712 - Apostrophe Catastrophe. What (or Who) Is a Cipher?
It's not your fault apostrophes are confusing. We have help. Also, I called someone a "cipher," and my husband didn't know what that meant.LINKS AND SPONSORS |Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code: GRAMMAR...
8 Aug 201914min
711 - Misheard Song Lyrics and Eggcorns. The Ampersand.
When you mishear song lyrics, the resulting (often funny) error is called a mondegreen. We have the story about why and the run-down on similar funny errors. Also, did you know the ampersand used to b...
5 Aug 201921min
710 - Vacay. Why Some People Call Green Peppers 'Mangoes'
It's time to take off, and we have 10 words to describe it. Also, we dig in to an interesting mystery: Why some people call green peppers "mangoes."LINKS AND SPONSORS |Magoosh: http://magoosh.com code...
1 Aug 201911min
709 - Surprise! The History of Semicolons Is Exciting.
I talked with Cecelia Watson, author of the new book "Semicolon" about how grammar writers in the 1800s became fabulously wealthy, struggled to create rules, and had vicious arguments; and we talked a...
29 Jul 201928min
708 - Why Alcohol Is 'Hard.' 'Phenomena' or 'Phenomenon'?
A listener asked why we call some kinds of alcohol hard drinks and spirits, so we found the answer! Also, I'll help you remember the difference between "phenomenon" and "phenomena."LINKS AND SPONSORS ...
25 Jul 201911min
707 - How and Why the Internet Is Changing Language
Gretchen McCulloch studies how people use language on the internet, and today we talked about her new book, "Because Internet." I bet you'll recognize yourself or your friends in her insights. I did!L...
22 Jul 201929min
706 - Sometimes It's Not a Bad Idea to Dumb Down Your Language.
Why sometimes it's not a bad idea to dumb down your language.LINKS AND SPONSORS |True & Co: http://trueandco.com/grammar code:GRAMMAR |Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com...
18 Jul 201910min
705 - 'Blue Collar,' 'Bluestocking,' and 'the Blue Hair Brigade.' 'Oral' Versus 'Verbal.'
We talk about the origins of the phrases "blue collar," "bluestocking," and "blue hair," and discuss whether you should follow a rule you may not have even heard before: Don't use "verbal" to mean "sp...
16 Jul 201912min
