Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Quotation marks in 1906. Starting stories in the middle. Road trip words.

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 fo...

'Rebel with a Clause,' the movie, with Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Cl...

From "august" to "August." Why the union is always "strong." Nee nee

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

The psychology of fandom, with Jennifer Lynn Barnes

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

1046. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the "Inheritance Games" books, discusses how writing from different points of view can help readers connect with...

Does 'Wicked' have a grammar error? What is the 'neck of the woods'? To be Frances

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 inte...

The case of the mystery dialect, with Natalie Schilling

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

1044. Today, I'm talking about a strange disappearance that forensic linguist Natalie Schilling worked on that she calls "the case of the mystery dial...

2024 words of the year, with John Kelly

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1043. "Skibidi," "polarization," "brat," "demure," "enshittification," and more. You might get whiplash from the vacillating vibes of all the words th...

Twee pop, bumbershoot, amongst, and more, with Ben Yagoda

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Inva...

'Home' for the holidays. False friends. Hello, Dentist.

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1041. Today, we talk about the word "home" and its meaning beyond just a structure, and then we talk about false friends — words in different langua...

Struggling with AI: Job loss, energy use, and more, with Christopher Penn

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1040. The downsides of AI bother me a lot — job loss, energy use, and the content tsunami. But I also think it's critically important to understand ...

Why people say 'I mean ...' Missing pronouns. Cat-tracted.

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 sen...

Why the new CMOS is yellow. Pandemic collectors editions. And more

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

Positive 'anymore.' 'Wreaked' or 'wrought'? Seat of your pants. Pecan pie.

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 wre...

Making your own dictionary, with Erin McKean

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Good first sentences. The language of 'Gladiator II.' Bear barber.

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 interest...

How to write about trademarks. Why we say 'thank you.'

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Why one creative agency changed its stance on AI

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 m...

Why children learn languages faster than adults. Are band names singular or plural?

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1032. First, we explore why children pick up languages faster than adults. You’ll learn about the critical period when young brains are best at lear...

'Beer' words in the OED, with Fiona McPherson

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1031. This week, Fiona McPherson from the Oxford English Dictionary talks about the latest “beer” words added to the OED, from “boozeroo” to “...

'Hanged' versus 'Hung.' Is 'pair' singular or plural? Fossilized phrases.

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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" c...

The psychology of writing bestsellers, with Jennifer Lynn Barnes

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1029. This week, I talk with Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the bestselling "Inheritance Games" series and a former psychology professor, about the p...

Are you "pantless" or "pantsless"? Who (or what) is Beetlejuice?

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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" —...

How linguists solve crimes, with Natalie Schilling

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1027. This week, I talk with forensic linguist Natalie Schilling about how people's language gives them away — in manifestos, ransom notes, text mes...

From Guy Fawkes to Guido Fawkes. Tales from the crypt (and catacombs, mausoleums, and ossuaries). Taquitos

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The language of meetings, with Jim Slaughter

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1025. Have you ever wondered where meeting terms like “quorum” or “proxy” come from? In this episode, Jim Slaughter looks at the linguistic or...

Why don't we say 'I'm smarter than YOU'RE'? The language of fear. Catherineisms.

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 wit...

Feeling stuck? Anne Lamott's here to kickstart your writing!

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1023.  I felt like I could write anything after this discussion with Anne Lamott about painful first drafts, beating perfectionism, and the one thing...

Quack! What's a lame duck? A German punctuation kerfuffle.

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1022. This week, we look at election terms like “president-elect” and “lame duck” and how they're used during a U.S. presidential transition. ...

Can AI really write? A no-nonsense discussion, with Christopher Penn

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 A...

How to talk like a chef. The Michigander controversy. Jakey.

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1020. This week, we shed light on quirky restaurant slang like “kill it” and “Chef Mike.” Then, we tackle the long-standing debate over what t...

How writers navigate failure and find success, with Jonathan Small

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1019. This week, Jonathan Small, author of "Write About Now," shares what he's learned about the common struggles writers face throughout their career...

From game boards to boardrooms. Commas with participial phrases. Gritties.

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

From 'gobsmacked' to 'ginger': The British invasion of American English, with Ben Yagoda

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Why some verb sets are so odd (like 'go/went'). Corporate euphemisms. Goggy.

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 surpr...

What's new in the Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition), with Russell Harper and Mary Laur

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 — Russell Harp...

Do words like 'mandate' and 'cockamamie' come from words for men? Grammatical doppelgangers. A pair of teeth.

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1014. This week, we debunk misconceptions about gendered language, tracing the etymology of words like "cockamamie" and "gynecology." We also look at ...

What fiction writers know about avoiding stereotypes, with Alex Temblador

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1013. How can fiction writers create diverse, authentic characters without relying on stereotypes? Alex Temblador, author of "Writing An Identity Not ...

'Tea' or 'chai'? Why we misspeak. Fellatone.

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 y...

The language of liars. 'Legendary,' 'famous,' or 'notorious'? Fish shapes.

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Cat Idioms. 'Summerween' and other blends. Bankery

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

Apostrophes have always been confusing. 'First' or 'firstly'? Trudy!

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

When to use 'the' before a noun. Why rhymes help us remember. Opening a lime.

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Why singers lose their accents. Why the 'I before E' rule is weird.

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Why 'I' takes plural verbs. Making names that end in S, like Harris and Biles, possessive. Marinate.

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

A brief history of English (aka when they spoke French in England). Killer death meat.

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Conqu...

The power of words: Conscious language, with Karen Yin

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1004. This week, Karen Yin, author of "The Conscious Style Guide," discusses the concept of conscious language and its importance in promoting equity ...

How to write about zero. Are your emails accidentally rude? PAPST.

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1003. This week, we look at zero — what a weird number! It has two plurals, sometimes you use the word and sometimes you use the numeral, and it gav...

AI: Friend or foe? A conversation with Martha Brockenbrough

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1002. This week, Mignon talks with author Martha Brockenbrough about the good and bad sides of using artificial intelligence for writing and education...

The unspoken rules of adjectives. The rise of 'yeah-nah.' Sundies

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 rece...

Grammar Girl at 1000: Words, wisdom, and a dash of whimsy

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The birth of American English. How to recognize a phrasal verb. Cucka-nucka.

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Buying your hometown newspaper, with Samantha & Greg Enslen

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

998. This week, I talked with Samantha and Greg Enslen, who recently purchased their hometown newspaper, the "Tippecanoe Gazette" in Tipp City, Ohio. ...

'Which' versus 'that.' Words for walking. Bottleadammit.

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

997. This week, I help you learn (and remember!) the difference between "which" and "that" with practical tips and examples about cupcakes. Then, we t...

The Hidden Stories of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

996.  This week, you'll learn about the rich linguistic history of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, an advisor to the Oxford Diction...

The art of punctuation and the charm of 'kerfuffle.' Nicing.

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Exploring the Language of 'Dune': An Interview with Kevin J. Anderson and Scott Brick

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 challen...

The power of sign language in 'Dune.' The words we use for dad. Chee

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

993. This week, we cover the strategic use of sign language by the Bene Gesserit in the 'Dune' movies, including its importance in covert communicatio...

The crossword craze — now and then — with Ben Zimmer

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

From 'dog' to 'hot dog.' The 'audience of one' trick. More on the long S. Footbridge.

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 "hai...

Why is this a question? with Paul Anthony Jones

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

What is a Word? Target moments.

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ho...

How a special dictionary kept soldiers connected during WWII, with Peter Sokolowski

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

988. Peter Sokolowski, an editor at Merriam-Webster, goes through the fascinating history of the Armed Services Editions, a series of books published ...

Why some sentences have double subjects. The story behind the old F-like letter S. Schwen schwen on dill.

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Efficiency hacks for writers and editors with Erin Brenner

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

986. Erin Brenner, author of "The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors," shares time-saving tips including the best practices for using Word, creating ...

We found the story behind "whim wham for a mucket"!

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

985. This week, we look at the world of whimsical words, including the origins and meanings of terms like "dinkus," "gadzook," "petrichor" and the phr...

Words, coffee, and urban planning: Eli Burnstein on the Dictionary of Fine Distinctions

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

984. This week, we talk about the subtle differences between words such as "stock" or "broth," "street" or "boulevard," "maze" or "labyrinth" and more...

Skunked words. The power of pronouns. Quigleys

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

983. This week, we explore "skunked" words — terms going through hotly disputed meaning changes. We look at the debate between prescriptivists who s...

Air worms and fire breathing dragons: Old English animal stories with Hana Videen

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

When (and How) Should You Cite AI? 'Critters,' 'Varmints,' and Beyond. Choobers.

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

Exploring the 'Funnest' Parts of Language with Anne Curzan

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The birth of punctuation: from oral traditions to silent reading. Noun clusters. A wing wang in a mucket.

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

979. In the first segment, we unravel the mysteries surrounding the origins and transformation of punctuation. From the early days when words ran toge...

How to become a supercommunicator, with Charles Duhigg

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

978. Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author, Charles Duhigg, as we talk about mastering the art of communication and his new bo...

Big changes in Associated Press style. The 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' finale was catawampus. Bappy

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Pet-Speak: From Meowlogisms to Zoomies. 'Imply' or 'Infer'?

09 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 h...

You love to read. Could you narrate?

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Memory, Aging, and the Lingering 'Anyways'

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

974. How does aging affect our ability to understand language? From the challenges of processing complex sentences to the resilience you get from a ri...

A nuclear win at the Oscars. CamelCase. One clo.

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

973. "Oppenheimer" leads us to wonder about the "nucular" pronunciation of "nuclear." And why do people have that second capital letter in the middle ...

From grunts to grammar. The Irish 'after doing.' The winning NGD poem!

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

972. How did humans evolve from grunting ancestors to masters of language and poetry? This week, we explore fascinating theories on the origins of hum...

Where did our language start?

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

971. Linguists have traced modern languages like English and Sanskrit back thousands of years to a single Proto-Indo-European source. This week, we ex...

'Addictive' or 'addicting'? Types of nouns. Folley

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Tracing the origins of Miami's new English. Why it's not a 'gumballs' machine. Embassy Sweets.

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

969. From "wolkenkratzer" in German to "flea market" in English, direct translations called calques show how languages borrow from each other. This we...

Taylor Swift Doesn't Need Your Grammatical Approval. In Love. Foil Lump Surprise.

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Tort...

'A' versus 'an.' 'Larruping' rides again. Euonyms. Flavoring.

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 diffe...

From 'hwhat' to 'what': Tracing a letter's disappearing act. Barkhouse.

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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" ...

The listener show! (canceled, think, lettuce, funnily, episode numbers, at about, mangos, musgos)

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

965. It's a listener question extravaganza! I answer your questions about "canceled," "another think/thing coming," zero plurals such as "fish," the w...

Technology changes how we write. Who was the first Goody Two Shoes?

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 origi...

More than fluff: Understanding 'needless' words. Larruping. Chicken surprise.

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

963. Strunk and White said to omit needless words, but sometimes "redundant" words can serve a meaningful purpose. Plus, we have the story behind larr...

The psychology (and language) of time. Commas are like people on the subway. Fox chores.

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ma...

Why English has silent letters. Dayjamas.

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 reason...

A rizzy word-of-the-year chat (with Jess Zafarris)

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The special sauce of human language. Gotten. NATO alphabet. A1 sauce.

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

959. Learn why human language goes beyond basic communication to allow spontaneous creativity, expression of identity, and leadership in linguistic ch...

What's the difference between Hispanic, Chicano, Latino, Latinx, and Latine? Can something 'grow' smaller? Musko.

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

958. We trace the history, usage, and meaning behind identifiers such as "Hispanic," "Chicano," "Latino," "Latina," "Latinx," and "Latine." Plus, we l...

When does a house become a mansion? Giving someone house.

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

957. We trace the linguistic history behind "house" and "mansion" to uncover how these two humble words for dwellings grew apart, with "mansion" gaini...

From metal type to metaphor: printing terms that extended their reach. The positive 'anymore.' Gigglemare.

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

956. How did terms like "stereotype," "boilerplate," and "typecast" make the leap from specialist printing vocabulary to widespread figurative languag...

Why is Black Friday black? The NATO alphabet. Byeloveyou.

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

955.  This week, we're looking at the curious origins and histories behind common idioms and expressions that use "black," like "Black Friday," "blac...

The science of the plot twist. Irregardless. Spug.

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 appeara...

Omnishambles! Military slang across the pond (interview with Ben Yagoda)

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Cliches. Organic. Bully pulpit. Fimfy.

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 cl...

The dark histories behind your favorite scary words, with Jess Zafarris

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Namesake. Commentate. Sprigly

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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-hat...