Explore every episode of the podcast Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does Yoda speak 'real' English? Is it 'a real trouper' or 'a real trooper'? | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:13:06 | |
1190. This week, we look at what makes Yoda's English special, and we look at the difference between “trooper” and “trouper,” including whether singular “troop” may be short for “trooper” and why “a real trouper” is the traditional spelling. 🔗 Join the Grammar Girl Patreon. 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Find an edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Everyone has a story to tell, and why your memoir matters, with Grant Faulkner | 28 May 2026 | 00:26:03 | |
1189. This week, we talk to Grant Faulkner, co-founder of Memoir Nation and former executive director of NaNoWriMo, about what makes writing a memoir different from writing fiction. We look at why memory is more story than recording, how trauma fragments the way people use language and narrative structure, and why you don't need an extraordinary life to write a compelling memoir. Grant also explains what a flash novel is and why the form is taking off, and he shares his advice for anyone ready to sit down and start writing their story. 🔗 Join the Grammar Girl Patreon. 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript here. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why English creates so many words spelled the same. Why we say 'ye olde' instead of 'the old.' | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:15:55 | |
1180. Why does "Ye Olde Shoppe" look old-fashioned? This week, we look at the vanished letters of English — thorn, eth, and yogh — and at why English has so many words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, such as "compact" (an agreement) and "compact" (to press together). The homographs segment was written by Samantha Enslen who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com. The Old English segment was written by Karen Lunde who writes the newsletter I'll Go First. Find her on igofirst.org. 🔗 Join the Grammar Girl Patreon. 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Find an edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What your hands are saying (even when you’re not thinking about it), with Lauren Gawne | 12 Jun 2025 | 00:29:38 | |
1090. Your hands may be saying more than your words. Lauren Gawne explains how gestures shape communication, how they differ across cultures, and why removing gestures can make your speech less fluent. Lauren Gawne → Superlinguo 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 090 Went Missing | 04 Jan 2008 | 00:04:49 | |
Went Missing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 087 Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions | 07 Dec 2007 | 00:04:17 | |
Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 084 People Versus Entities | 16 Nov 2007 | 00:05:31 | |
People Versus Entities Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 082 Daylight-Saving Time | 09 Nov 2007 | 00:04:17 | |
Daylight-Saving Time Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 083 Interviewing Tips | 09 Nov 2007 | 00:05:46 | |
Interviewing Tips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 078 Formatting Hyperlinks | 05 Oct 2007 | 00:04:46 | |
Formatting Hyperlinks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 077 Verbification of a Noun | 28 Sep 2007 | 00:06:13 | |
Verbification of a Noun Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 076 Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully" | 21 Sep 2007 | 00:05:14 | |
Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 073 Simplify Your Writing | 30 Aug 2007 | 00:06:11 | |
Simplify Your Writing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 072 The The -- The Double The | 23 Aug 2007 | 00:05:19 | |
The The -- The Double The Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| ‘Further’ vs. ‘farther.’ Why designers use fake Latin. Blondie hot | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:16:03 | |
1089. Do you wonder when you should use "further" or "farther"? We have the answer (where there is one). Then, you’ve seen lorem ipsum everywhere, but what does it mean? And where did it come from? The "lorem ipsum" segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing for more than thirty-five years. He’s the founder of TypoSuction.com, an independent editing/writing service. He's taught grammar and copyediting intensives and professional proofreading workshops at Media Alliance and served as events coordinator for Bay Area Editors’ Forum (BAEF). Visit Linkedin.com/in/jimnorrena/ for his complete work history and highlighted projects. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 070 The Asterisk (Trust Me About Grammar, Not About Baseball) | 10 Aug 2007 | 00:03:32 | |
The Asterisk (Trust Me About Grammar, Not About Baseball) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 067 Your Versus You're | 20 Jul 2007 | 00:06:34 | |
Your Versus You're Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 068 Unlawful Versus Illegal | 20 Jul 2007 | 00:04:26 | |
Unlawful Versus Illegal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 065 Regionalisms | 29 Jun 2007 | 00:07:53 | |
Regionalisms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 064 Between You and Me | 26 Jun 2007 | 00:04:57 | |
Between You and Me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 056 Generating Story Ideas and Overcoming Writer's Block | 22 May 2007 | 00:08:54 | |
Generating Story Ideas and Overcoming Writer's Block Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 055 Misplaced Modifiers | 18 May 2007 | 00:06:07 | |
Misplaced Modifiers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 048 April Fools' Day Episode | 01 Apr 2007 | 00:04:01 | |
April Fools' Day Episode Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 266 When Should You Capitalize Cocktail and Food Names? | 11 Mar 2007 | 00:04:22 | |
When Should You Capitalize Cocktail and Food Names? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 042 Semicolons | 21 Feb 2007 | 00:06:16 | |
Semicolons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What AI means for writers and editors, with Daniel Heuman | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:28:36 | |
1088. He says he hates AI writing, but he's also the CEO of the company behind Draftsmith, an AI editing tool. Today, I talk with Daniel Heuman about editing, AI, energy use, and how tools like DraftSmith try to help without replacing human editors. Draftsmith → draftsmith.ai 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 036 Grammar Manners | 12 Jan 2007 | 00:04:06 | |
Grammar Manners Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 031 The Lord Is Come? | 15 Dec 2006 | 00:04:12 | |
The Lord Is Come? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 024 Who Versus That | 04 Nov 2006 | 00:03:32 | |
Who Versus That Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 021 Proofreading Tips | 20 Oct 2006 | 00:07:21 | |
Proofreading Tips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 165 Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Initialisms | 10 Oct 2006 | 00:04:25 | |
Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Initialisms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Excessive Redundant Redundancies | 08 Oct 2006 | 00:05:30 | |
Excessive Redundant Redundancies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 015 Title Capitalization Rules | 24 Sep 2006 | 00:05:30 | |
Title Capitalization Rules Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 11 Grammar Style Issues | 07 Sep 2006 | 00:03:44 | |
Grammar Style Issues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 'The' rules you never learned. Why did Latin die? | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:17:07 | |
1087. You use the word "the" hundreds of times a day, but are you pronouncing it wrong? Today I have the rules I never learned about whether to say “thuh” or “thee.” Then, we look at why Latin died (and why "died" isn't quite the right way to describe it). The "Latin" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. In the late '90s, as a young mom with two kids and a dog, she founded one of the internet's first writing workshop communities. These days, she facilitates expressive writing workshops, both online and off. Find her at chanterellestorystudio.com 🔗 AP style webinar. Code MACMIL for $50 off 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The publishing world is changing. Jane Friedman tells us how. | 29 May 2025 | 00:26:45 | |
1086. What does it really take to earn a living as a writer? Jane Friedman explains the multiple paths writers take — from speaking and consulting to newsletters and hybrid publishing—and offers grounded, practical advice for navigating the business of writing in 2025 and beyond. Jane Friedman is the author of "The Business of Being a Writer." 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why 'plz' might be pushing people away. How to write better thank-you notes. Studaloo | 27 May 2025 | 00:18:43 | |
1085. Do abbreviations like “plz” and “ty” actually make your texts feel less sincere? New research suggests they might. We explore how shortened words affect how your messages are received — even in romantic conversations. Then, we offer practical tips for writing thoughtful, specific thank-you notes that reflect real gratitude. The texting segment was written by David Fang, a PhD student in marketing at Stanford University. Sam Maglio, an Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology at the University of Toronto, also contributed to the writing. It originally ran on The Conversation, and appears here through a Creative Commons license. The "thank-you" segment originally ran on the OUP Blog and appears here with permission. Edwin Battistella taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he served as a dean and as interim provost. He is the author of "Do You Make These Mistakes in English?" (OUP, 2009), "Bad Language" (OUP, 2005), and "The Logic of Markedness" (OUP, 1996). 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why simplified spelling nearly took over America (and why it didn't), with Gabe Henry | 22 May 2025 | 00:31:06 | |
1084. This week, Gabe Henry talks about his new book, "Enough Is Enuf," and the long, strange quest to simplify English spelling. Learn why the "Chicago Tribune" made simplified spelling its house style for decades and why Roosevelt's attempt to make it law backfired. Find Gabe Henry at http://GabeHenry.com. 🔗 Use the code MACMIL for $50 off my Ragan AP style webinar. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why 'wake' is so confusing. The playful language of vacations. | 20 May 2025 | 00:18:20 | |
1083. Is it "woke," "woken," or "waked"? We break down why the verb "wake" is one of the trickiest in English, with four competing forms and centuries of change. Then, we lighten things up with a look at vacation vocabulary—from "staycation" to "glamping." The "wake" segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn. The "vacation" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com. 🔗 Grammar Girl AP style webinar (use the code MACMIL for $50 off). 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ambrose Bierce, from ‘The Devil’s Dictionary’ to disappearing in Mexico, with Jim Norrena | 15 May 2025 | 00:30:01 | |
1082. Copy editor Jim Norrena joins us this week for a conversation about Ambrose Bierce, his famous "Devil's Dictionary," and his darkly funny take on the world. We look at Bierce’s fascinating (and tragic) life, his legendary wordplay, and his mysterious disappearance in Mexico. Plus, we share our favorite biting definitions and quirky facts about his life. We'd love to have coffee with him, but we'd never forget that he was also a feared literary critic! Jim Norrena, MFA, has been writing and editing for more than thirty-five years. He’s 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 Editors’ Forum (BAEF). You can find him on LinkedIn. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why 'epitome' is confusing. Quirky stories behind baby animal names. Alice doors | 13 May 2025 | 00:18:43 | |
1081. Is an epitome a summary or a shining example? We look at why this word trips people up and how its meaning has changed over time. Then, we take a linguistic safari through the world of baby animal names—and what they tell us about language, culture, and human history. The "baby animal names" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. In the late '90s, as a young mom with two kids and a dog, she founded one of the internet's first writing workshop communities. These days, she facilitates expressive writing workshops, both online and off. Find her at chanterellestorystudio.com 🔗 Grammar Girl AP style webinar (use the code MACMIL for $50 off). 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 'Why We Talk Funny.' The reasons behind our accents, with Valerie Fridland | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:33:00 | |
1179. This week, we talk to Valerie Fridland, a linguist and professor who grew up in Memphis surrounded by Southern accents and now researches the history and social power of speech. We look at her new book, "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents," which explores the history of how American speech developed and how colonial settlement patterns shaped regional identities. Then we look at the decline of regional accents, the mechanics of speech sounds like "L" and "R," and the psychological impact of accent bias. Get Valerie’s new book, "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents." More from Valerie at valeriefridland.com 🔗 Join the Grammar Girl Patreon. 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript here. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How YouTubers' voices evolve, with Andrew Cheng | 08 May 2025 | 00:21:40 | |
1080. Linguist Andrew Cheng explains why people’s accents shift over time, especially when they move—and how YouTubers make perfect data subjects. If you've ever cringed at your old voice recordings, this one’s for you. Andrew Cheng is a professor of linguistics at the University of Hawaii. You can find him on Bluesky at LinguistAndrew. NEW: Sign up for my AP Style webinar on June 12: bit.ly/4k1XmpI 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO. | 06 May 2025 | 00:17:00 | |
1079. Ever wonder what labels like "informal," "archaic," or "offensive" mean in a dictionary entry? We explain how different dictionaries use labels to describe when, where, and how to use words. Then, we explore why so many babies say "dada" first and why babies say "mama" almost everywhere. The "dictionary labels" segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor. The "mama" 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. NEW: Sign up for my AP Style webinar on June 12: bit.ly/4k1XmpI 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The secret to writing ‘the same but different,’ with Mary Robinette Kowal | 01 May 2025 | 00:20:26 | |
1078. Mary Robinette Kowal talks about going from writing magic-filled Regency romances to Hugo-nominated science fiction, what it's like to work with an agent, and how she keeps her career moving forward. Plus, she gave us three great book recommendations (and I've already read and loved one of them!). Find Mary at maryrobinettekowal.com. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 'Lit' vs. 'lighted.' The mysteries of the dollar sign. Redd up. | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:19:04 | |
1077. Is it “lit” or “lighted”? Both are correct, but we look at how their popularity has switched over time. Then we investigate four of the competing theories about the origin of the dollar sign and end with tips about how to use it. The "dollar sign" segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing for more than thirty-five years. He’s 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 Editors’ Forum (BAEF). You can find him on LinkedIn. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t know about publishing, with Dan Gerstein | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:22:44 | |
1076. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, looks at how ghostwriting fiction really works, who’s hiring ghostwriters, and why AI can’t replace human storytelling. We also talked about how ghostwriters negotiate royalties, film rights, and what makes a great collaboration work. Find Dan at GothamGhostwriters.com. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 'I.e.' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels. | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:18:01 | |
1075. People often confuse "i.e." and "e.g." We'll help you get them right — no Latin required. Then, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, we look at five common myths about his contributions to the English language, including whether he coined thousands of words and how much Latin he actually knew. The "Shakespeare" segment was by Jonathan Culpeper, a chair professor in English Language and Linguistics at Lancaster University, and Mathew Gillings, an assistant professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. It originally appeared in The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| AI and the future of dictionaries, with Erin McKean | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:26:02 | |
1074. Is AI good enough to replace lexicographers? Wordnik founder Erin McKean shares what works, what doesn’t, and why the future of dictionaries is far from settled. Find Erin McKean at wordnik.com, dressaday.com, and wordnik@worknik.com. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Better paragraph breaks. The story behind 'mad money' and 'pin money.' Bruce bad. | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:15:52 | |
1073. Today, we have practical tips for writing better paragraphs (and it's not the formulaic topic-sentence structure). Then, we look at the surprising history of phrases like “mad money” and “pin money” and what they show about women’s roles and financial independence through time. The "paragraph" segment originally appeared on the OUP Blog, and was written by Edwin Battistella, who taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University. He is the author of Sorry About That: The Language of Public Apology, Do You Make These Mistakes in English?, Bad Language, and The Logic of Markedness. The "mad money" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. In the late '90s, as a young mom with two kids and a dog, she founded one of the internet's first writing workshop communities. These days, she facilitates expressive writing workshops, both online and off. Find her at chanterellestorystudio.com 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 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.
| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||