Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

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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.

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Episodes

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 DI...

Jul 18, 2019•11 min•Ep 706•Transcript available on Metacast

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: ...

Jul 16, 2019•12 min•Ep 705•Transcript available on Metacast

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/iPadGramm...

Jul 11, 2019•9 min•Ep 704•Transcript available on Metacast

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 | Fo...

Jul 08, 2019•22 min•Ep 703•Transcript available on Metacast

702 - ‘All of a Sudden’ or ‘All of the Sudden’? ‘Baited’ or ‘Bated’ 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/Gram...

Jul 04, 2019•10 min•Ep 702•Transcript available on Metacast

701 - ‘Biweekly’ or ‘Semiweekly’? ‘Foward' and ‘Forward.’

Today I have a Quick and Dirty Tip about the difference between “biweekly” and “semiweekly,” and I respond to a listener question about why I pronounce “forward” 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/GrammarPop...

Jul 01, 2019•10 min•Ep 701•Transcript available on Metacast

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/GrammarPopMobil...

Jun 27, 2019•10 min•Ep 700•Transcript available on Metacast

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 GI...

Jun 24, 2019•8 min•Ep 699•Transcript available on Metacast

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/iPadGra...

Jun 20, 2019•7 min•Ep 698•Transcript available on Metacast

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.quickanddirtyti...

Jun 17, 2019•26 min•Ep 697•Transcript available on Metacast

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 f...

Jun 13, 2019•8 min•Ep 696•Transcript available on Metacast

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 | Gram...

Jun 10, 2019•12 min•Ep 695•Transcript available on Metacast

694 - Country Names and “The”: 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 w...

Jun 06, 2019•13 min•Ep 694•Transcript available on Metacast

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://b...

Jun 04, 2019•16 min•Ep 693•Transcript available on Metacast

692 - Godzilla, Cryptids, and Dilemma Comments.

Merriam-Webster added the word “cryptid” to its dictionary, and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” 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: ht...

May 30, 2019•10 min•Ep 692•Transcript available on Metacast

691 - BONUS: Introducing Science Rules! with Bill Nye

Bill Nye is on a mission to change the world—one phone call at a time. On his new podcast, Science Rules!, he tackles the curliest questions on just about anything in the universe. Perhaps you’ve 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 NOW—find it in your favorite podcast app.

May 27, 2019•3 min•Ep 691•Transcript available on Metacast

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://b...

May 23, 2019•22 min•Ep 690•Transcript available on Metacast

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.

May 20, 2019•8 min•Ep 689•Transcript available on Metacast

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...

May 16, 2019•9 min•Ep 688•Transcript available on Metacast

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...

May 13, 2019•16 min•Ep 687•Transcript available on Metacast

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...

May 09, 2019•14 min•Ep 686•Transcript available on Metacast

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...

May 06, 2019•16 min•Ep 685•Transcript available on Metacast

684 - ‘Unquote’ or ‘End Quote’? 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 ...

May 02, 2019•13 min•Ep 684•Transcript available on Metacast

683 - ‘So’ and ‘So That’: What Type of Conjunction Are They?

‘So’ and ‘So That’: 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 w...

Apr 29, 2019•21 min•Ep 683•Transcript available on Metacast

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.l...

Apr 25, 2019•15 min•Ep 682•Transcript available on Metacast

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/gra...

Apr 22, 2019•32 min•Ep 681•Transcript available on Metacast

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 | LINK...

Apr 18, 2019•14 min•Ep 680•Transcript available on Metacast

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.c...

Apr 15, 2019•15 min•Ep 679•Transcript available on Metacast

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 Door...

Apr 11, 2019•15 min•Ep 678•Transcript available on Metacast

676 - The Language of 'Game of Thrones'

There’s so much excitement about the 'Game of Thrones' finale that we just had to include a segment about on it this week’s show. Not just because we love dragons and swords—we do! — 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.c...

Apr 04, 2019•14 min•Ep 676•Transcript available on Metacast

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