, July 31, 2014
427 GG 7 French Food-Related Words That Became English
When the Normans took over England in 1066, they brought their food and their language. We talk about seven interesting French words that made it into English, and guest Clever Cookstr shares some of her favorite related recipes. Read the full transcript: http://bit.ly/1octDLT
Thu, July 24, 2014
426 GG A Language Lover's Trip to England
During a short but delightful trip to England, I saw the Rosetta Stone, the White Tower at the Tower of London, ancient alphabet tiles and wax seals, a stained glass window honoring William Caxton, and many more wonders. Hear about them all. Read the transcript on the website: http://bit.ly/1o02vuz
Thu, July 17, 2014
425 GG Why Weird Al's Word Crimes Video Made Me Want to Quit
Why Weird Al's Word Crimes Video Made Me Want to Quit. Visit the website to watch the video and comment: http://bit.ly/1qArtIJ
Thu, July 10, 2014
424GG There's Something Weird About "For," "Yet," and "So"
FANBOYS are a myth and there's something weird about "for," "yet," and "so."
Thu, July 03, 2014
423 GG Is the Semicolon in TL;DR Ironic?
"TL;DR" means "too long; didn't read," but the semicolon is usually associated with long or complex sentences. What is it doing in this abbreviation? Note: This piece originally appeared as a Grammar Girl blog post January 22, 2014 and was rereleased as an audio podcast on July 3, 2014. Visit the website to read the full transcript and leave a comment: http://bit.ly/1g1PtiA
Thu, June 26, 2014
422GG Manipulating Words to Make Things Funny
Why sentences like this are funny: A woman gives birth in the UK every 48 seconds. She must be exhausted.
Thu, June 19, 2014
421 - Part II: Why Do People Say 'A-Whole-Nother'?
Why do people say "a-whole-nother"?It's the same reason we say "an apron" instead if "a napron."
Thu, June 12, 2014
420 - Why 'A-Whole-Nother' Isnβt Like 'Ala-Frickinβ-Bama' and 'Hizzouse'
While researching why people say "a-whole-nother," Syelle Graves discovered that even knowing what to call the phrase gets complicated (and interesting).
Thu, June 05, 2014
419 - Using Stick Figures to Understand First, Second, and Third Person
Using Stick Figures to Understand First, Second, and Third Person
Thu, May 22, 2014
417 - An Unparalleled Letdown
The authors of "The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation" help us understand parallel structure.
Thu, May 15, 2014
416GG How to Kick Your Annoying Preposition Habit
How to Kick Your Annoying Preposition Habit
Thu, May 08, 2014
415 - Commas Are Like People on the Subway
Commas are like people on the subway: You think you know them, but they're awfully complex. This week, we'll dig deeper and get to know some of their jobs: separating items in a series (the Oxford comma), delineating appositives, and surrounding nonrestrictive phrases.
Thu, May 01, 2014
414 - Luisa Zissman's Missing Apostrophe
Sometimes companies leave apostrophes out of their names when it seems as if the name would need an apostrophe. Why do they do it, and is it wrong?
Thu, April 24, 2014
413 - Words Invented by Shakespeare
In honor of Shakespeare's 450th birthday, we'll look at Shakespeare's words, phrases, insults, and false friends. I bet you don't know them all.
Fri, April 18, 2014
412 - Can I Help Who's Next?
Neal Whitman addresses some annoying phrases you hear in stores and restaurants, such as "Can I help who's next?" and "Did you want cream in your coffee?" Find out why people say such things.
Thu, April 10, 2014
411 - Addictive Versus Addicting
Addictive Versus Addicting
Sun, March 30, 2014
410GG Just Because
It's tricky to pick apart the grammar of a sentence such as "Just because youβre correct doesnβt mean youβre not annoying." Guest writer Neal Whitman explains why such sentences work and what they really mean.
Fri, March 21, 2014
408 - Why We Don't End Sentences With "You're"
Some words have strong forms, weak forms, and even weaker forms.
Thu, March 13, 2014
407GG Why Canadians Don't Really Say "Aboot"
Gretchen McCulloch from the All Things Linguistic explains why Canadians don't say "aboot" and why most Americans think they do.
Fri, March 07, 2014
406GG Begging the Question
Language is changing but that doesn't mean you have to go with the flow.
Fri, February 28, 2014
405 - Is Cash Money a Regional Expression?
Is Cash Money a Regional Expression?
Thu, February 27, 2014
404 - Why "Substitute" Is Weird
Why itβs hard to talk about substituting one thing for another without confusing people. Guest Writer: Neal Whitman Sponsor: AudiblePodcast.com/GG
Sat, February 22, 2014
403 - Preventative and Orientate
Today, weβre going to talk about two cases in which English has two words that mean the same thing and whether one choice is better than the other. Preventative and preventive, and orient and orientate. Sponsor: Grammar Girlβs Peeve Wars. Visits FundAnything.com/peevewars to learn more.
Fri, February 21, 2014
402 - Little Bunny Foo Foo
The Hoax Behind Little Bunny Foo Foo
Fri, February 14, 2014
401 - How Clipping Creates New Words
Great tales of English word evolution: From pantaloons to pants, caravan to van, and much more. Guest Writer: Bonnie Trenga Sponsor: http://FundAnything.com/peevewars
Sun, February 09, 2014
400 - How Reading Tickles Your Neurons
When you read about a character, in some ways your brain acts as though it thinks you ARE the character. It's amazing. Grammar Girl and the Savvy Psychologist explain how. Subscribe to the Savvy Psychologist's show at iTunes. Get the card game Peeve Wars at http://FundAnything.com/peevewars
Fri, February 07, 2014
399 - Your Brain on Fiction
How Literature Changes Your Brain for the Better. If you liked this podcast, check out our new show, The Savvy Psychologist.
Thu, January 30, 2014
071 Units Of Measure
Units Of Measure: Feet, Ft., Lb., Degrees, and Percents
Fri, January 24, 2014
398GG Why Some Band Names Take "The" and Some Don't
Why can we say "the Jefferson Airplane" but not "the Led Zeppelin"?
Thu, January 16, 2014
397 - Secrets of Bestselling Novels
A new study uncovered things that successful novels have in common.
Fri, January 10, 2014
396 GG Tenterhooks or Tenderhooks?
What could this weekβs topic be?
Thu, January 02, 2014
192 Do I Hate Your Singing or You Singing?
Do I Hate Your Singing or You Singing?
Tue, December 24, 2013
395 GG How to Use Quotation Marks
How to mix quotation marks with other punctuation.
Tue, December 17, 2013
394GG Hashtag Rap
Did Kanye West Coin the Term "Hashtag Rap"?
Fri, December 13, 2013
393 GG Nonsense Syllables
Why we sing "fra la la" instead of "fa spla spla"
Fri, December 06, 2013
392 GG Orangehead
Why do we call people redheads instead of orangeheads? Guest writer Gretchen McCulloch has the amazing answer. Grammar Pop Winterfest is a new wintery edition of the original Grammar Pop iOS game. It has new winter art and all new sentences, and it's on sale for only 99 cents until December 15. Get it today!
Thu, November 28, 2013
251 - What Is a Gerund?
What Is a Gerund?
Fri, November 22, 2013
391 GG Scrabble Words
A fun romp through some quirky words you may see when you're playing Scrabble. Remember to check out my new game, Grammar Pop, for your iPhone or iPad.
Fri, November 15, 2013
390 - Passive Voice
Avoid one of the biggest passive voice mistakes!
Thu, November 07, 2013
389 GG English Plurals: Wugs and Blicks
Your subconscious controls how you speak. We show why you already know how to make imaginary words such as "wugs" and "blicks" plural. Try the new iPad and iPhone grammar game, Grammar Pop. It's in the App Store.
Wed, October 23, 2013
388 GG Style Sheets
Don't make the mistake of treating your style sheet like a style guide. The new grammar game, Grammar Pop, is now available for the iPhone. Look for it in the App Store and try it today!
Mon, October 14, 2013
387 GG "Because" as a Preposition
What's up with sentences such as I didn't do my homework because Skyrim? Try Grammar Girl's new iPad and iPhone game: Grammar Pop.
Thu, October 10, 2013
386 - Negation in Night Vale
Welcome to Night Vale: Where even βnotβ isnβt what it seems.
Thu, October 03, 2013
117 - Biweekly Versus Semiweekly
Why "biweekly" can have multiple legitimate meanings. Check out the new word game Grammar Pop in the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grammar-pop-hd/id666851934?mt=8&uo=4&at=11l7m5
Fri, September 27, 2013
385 - Irony
More than five different types of irony? No wonder it's confusing! Guest writer Keith Houston, author of "Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and other Typographical Marks" helps us figure out irony.
Thu, September 19, 2013
384 - Homophones
Which English homophones came from polysemy and which came from spelling variation? Try our new iPad game, Grammar Pop. If you like the Grammar Girl podcast, you'll love the game.
Thu, September 12, 2013
383 GG Could Care Less
An excerpt from Bill Walsh's book "Yes, I Could Care Less."
Thu, September 05, 2013
50 GG Like Versus As
Find out which of these words is a preposition and which is a conjunction. Try Grammar Girl's new iPad game called Grammar Pop. You match words with their part of speech to pop clouds. You can also find Grammar Girl's books at http://j.mp/allGGbooks
Fri, August 30, 2013
381 GG Prepositions
The fascinating history of English prepositions (yes, really). If you are trying to learn about prepositions, try Grammar Girl's new iPad game called Grammar Pop. You match words with their part of speech, including prepositions. You can also find Grammar Girl's books at http://j.mp/allGGbooks
Thu, August 22, 2013
380 GG Participles and Gerunds
Prove you know your parts of speech with the new iPad game Grammar Pop. You don't have to know the difference between participles and gerunds to play, but if you're up to the challenge, it's there waiting for you! Look for Grammar Pop in the App Store.
Thu, August 15, 2013
379 GG Apostrophes in Science Fiction and Fantasy Names
Who started it and why? Get Grammar Girl's books at http://j.mp/allGGbooks
Fri, August 09, 2013
378 GG Apostrophes and Plurals
Learn how to use apostrophes by pondering a Victoria's Secret ad. Buy Grammar Girl's books: http://j.mp/allGGbooks
Fri, August 02, 2013
377 GG Royal "We"
In honor of the new royal baby, more formally known as Prince George Alexander Louis, we're pondering a pompous pronoun choice known as the "royal we." Buy Grammar Girl's books at http://j.mp/allGGbooks.
Fri, July 19, 2013
376 GG Why Do We Have Both A and An?
How English evolved to give us two indefinite articles (a and an), and the odd mix of possessive pronouns that don't quite match. Buy Grammar Girl's books: http://j.mp/allGGbooks
Thu, July 11, 2013
375 GG What Is It Called When You Mishear Song Lyrics?
Spoonerisms, Mondegreens, Malapropisms, and Eggcorns. Like the podcast? See Grammar Girl's books: http://j.mp/allGGbooks
Fri, July 05, 2013
374 GG Rebracketing
How to Make Weird Product Names Plural
Fri, June 21, 2013
372 GG Retronyms
Retronyms: Scourge of the Language or Helpful Tool?
Fri, June 14, 2013
371 GG Commma Splice
How to Avoid a Common Comma Error: The Comma Splice
Fri, June 07, 2013
370 GG Why Isn't "Gruntled" A Word?
Why Aren't We Gruntled When We're Happy?
Fri, May 31, 2013
369 GG Why Does "I" Take Plural Verbs?
"I" is singular, so why do we say "I go" instead of "I goes"?
Fri, May 24, 2013
368 GG Hyphens
How to Use Hyphens.
Fri, May 17, 2013
367 GG The Old Editor Says
John E. McIntyre, a veteran editor at The Baltimore Sun, shares pithy editing maxims from his new book.
Fri, May 10, 2013
366 GG How Texting Is Changing English
How Texting Is Changing English
Fri, May 03, 2013
285 GG "Moot" Versus "Mute"
Moot isn't moot, but it can mean something different in Britain and the U.S.
Fri, April 26, 2013
365 GG The Language of Crime
The Language of Crime
Fri, April 19, 2013
364 GG Why Would Anyone Use "The Chicago Manual of Style"?
Style guides.
Fri, April 12, 2013
363 GG Writing Flashbacks
How to manage verb tense when writing flashbacks.
Fri, April 05, 2013
362 GG Why Are Some Portmanteaus So Awful?
My failed entries for the Clorox Ick-tionary.
Fri, March 29, 2013
361 GG Is That a Wool Sweater or a Woolen Sweater?
What to do when you can use an attributive noun or an adjective.
Fri, March 22, 2013
051 GG I'm Good
Is it OK to answer "How are you?" with "I'm good"?
Fri, March 08, 2013
359 GG Do You Tell People to Pound Sand or Pound Salt?
Deciphering crazy English idioms.
Fri, March 01, 2013
358 GG "Only": The Most Insidious Misplaced Modifier
How putting the word "only" in the wrong place can confuse your readers.
Fri, February 22, 2013
357 GG Why the Plural of "Die" Is "Dice," not "Douse."
Fossils of language
Fri, February 15, 2013
356 GG Where Do I Use Commas?
Are you a comma-kaze? Do you use commas like confetti? Don't use a comma everywhere you would pause when speaking. Check out the rules.
Fri, February 08, 2013
355 GG Subject Object
Why "I love you" is the easiest way ever to remember the difference between subject and object.
Fri, January 25, 2013
353 GG Can Apple Get Away with "Funness"?
and "renanoing"?
Fri, January 18, 2013
352 GG How to Create and Use Figures of Speech Pt.1
Make your messages more vivid, more memorable, and trigger emotional responses using anaphora, antithesis, and chiasmus.
Fri, January 11, 2013
351 GG Pronouns: Is a Company a "Who" or a "That"?
What pronoun should you use when referring to a company?
Fri, January 04, 2013
350 GG "Who" Versus "That"
Is Your Dog an "It" or a "She"?
Fri, December 28, 2012
349 GG A Word Lover's Highlights of 2012
The good, the bad, and the odd.
Fri, December 21, 2012
348 GG How Webster's Screwed Up
How an editor who hated the word "radical," became a radical.
Fri, December 14, 2012
347 GG How to Use a Hyphen
Learn how to use properly use hyphens with compound adjectives.
Fri, December 07, 2012
346 GG Tuxedo Verbs
Use rich verbs, but don't put them in tuxedos.
Fri, November 09, 2012
342 GG Writing for Dyslexic Readers
Tricks to make make your writing more accessible to people with dyslexia and visual impairments.
Fri, November 02, 2012
341 GG Google Ngram and "Impact" as a Verb
The updated Ngram Viewer gives new insight into word usage.
Fri, October 12, 2012
151 GG Just Say No to Drugs
"Dragged" versus "drug." The Grammar Girl print book is now available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/2pkej7
Fri, September 28, 2012
142 GG When Are Double Words OK?
Are "is is" and "had had" acceptable?
Fri, August 31, 2012
334 GG Using Present Tense in a Story About the Past
The girl who sat next to me is or was? named Stephanie.
Fri, August 24, 2012
333 GG When Is W a Vowel
A E I O U and sometimes Y, but also W?
Fri, August 10, 2012
332 GG How Do You Tell If Something Is True?
Debunking a believable grammar hoax.
Fri, August 03, 2012
331 GG "Pet" or "Petted"? Troublesome Past Tenses
Some verbs are becoming strangely irregular.
Fri, July 27, 2012
330 GG The Rules of Story
Why the Rules of Story Are Even More Immutable than the Rules of Grammar.
Fri, July 20, 2012
329 GG "Versus"
Get ready to write about the Olympics.
Fri, July 13, 2012
328 GG "Decimate" and "All Right"
Two troublesome words from Grammar Girl's new book.
Fri, July 06, 2012
327 GG "Dilemma" and "Gone Missing"
From 101 TROUBLESOME WORDS.
Fri, June 29, 2012
326 GG "Jealousy" Versus "Envy"
From 101 TROUBLESOME WORDS.
Fri, June 22, 2012
325 GG So You Think You Can Edit?
Tips for editing and revising.
Fri, June 08, 2012
324 GG When Bad Grammar Means Good Fiction
Sometimes you gotta break the rules.
Fri, June 01, 2012
323 GG How to Write Numbers
When do you write out numbers, and why do they call it "maths" in England?
Fri, May 04, 2012
320 GG You Have No Idea How Weird "Do" Is
English's meaningless "do."
Fri, April 20, 2012
318 GG Dashes, Colons, and Commas
They can change the way your sentences feel. Learn how they differ.
Fri, April 13, 2012
317 GG What Does "Proper English" Mean?
You say "proper English," but you mean Standard English
Fri, April 06, 2012
316 GG Sentence Fragments
Will they make editors reject your fiction?
Fri, March 30, 2012
315 GG Possessives
Possessives: They aren't just for possession.
Fri, March 23, 2012
314 GG Mary Sue
Truth may be stranger than fiction, but fiction is usually more interesting.
Fri, March 02, 2012
312 GG This NGD story is "all right."
A Grammar Day tale: When Mr. Brown Met Miss Fox: A Love Story
Fri, February 17, 2012
309 GG Why Do Kids Say "Versing"?
It's older than you think.
Fri, February 10, 2012
308 GG Should We Abandon Standard Spelling?
Should we be more lenient? "L8r" for "later"?
Fri, February 03, 2012
310 GG Stationary, Stationery, Complement, and Compliment
Memory tricks!
Fri, January 27, 2012
111 GG Everybody Wants Some
Indefinite pronouns. The Grammar Girl print book is now available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/2pkej7
Fri, January 13, 2012
306 GG "The Night Circus": Well Done Second Person Narrative
Did you know there are three kinds of second person?
Fri, January 06, 2012
305 GG Where Did the @ Symbol Come From?
Why does it look like a snail?
Fri, December 30, 2011
304 GG Should You Point Out Errors?
How can you correct people's errors without coming off like a jerk?
Fri, December 23, 2011
030 GG Sentence Fragments
Learn to recognize them.
Sun, December 11, 2011
200 "Who" Versus "Whom," Advanced
"Who" Versus "Whom," Advanced
Fri, December 09, 2011
302 GG Passive Voice
It's about more than just what verb you use.
Fri, December 02, 2011
301 GG Active Voice
It's about more than just what verb you use.
Fri, November 25, 2011
300 GG Christmas Carol Grammar
Learn about the odd grammar in "What Child Is This?"
Fri, November 18, 2011
299 GG Ten Tips to Banish Typos
Computer and printing tricks to eliminate errors.
Fri, November 04, 2011
298 GG Color Your Readers' Imagination with Words
"Dogs" or "mastiffs"? "Beer" or "ale"? It really does matter.
Fri, October 28, 2011
297 GG How to Search a Corpus
It's a database, not a dead body.
Fri, October 21, 2011
029 GG "They" as a Singular Pronoun
Can you use "they" as a gender-neutral singular pronoun?
Fri, October 07, 2011
294 GG Do You Resent Your Editor?
Tips for dealing with criticism.
Thu, September 29, 2011
293 When to Capitalize Seasons
When to Capitalize Seasons
Fri, September 23, 2011
292 Overcoming Writerβs Block
Overcoming Writerβs Block
Mon, August 08, 2011
288 Compound Nouns
Compound Nouns
Thu, July 14, 2011
284 Who Says βFunβ Canβt Be an Adjective?
Who Says βFunβ Canβt Be an Adjective?
Fri, July 08, 2011
283 Did Oxford Drop the Oxford Comma?
Did Oxford Drop the Oxford Comma?
Fri, July 01, 2011
282 "Each Other" Versus "One Another"
"Each Other" Versus "One Another"
Thu, June 16, 2011
280 Whoever or Whomever?
Whoever or Whomever?
Thu, June 09, 2011
279 Capitalizing Titles
Capitalizing Titles
Thu, May 12, 2011
275 Camel Case
Camel Case
Thu, May 05, 2011
274 Double Subjects
Double Subjects
Thu, April 28, 2011
273 "A Hold" or "Ahold"?
"A Hold" or "Ahold"?
Thu, April 21, 2011
272 Do You Capitalize βGodβ?
Do You Capitalize βGodβ?
Thu, April 07, 2011
270 Commas With Participial Phrases
Commas With Participial Phrases
Thu, March 24, 2011
268 Mixing Verb Tenses
Mixing Verb Tenses
Thu, March 17, 2011
267 How to Speak English Like the Irish
How to Speak English Like the Irish
Thu, February 17, 2011
263 How to Write Grammatically Correct Photo Captions
How to Write Grammatically Correct Photo Captions
Thu, January 27, 2011
260 Contractions
Contractions
Thu, January 20, 2011
259 First, Second, and Third Person
First, Second, and Third Person
Thu, January 13, 2011
258 How to Write Dialogue
How to Write Dialogue
Thu, January 13, 2011
257 Should You Ever Put a Space Before a Period?
Should You Ever Put a Space Before a Period?
Thu, December 02, 2010
252 What Is Plagiarism?
What Is Plagiarism?
Fri, November 19, 2010
250 "Foreword" Versus "Forward"
"Foreword" Versus "Forward"
Thu, November 04, 2010
248 How to Write a Better Resume
How to Write a Better Resume
Thu, October 28, 2010
246 Show, Donβt Tell
Show, Donβt Tell
Fri, October 22, 2010
245 "Talk With" versus "Talk To"
"Talk With" versus "Talk To"
Thu, October 07, 2010
243 "Think Different" or "Think Differently"
"Think Different" or "Think Differently"
Thu, September 30, 2010
242 "Like" Versus "Such As"
"Like" Versus "Such As"
Thu, September 16, 2010
240 Do All Adverbs End in "-Ly"?
Do All Adverbs End in "-Ly"?
Thu, September 09, 2010
239 Capitalizing Proper Nouns
Capitalizing Proper Nouns
Thu, September 02, 2010
238 Is It OK to Switch Verb Tenses?
Is It OK to Switch Verb Tenses?
Thu, August 12, 2010
235 Swearing
Swearing
Thu, August 05, 2010
234 Does "Until" Include the Date?
Does "Until" Include the Date?
Thu, July 22, 2010
232 Active Voice Versus Passive Voice
Active Voice Versus Passive Voice
Thu, July 15, 2010
231 How to Write Clear Sentences
How to Write Clear Sentences
Thu, July 08, 2010
230 When to Use Female Nouns
When to Use Female Nouns
Thu, July 01, 2010
229 Understanding Voice and Tone in Writing
Understanding Voice and Tone in Writing
Fri, June 25, 2010
228 Comma Splice
Comma Splice
Thu, June 17, 2010
226 How to Use Transition Words
How to Use Transition Words
Fri, June 04, 2010
224 When to Use Articles Before Nouns
When to Use Articles Before Nouns
Fri, May 21, 2010
222 Dashes, Parentheses, and Commas
Dashes, Parentheses, and Commas
Fri, April 30, 2010
219 "Bad" Versus "Badly"
"Bad" Versus "Badly"
Thu, April 29, 2010
220 How to Eliminate Adverbs
How to Eliminate Adverbs
Thu, April 15, 2010
217 What Is Poetic License?
What Is Poetic License?
Thu, April 01, 2010
215 Hey, That's Not Grammar Girl!
Hey, That's Not Grammar Girl!
Thu, March 18, 2010
213 Stacked Modifiers
Stacked Modifiers
Fri, February 19, 2010
209 Does the Olympic Theme Song βI Believeβ Have a Grammar Error?
Does the Olympic Theme Song βI Believeβ Have a Grammar Error?
Fri, January 29, 2010
206 Is "I'm Loving It" Proper Grammar?
Is "I'm Loving It" Proper Grammar?
Thu, January 21, 2010
205 Readers Share Their Funny Errors
Readers Share Their Funny Errors
Mon, January 18, 2010
203 How Do You Pronounce 2010?
How Do You Pronounce 2010?
Thu, January 14, 2010
204 Is "Got" Proper English?
Is "Got" Proper English?
Fri, December 25, 2009
201 Is βAin'tβ a Word?
Is βAin'tβ a Word?
Sat, December 05, 2009
199 "Alternate" Versus "Alternative"
"Alternate" Versus "Alternative"
Thu, November 19, 2009
197 "Where" Versus "In Which"
"Where" Versus "In Which"
Fri, November 13, 2009
196 Adverbs Ending in -ly
Adverbs Ending in -ly
Fri, October 16, 2009
193 "Diffuse" Versus "Defuse"
"Diffuse" Versus "Defuse"
Fri, October 02, 2009
191 How to Write a Complaint Letter
How to Write a Complaint Letter
Fri, September 25, 2009
190 Ellipses Spurned
Ellipses Spurned
Fri, September 18, 2009
188 "Comprise" Versus "Compose"
"Comprise" Versus "Compose"
Fri, September 11, 2009
187 Should Writers Keep a Journal?
Should Writers Keep a Journal?
Fri, September 04, 2009
186 Funny Misplaced Modifiers
Funny Misplaced Modifiers
Fri, August 28, 2009
185 When Should You Capitalize Titles?
When Should You Capitalize Titles?
Fri, August 14, 2009
183 Verbs Sandwiched Between Singular and Plural Nouns
Verbs Sandwiched Between Singular and Plural Nouns
Sat, August 01, 2009
184 When Should You Capitalize Words?
When Should You Capitalize Words?
Thu, July 30, 2009
181 How Many Spaces After A Period?
How Many Spaces After A Period?
Sun, July 26, 2009
176 What Is Subject-Complement Agreement?
What Is Subject-Complement Agreement?
Fri, July 24, 2009
180 How to Use Parallel Construction Correctly
How to Use Parallel Construction Correctly
Wed, July 22, 2009
119 "Shall" Versus "Will"
"Shall" Versus "Will"
Fri, July 17, 2009
179 Can You Start a Sentence with βWhichβ?
Can You Start a Sentence with βWhichβ?
Fri, July 10, 2009
178 Do Rhetorical Questions Need a Question Mark?
Do Rhetorical Questions Need a Question Mark?
Fri, June 12, 2009
174 "Myself"
"Myself"
Fri, May 29, 2009
172 "All Right" Versus "Alright"
"All Right" Versus "Alright"
Fri, May 15, 2009
170 Swear Words in Text
Swear Words in Text
Sat, May 09, 2009
169 Using βForβ to Mean βBecauseβ
Using βForβ to Mean βBecauseβ
Fri, May 01, 2009
168 Troublesome Contractions (e.g., I'd've)
Troublesome Contractions (e.g., I'd've)
Thu, April 23, 2009
167 Dashes Versus Colons
Dashes Versus Colons
Fri, April 17, 2009
166 Strunk and White
Strunk and White
Tue, April 07, 2009
182 Are You Annoyingly Redundant?
Are You Annoyingly Redundant?
Fri, April 03, 2009
164 "One" Versus "You"
"One" Versus "You"
Fri, April 03, 2009
177 Why Are British English and American English Different?
Why Are British English and American English Different?
Fri, March 20, 2009
162 How to Write a Great Blog Comment
How to Write a Great Blog Comment
Fri, March 13, 2009
161 "Use" Versus "Utilize"
"Use" Versus "Utilize"
Fri, February 20, 2009
158 "Flammable" Versus "Inflammable"
"Flammable" Versus "Inflammable"
Fri, February 13, 2009
157 GG When to Use a Comma with βTooβ
Only you can decide.
Fri, February 06, 2009
156 What is the plural of scissors
What is the plural of scissors.
Fri, January 30, 2009
155 What to Call People With Disabilities.
What to Call People With Disabilities.
Fri, December 26, 2008
150 How to Podcast a Book
How to Podcast a Book
Fri, December 12, 2008
148 How to Write Your First Novel
How to Write Your First Novel
Fri, November 21, 2008
012 Wordiness And Idioms
Wordiness And Idioms
Thu, November 13, 2008
146 Mixed Metaphors
Mixed Metaphors
Fri, November 07, 2008
144 Concrete Versus Cement
Concrete Versus Cement
Fri, October 17, 2008
141 Appositives
Appositives
Fri, October 10, 2008
140 Modifying Phrases at the Beginning of Sentences
Modifying Phrases at the Beginning of Sentences
Fri, October 03, 2008
139 Is "Data" Singular or Plural?
Is "Data" Singular or Plural?
Fri, September 19, 2008
136 Complex-Compound Sentences
Complex-Compound Sentences
Tue, September 02, 2008
131 Collective Nouns
Collective Nouns
Mon, August 25, 2008
129 Assure Versus Ensure Versus Insure
Assure Versus Ensure Versus Insure
Tue, August 19, 2008
127 Begs the Question
Begs the Question
Thu, August 14, 2008
126 - Through, Threw, and Thru
Through, Threw, and Thru
Tue, August 12, 2008
125 Comparatives Versus Superlatives
Comparatives Versus Superlatives
Fri, August 08, 2008
124 Better Versus Best
Better Versus Best
Fri, August 01, 2008
122 Is "Have Got" Acceptable English?
Is "Have Got" Acceptable English?
Fri, July 25, 2008
120 He Said, She Said
He Said, She Said
Fri, July 18, 2008
118 Writing Accents and Dialects
Writing Accents and Dialects
Tue, July 15, 2008
123 How to Avoid ClichΓ©s
How to Avoid ClichΓ©s
Thu, July 10, 2008
116 "Than I" Versus "Than Me"
"Than I" Versus "Than Me"
Fri, July 04, 2008
114 Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
Fri, June 27, 2008
113 Writing with Slang
Writing with Slang
Fri, June 06, 2008
110 When to Leave Out "That"
When to Leave Out "That"
Fri, May 23, 2008
108 Whose for Inanimate Objects
Whose for Inanimate Objects
Thu, May 15, 2008
107 Graduated versus Graduated From
Graduated versus Graduated From
Fri, March 28, 2008
100 How to Write Numbers
How to Write Numbers
Fri, March 21, 2008
007 Which Versus That
Which Versus That
Fri, March 07, 2008
098 Who Versus Whom--Advanced
Who Versus Whom--Advanced
Thu, February 21, 2008
096 May Versus Might
May Versus Might
Fri, February 15, 2008
095 Zeroscape Versus Xeriscape
Zeroscape Versus Xeriscape
Thu, January 31, 2008
093 Hyphens
Hyphens
Thu, January 10, 2008
091 Yo as a Pronoun
Yo as a Pronoun
Fri, January 04, 2008
090 Went Missing
Went Missing
Fri, December 07, 2007
087 Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions
Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions
Fri, November 16, 2007
084 People Versus Entities
People Versus Entities
Fri, November 09, 2007
082 Daylight-Saving Time
Daylight-Saving Time
Fri, November 09, 2007
083 Interviewing Tips
Interviewing Tips
Fri, October 05, 2007
078 Formatting Hyperlinks
Formatting Hyperlinks
Fri, September 28, 2007
077 Verbification of a Noun
Verbification of a Noun
Fri, September 21, 2007
076 Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully"
Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully"
Thu, August 30, 2007
073 Simplify Your Writing
Simplify Your Writing
Thu, August 23, 2007
072 The The -- The Double The
The The -- The Double The
Fri, August 10, 2007
070 The Asterisk (Trust Me About Grammar, Not About Baseball)
The Asterisk (Trust Me About Grammar, Not About Baseball)
Fri, July 20, 2007
068 Unlawful Versus Illegal
Unlawful Versus Illegal
Fri, July 20, 2007
067 Your Versus You're
Your Versus You're
Fri, June 29, 2007
065 Regionalisms
Regionalisms
Tue, June 26, 2007
064 Between You and Me
Between You and Me
Tue, May 22, 2007
056 Generating Story Ideas and Overcoming Writer's Block
Generating Story Ideas and Overcoming Writer's Block
Fri, May 18, 2007
055 Misplaced Modifiers
Misplaced Modifiers
Sun, April 01, 2007
048 April Fools' Day Episode
April Fools' Day Episode
Sun, March 11, 2007
266 When Should You Capitalize Cocktail and Food Names?
When Should You Capitalize Cocktail and Food Names?
Wed, February 21, 2007
042 Semicolons
Semicolons
Fri, January 12, 2007
036 Grammar Manners
Grammar Manners
Fri, December 15, 2006
031 The Lord Is Come?
The Lord Is Come?
Sat, November 04, 2006
024 Who Versus That
Who Versus That
Fri, October 20, 2006
021 Proofreading Tips
Proofreading Tips
Tue, October 10, 2006
165 Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Initialisms
Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Initialisms
Sun, October 08, 2006
Excessive Redundant Redundancies
Excessive Redundant Redundancies
Sun, September 24, 2006
015 Title Capitalization Rules
Title Capitalization Rules
Thu, September 07, 2006
11 Grammar Style Issues
Grammar Style Issues
loading...