Have you ever wondered how to use a comma with 'however' (or if you even should)? We’ve 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 Lil’ 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.c...
Jun 22, 2017•7 min•Ep 574•Transcript available on Metacast 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/grammargir...
Jun 15, 2017•13 min•Ep 573•Transcript available on Metacast 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/gram...
Jun 08, 2017•12 min•Ep 572•Transcript available on Metacast 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 S...
Jun 01, 2017•24 min•Ep 571•Transcript available on Metacast 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 PO...
May 26, 2017•12 min•Ep 570•Transcript available on Metacast 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/thegrammargi...
May 18, 2017•10 min•Ep 569•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
May 12, 2017•10 min•Ep 568•Transcript available on Metacast 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-gi...
May 04, 2017•11 min•Ep 567•Transcript available on Metacast Off Your Feed. Animal Language.
Apr 27, 2017•19 min•Ep 566•Transcript available on Metacast Apple, Podcasts, and Prepositions. Forensic Linguistics.
Apr 20, 2017•10 min•Ep 565•Transcript available on Metacast 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.quickanddirt...
Apr 13, 2017•16 min•Ep 564•Transcript available on Metacast Singular 'They'
Apr 07, 2017•12 min•Ep 563•Transcript available on Metacast 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 PODCAS...
Mar 31, 2017•14 min•Ep 562•Transcript available on Metacast The $10 Million Comma. Ambiguous Sentences. A Tribute to Bill Walsh.
Mar 23, 2017•12 min•Ep 561•Transcript available on Metacast 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.quickanddirt...
Mar 16, 2017•11 min•Ep 560•Transcript available on Metacast 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 “The Owl and the Pussycat” and the winner of the National Grammar Day haiku contest.
Mar 10, 2017•10 min•Ep 559•Transcript available on Metacast How to avoid biasing your questions and annoying your respondents.
Mar 03, 2017•13 min•Ep 558•Transcript available on Metacast 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.quickandd...
Feb 23, 2017•13 min•Ep 557•Transcript available on Metacast 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/compa...
Feb 16, 2017•9 min•Ep 556•Transcript available on Metacast 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://...
Feb 09, 2017•10 min•Ep 555•Transcript available on Metacast 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.quickanddirtyt...
Feb 02, 2017•9 min•Ep 554•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Li...
Jan 27, 2017•11 min•Ep 553•Transcript available on Metacast 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/gramma...
Jan 19, 2017•13 min•Ep 551•Transcript available on Metacast 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 h...
Jan 12, 2017•13 min•Ep 551•Transcript available on Metacast 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.linked...
Jan 05, 2017•6 min•Ep 550•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Pint...
Dec 29, 2016•9 min•Ep 549•Transcript available on Metacast What’s your favorite book and why? The questions are more than just a way to fill your online dating profile—they’re 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.
Dec 22, 2016•9 min•Ep 548•Transcript available on Metacast 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 G...
Dec 15, 2016•9 min•Ep 547•Transcript available on Metacast 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....
Dec 08, 2016•14 min•Ep 546•Transcript available on Metacast 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/realgr...
Dec 01, 2016•12 min•Ep 545•Transcript available on Metacast 
