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" — 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/technol...
Jan 16, 2024•17 min•Ep 964•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Gir...
Jan 09, 2024•11 min•Ep 963•Transcript available on Metacast 962. We explore why phrases like "time flies" and "fast approaching" reveal deeper perspectives on time — 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 t...
Jan 02, 2024•16 min•Ep 962•Transcript available on Metacast 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 St...
Dec 26, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 r...
Dec 26, 2023•20 min•Ep 960•Transcript available on Metacast 959. Learn why human language goes beyond basic communication to allow spontaneous creativity, expression of identity, and leadership in linguistic change — 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 Eng...
Dec 19, 2023•14 min•Ep 959•Transcript available on Metacast 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 . | Gr...
Dec 12, 2023•18 min•Ep 958•Transcript available on Metacast 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 — 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...
Dec 05, 2023•13 min•Ep 957•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Nov 28, 2023•18 min•Ep 956•Transcript available on Metacast 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/w...
Nov 21, 2023•17 min•Ep 955•Transcript available on Metacast 954. Uh-oh, "irregardless" isn’t going away anytime soon. Take a deep breath while we dig into this hated word’s 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 Tobi...
Nov 14, 2023•18 min•Ep 954•Transcript available on Metacast 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-...
Nov 07, 2023•33 min•Ep 953•Transcript available on Metacast 951. In honor of National Cliché day, we uncover why some overused phrases rub us the wrong way. What is the boundary between idioms, slang, and clichés—and 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 ...
Oct 31, 2023•20 min•Ep 952•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Oct 24, 2023•35 min•Ep 951•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Fog...
Oct 17, 2023•14 min•Ep 950•Transcript available on Metacast 949. Topic sentences aren't just for students! This week, we have real-life, grown-up examples — 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 Servic...
Oct 10, 2023•15 min•Ep 949•Transcript available on Metacast 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 "preor...
Oct 03, 2023•16 min•Ep 948•Transcript available on Metacast 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 o...
Sep 26, 2023•22 min•Ep 947•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Learn...
Sep 19, 2023•13 min•Ep 946•Transcript available on Metacast 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?" Ste...
Sep 12, 2023•33 min•Ep 945•Transcript available on Metacast 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 m...
Sep 05, 2023•17 min•Ep 944•Transcript available on Metacast 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 valerie...
Aug 29, 2023•14 min•Ep 943•Transcript available on Metacast 942. We’re 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 differ...
Aug 22, 2023•19 min•Ep 942•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Aug 15, 2023•17 min•Ep 941•Transcript available on Metacast 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 an...
Aug 08, 2023•18 min•Ep 940•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Unive...
Aug 01, 2023•13 min•Ep 939•Transcript available on Metacast 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 u...
Jul 25, 2023•34 min•Ep 938•Transcript available on Metacast 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 — 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 Lear...
Jul 21, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 cont...
Jul 18, 2023•17 min•Ep 937•Transcript available on Metacast 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:...
Jul 11, 2023•18 min•Ep 936•Transcript available on Metacast 
