Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.
Episodes
479 GG Scrabble in Different Parts of the World
28 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Scrabble in Different Parts of the World Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...
478 GG Why English Has Silent Letters
20 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Fictitious Versus Fictional: http://bit.ly/1Nmnr0A Silent Letters: http://bit.ly/1hqOjQl Adult, Adolescent, Adultery: htt...
477 GG Scrabble Extravaganza
13 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Scrabble Expert Interviews: http://bit.ly/1MqVrZF Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for infor...
476 GG Zero Percent, Prefixes and Suffixes, Malapropisms
06 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Zero Percent http://bit.ly/1Mnyu8v Prefixes and Suffixes http://bit.ly/1ejOkD3 Malapropisms: http://bit.ly/1eT5tDU Thanks...
281 How Do Words Get in the Dictionary?
31 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: How Do Words Get in the Dictionary? http://j.mp/1IHGSKr Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...
475 GG How a Comma Can Get You out of a Parking Ticket
23 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Numbers in Parentheses: http://bit.ly/1GGZDfs Comma Law: http://bit.ly/1CW2mqj Minions: http://bit.ly/1TSiDB4 QDT Block P...
474 GG Flesh Out. Last Names. Hat Trick.
16 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Flesh Out or Flush Out? http://j.mp/1TDrE0x Last Names: http://j.mp/1V57cHH Hat Trick: http://j.mp/1Mv2j4O Help the show ...
473 GG How Understanding Toy Story Can Help You Get into College
09 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Ban Together or Band Together? http://j.mp/1JTe7xl How Understanding 'Toy Story' Can Help Get You into College. http://j....
472 GG Citizen or Resident? Let's and Let Us. Newfangled.
23 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Citizen or Resident? http://j.mp/1BBaE67 Let's and Let Us: http://j.mp/1SL2NaP Newfangled: http://j.mp/1NbEVcJ Survey: ht...
471 GG Size versus Sized. When Is It OK to Be Redundant? Mind Your P’s and Q’s.
18 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website: 'King-size' or 'King-sized'? http://bit.ly/1AN2M1x When Is It OK to Be Redundant? http://bit.ly/1eRM9rl What Does "M...
470 GG Prepositions in Shakespeare
12 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website: How Many Spaces After a Colon? http://bit.ly/1EFJVQF Prepositions in Shakespeare http://bit.ly/1Rwb7KU A Treat http://bit...
469 GG Kudos. Crossword Puzzles. Squad Goals. June 4, 2015.
04 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website: The Meaning of Kudos http://bit.ly/1SEAko0 What Does 'Squad Goals' Mean? http://bit.ly/1JhBqmC Crosswords http://bit.ly/1...
468 GG Congratulations. Food Names That Come From Countries…or Not. Tall Poppy Syndrome.
28 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website: Congratulations http://bit.ly/1HM9mVo Food Names that are Totally Fake http://bit.ly/1HM9ww0 Tall Poppy Syndrome http://b...
467 GG Deep Seeded or Deep Seated?, Lewis Carroll: He Loved to Play with Language, Japanese Words in English
21 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Deep Seeded or Deep Seated? http://bit.ly/1IRDyQj Lewis Carroll: He Loved to Play with Language http://bit.ly/1GsAh9S Jap...
466 GG Healthy Versus Healthful. The Best SAT Essay Ever. Fast and Loose
14 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Healthy Versus Healthful http://bit.ly/1Hem0wb The Best SAT Essay Ever Article: http://bit.ly/1H4dr4c PDF of the Essay: h...
465 GG Two Spaces After a Period?
07 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website: Yay, Yea, Yeah, and Yes. Two Spaces After a Period? http://bit.ly/1IlSO7G English Words from Spanish Grammar Pop iPad htt...
464 GG Weird Conditionals
30 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Fiance or Fiancee: http://j.mp/1HI4wcy If-Clauses: http://j.mp/1DA19Qe Dark Horse: http://j.mp/1Othuk5 Sponsors: http://t...
463 GG Most or Almost. Parallel Structure. Follow Suit
23 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Most or Almost http://j.mp/1bz6joG Parallel Structure http://j.mp/1EwygtV Follow Suit http://j.mp/1yUH2PL Try my iOS game...
462 GG Everyday. Ain't. Eponyms
16 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website: Everyday Versus Every Day http://j.mp/1FvEiFz Ain't http://j.mp/1cjF1CP Eponyms http://j.mp/1EjPhGa Try my iOS game, Gram...
461 GG Between You and Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen
09 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Smitten http://j.mp/1aLWFyC Between You and Me (Excerpt) http://j.mp/1H6eg0b Spick and Span http://j.mp/1a7LdMr Try my iO...
105 Yoda Grammar (Reissue)
02 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Yoda Grammar http://j.mp/1P06VCE Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our ...
460 GG Global English: Prepone, Do the Needful, and More
26 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Parentheses and Subject-Verb Agreement http://j.mp/1FWMySM Global English http://j.mp/19U43aG Stand in Line or Stand on L...
459 GG Subject-Verb Agreement
19 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website: 'Wrong' Versus 'Wrongly' http://j.mp/1xjQN9H Subject-Verb Agreement http://j.mp/1xClTnM Is 'Heighth' a Word? http://j.mp/...
458 GG Can You Process These Tricky, but Grammatical, Sentences?
13 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Does E-Book Need a Hyphen? http://j.mp/1wCjVs6 Can You Process These Tricky, but Grammatical, Sentences? http://j.mp/1HPg...
456 GG Is Starting a Sentence With So Condescending?
26 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow Along on the Website When "First" Is Redundant http://j.mp/1wtjhgT Is Starting a Sentence With So Condescending? http://j.mp/1wthqsn ...
Announcement
20 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
There was a death in my family, so I don't have a show this week. I'll be back next week. If you're looking for something new to listen to while I'm a...
455 GG Why Do We Drive on Parkways and Park on Driveways?
12 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Dreamed or Dreamt? http://j.mp/1E2oQBF Parkway, Driveway, and Dooryard http://j.mp/1zNdcei Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo http:/...
454 GG Splitting Infinitives
05 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Capitalizing Theories. Splitting Infinitives. Samuel Johnson. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our ...
453 GG Less Versus Fewer
29 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Capitalizing Time Periods http://j.mp/1z4W6bX Less Versus Fewer http://j.mp/1yP50d4 Bee's Knees http://j.mp/1DiC0dw ---- ...
452 GG Why People Misuse Prepositions
22 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Compliment Versus Complement http://j.mp/184vjlA Saving Our Prepositions http://j.mp/1yOHBdJ How 8 Fonts Got Their Names ...
451 GG Impossible Participals
15 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website. Commas Before "Jr." http://j.mp/1BYaNOx Impossible Participles http://j.mp/1u2BXCZ Onomatopoeia http://j.mp/1AX...
450 GG Is Sign Language Universal?
08 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Tons of fascinating tidbits about sign language from interpreter David Peach Follow along online: http://j.mp/1EQ3dsJ Find David online: http://twitte...
449 GG Double Possessives
01 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Transitive Versus Intransitive Verbs http://j.mp/1AUkNaZ Double Possessives http://j.mp/1x8OVy2 Try my iOS game, Grammar ...
448 GG How Our Brains Process Hyperbole
25 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Follow along on the website: Champ Versus Chomp http://j.mp/1Cp9TsZ Hyperbole http://j.mp/1HkXt6c Adulting http://j.mp/1sNOALZ Hosted by Simplecast, a...
446 GG Why Don't People Say "Thou" Anymore
11 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Read along on the website: What Does "Xmas" Really Mean? http://bit.ly/1xkSUsL Why Don't People Say "Thou" Anymore? http://bit.ly/1sv4joy Who Says "Ki...
445 GG Why Do People Say "Like" All the Time?
04 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Read along on the website" Is "Boughten" a Word? http://j.mp/1tUEecu Did Valley Girls Invent "Like"? http://j.mp/12CCHlG Is G...
444 GG Between You and Me
27 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Read along on the website: Lightning versus Lightening http://bit.ly/121kVb0 Between You and Me http://bit.ly/1AnHpif How Teddy Bears Got Their Name h...
442 GG Make Me a Sandwich
13 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Based on Versus Based off. Make Me a Sandwich: A Joke About Verbs. How to Pronounce Zero Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...
441 GG Mic or Mike? Simple or Simplistic? Uppercase and Lowercase
06 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Mic or Mike? Simple or Simplistic? Uppercase and Lowercase. Visit the website: http://bit.ly/1qEiW2m Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm...
440 GG How to Plan a Novel
30 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
For NaNoWriMo: How to format a character's thoughts, how to plan a novel, and the surprising newness of the novel format. Visit the website: http://bi...
439 GG Texting, Coffins, and Death
23 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Today, with Halloween in mind, I have a Quick and Dirty tip about the difference between a casket and a coffin; and an excerpt from David Crystal’s ...
438 GG Why Do People Say Punctuation Out Loud?
16 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
"Vaccine" Versus "Vaccination." Syelle Graves explains why people say things such as "We never leave any soldier behind. Peri...
437 GG What’s the difference between England, Great Britain, and the UK?
09 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
I know all you European listeners think it’s ridiculous that Americans don’t know the difference between England and Britain, but a British friend...
436 GG Why People Have Always Been Confused About Apostrophes
02 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with Ammon Shea about the confusing history of apostrophes. Hanged Versus Hung. The story of the Victorian Great Exhibition, where Adolph...
435 GG We Might Could Harvest the Corn
25 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, you can start a sentence with "because." Here's how to do it. What are helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs), and why do people i...
434 GG Ya Shank: The Made-Up Swear Words of 'The Maze Runner'
18 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Insults, swear words, and world-building for young adults: In an interview with James Dashner, I got the inside scoop on the language of "The Maze Run...
433 GG Why People Mix Up the Pronouns "Me" and "I"
11 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
I can tell you which pronouns to use, but it takes a linguist to explain WHY people get confused. Here, Gretchen McCulloch reveals the fascinating rea...
431 GG Words That Aren't Words
28 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast, you get a Quick and Dirty Tip about where to put periods and commas relative to quotation marks, an excerpt from Ammon Shea's book &q...
430 GG The Plural of Money. This Is Your Brain on Writing. Egregious
21 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's podcast, Grammar Girl discusses the plural of money, how to use "egregious," and talks with Ellen Hendriksen from The Savvy P...
429 GG How to Use the Conjunction “Nor”
14 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How do you use the conjunction "nor" and why is it so special it deserves a podcast of its own? Neil Whitman explains. Visit the website to read the f...
428 GG Crash Blossoms
07 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why the Associated Press accidentally made people think another Malaysian airplane had crashed, and what it tells us about language. Visit the website...
427 GG 7 French Food-Related Words That Became English
31 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When the Normans took over England in 1066, they brought their food and their language. We talk about seven interesting French words that made it into...
426 GG A Language Lover's Trip to England
24 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
During a short but delightful trip to England, I saw the Rosetta Stone, the White Tower at the Tower of London, ancient alphabet tiles and wax seals, ...
425 GG Why Weird Al's Word Crimes Video Made Me Want to Quit
17 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why Weird Al's Word Crimes Video Made Me Want to Quit. Visit the website to watch the video and comment: http://bit.ly/1qArtIJ Hosted by Simplecast, a...
424GG There's Something Weird About "For," "Yet," and "So"
10 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
FANBOYS are a myth and there's something weird about "for," "yet," and "so." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. S...
423 GG Is the Semicolon in TL;DR Ironic?
03 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
"TL;DR" means "too long; didn't read," but the semicolon is usually associated with long or complex sentences. What is it doing in...
422GG Manipulating Words to Make Things Funny
26 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why sentences like this are funny: A woman gives birth in the UK every 48 seconds. She must be exhausted. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...
421 - Part II: Why Do People Say 'A-Whole-Nother'?
19 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why do people say "a-whole-nother"?It's the same reason we say "an apron" instead if "a napron." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...
420 - Why 'A-Whole-Nother' Isn’t Like 'Ala-Frickin’-Bama' and 'Hizzouse'
12 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
While researching why people say "a-whole-nother," Syelle Graves discovered that even knowing what to call the phrase gets complicated (and interestin...
419 - Using Stick Figures to Understand First, Second, and Third Person
05 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Using Stick Figures to Understand First, Second, and Third Person Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about ...
417 - An Unparalleled Letdown
22 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The authors of "The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation" help us understand parallel structure. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...
416GG How to Kick Your Annoying Preposition Habit
15 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How to Kick Your Annoying Preposition Habit Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...
415 - Commas Are Like People on the Subway
08 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Commas are like people on the subway: You think you know them, but they're awfully complex. This week, we'll dig deeper and get to know some of their ...
414 - Luisa Zissman's Missing Apostrophe
01 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes companies leave apostrophes out of their names when it seems as if the name would need an apostrophe. Why do they do it, and is it wrong? Ho...
413 - Words Invented by Shakespeare
24 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of Shakespeare's 450th birthday, we'll look at Shakespeare's words, phrases, insults, and false friends. I bet you don't know them all. Hoste...
412 - Can I Help Who's Next?
18 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Neal Whitman addresses some annoying phrases you hear in stores and restaurants, such as "Can I help who's next?" and "Did you want cream in your coff...
411 - Addictive Versus Addicting
10 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Addictive Versus Addicting Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...
410GG Just Because
30 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
It's tricky to pick apart the grammar of a sentence such as "Just because you’re correct doesn’t mean you’re not annoying." Guest writer Neal Wh...
408 - Why We Don't End Sentences With "You're"
21 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Some words have strong forms, weak forms, and even weaker forms. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...
407GG Why Canadians Don't Really Say "Aboot"
13 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Gretchen McCulloch from the All Things Linguistic explains why Canadians don't say "aboot" and why most Americans think they do. Hosted by Simplecast,...
406GG Begging the Question
07 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Language is changing but that doesn't mean you have to go with the flow. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information...
405 - Is Cash Money a Regional Expression?
28 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Is Cash Money a Regional Expression? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per...
404 - Why "Substitute" Is Weird
27 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why it’s hard to talk about substituting one thing for another without confusing people. Guest Writer: Neal Whitman Sponsor: AudiblePodcast.com/GG H...
403 - Preventative and Orientate
22 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re going to talk about two cases in which English has two words that mean the same thing and whether one choice is better than the other. ...
402 - Little Bunny Foo Foo
21 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The Hoax Behind Little Bunny Foo Foo Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of per...
401 - How Clipping Creates New Words
14 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Great tales of English word evolution: From pantaloons to pants, caravan to van, and much more. Guest Writer: Bonnie Trenga Sponsor: http://FundAnythi...
400 - How Reading Tickles Your Neurons
09 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When you read about a character, in some ways your brain acts as though it thinks you ARE the character. It's amazing. Grammar Girl and the Savvy Psyc...
399 - Your Brain on Fiction
07 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How Literature Changes Your Brain for the Better. If you liked this podcast, check out our new show, The Savvy Psychologist. Hosted by Simplecast, an ...
071 Units Of Measure
30 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Units Of Measure: Feet, Ft., Lb., Degrees, and Percents Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...
398GG Why Some Band Names Take "The" and Some Don't
24 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why can we say "the Jefferson Airplane" but not "the Led Zeppelin"? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com ...
397 - Secrets of Bestselling Novels
16 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
A new study uncovered things that successful novels have in common. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information abou...
396 GG Tenterhooks or Tenderhooks?
10 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
What could this week’s topic be? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of perso...
192 Do I Hate Your Singing or You Singing?
02 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Do I Hate Your Singing or You Singing? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p...
395 GG How to Use Quotation Marks
24 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
How to mix quotation marks with other punctuation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection ...
394GG Hashtag Rap
17 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Did Kanye West Coin the Term "Hashtag Rap"? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collecti...
393 GG Nonsense Syllables
13 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why we sing "fra la la" instead of "fa spla spla" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection a...
392 GG Orangehead
06 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we call people redheads instead of orangeheads? Guest writer Gretchen McCulloch has the amazing answer. Grammar Pop Winterfest is a new wintery...
251 - What Is a Gerund?
28 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
What Is a Gerund? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adve...
391 GG Scrabble Words
22 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
A fun romp through some quirky words you may see when you're playing Scrabble. Remember to check out my new game, Grammar Pop, for your iPhone or iPa...
390 - Passive Voice
15 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Avoid one of the biggest passive voice mistakes! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection an...
389 GG English Plurals: Wugs and Blicks
07 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Your subconscious controls how you speak. We show why you already know how to make imaginary words such as "wugs" and "blicks" plu...
388 GG Style Sheets
23 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Don't make the mistake of treating your style sheet like a style guide. The new grammar game, Grammar Pop, is now available for the iPhone. Look for i...
387 GG "Because" as a Preposition
14 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
What's up with sentences such as I didn't do my homework because Skyrim? Try Grammar Girl's new iPad and iPhone game: Grammar Pop. Hosted by Simplecas...
386 - Negation in Night Vale
10 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Night Vale: Where even “not” isn’t what it seems. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about...
117 - Biweekly Versus Semiweekly
03 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Why "biweekly" can have multiple legitimate meanings. Check out the new word game Grammar Pop in the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gramma...
385 - Irony
27 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
More than five different types of irony? No wonder it's confusing! Guest writer Keith Houston, author of "Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctua...
384 - Homophones
19 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Which English homophones came from polysemy and which came from spelling variation? Try our new iPad game, Grammar Pop. If you like the Grammar Girl p...
383 GG Could Care Less
12 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
An excerpt from Bill Walsh's book "Yes, I Could Care Less." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...
50 GG Like Versus As
05 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Find out which of these words is a preposition and which is a conjunction. Try Grammar Girl's new iPad game called Grammar Pop. You match words with t...
381 GG Prepositions
30 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The fascinating history of English prepositions (yes, really). If you are trying to learn about prepositions, try Grammar Girl's new iPad game called ...