Why the heck does 'score' mean 20? How we subconsciously know how to pronounce different plurals.

Why the heck does 'score' mean 20? How we subconsciously know how to pronounce different plurals.

929. While we were looking into why we use the word "score" to mean "twenty," our minds were blown by how many languages still have remnants of a base-20 counting system. And then we learned the secret rules that explain why some plurals end with an "s" sound and others end with a "z" sound. It was quite a week!

| Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/score-dogz/transcript

| The "score" segment was written by Susan K. Herman, a retired U.S. Government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and language instructor.

| The "Cats and Dogz" 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

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| HOST: Mignon Fogarty

| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl

| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.

  • Audio engineer: Nathan Semes
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Episoder(1013)

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792 - A Totally, Like, Bitchin' Podcast About 'Like'

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791 - 'Although' Versus 'While.' Why We Write with Cliches (and How to Stop)

791 - 'Although' Versus 'While.' Why We Write with Cliches (and How to Stop)

What happens when I discover that my pet peeve is wrong? Also, why do we write with cliches? Should we stop, and if so, how?Read the transcript: Although. Cliches.Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag...

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790 - 'Laureate' Is Good. Why Is 'Resting on Your Laurels' Bad? 'Smarmy.'

790 - 'Laureate' Is Good. Why Is 'Resting on Your Laurels' Bad? 'Smarmy.'

If getting laurels is good, and being a Nobel laureate is good, how did we get to "resting on your laurels" being bad? Also, we learn that the word "smarmy" started as a joke (in fact, a kind of famil...

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789 - How to Make Your Readers Laugh. 'Whoa' or 'Woah'?

789 - How to Make Your Readers Laugh. 'Whoa' or 'Woah'?

Believe it or not, there are actually rules to being funny. Also, do you think "woah" is a separate word from "whoa"? Some people do, and they think it has a separate meaning.Read the transcript: Humo...

17 Sep 202014min

788 - Why 'Out of Pocket' Means Both 'Inappropriate' and 'Unavailable'

788 - Why 'Out of Pocket' Means Both 'Inappropriate' and 'Unavailable'

People have been asking about the "unavailable" meaning of "out of pocket" for decades, but there's also an "inappropriate" meaning that is spreading.Read the transcript: Out of PocketUse the hashtag ...

10 Sep 202016min

787 - Why We Associate Political Parties with the Colors Red and Blue

787 - Why We Associate Political Parties with the Colors Red and Blue

Nick and Hannah explain "red" and "blue," the origin of "POTUS," why the Declaration of Independence is the greatest break-up letter ever written, and more.Read the transcript: The InterviewUse the ha...

3 Sep 202024min

786 - 'Doomscrolling' (OK, Doomer). 'Each Other' or 'One Another'?

786 - 'Doomscrolling' (OK, Doomer). 'Each Other' or 'One Another'?

Whether you call it "doomscrolling" or "doomsurfing," it's not your fault that you feel compelled to do it. "Doom" has an interesting history though. Also, in honor of "Bill and Ted's Excellent Advent...

27 Aug 202014min

785 - 'Gantlet' or 'Gauntlet'? Do You Want to Say 'Had Went'?

785 - 'Gantlet' or 'Gauntlet'? Do You Want to Say 'Had Went'?

Have you been told to write "run the GANTLET"? Here's why you shouldn't. Also, editor Ben Yagoda explains why he's so tempted to use "had went" instead of "had gone."Read the transcripts: Gauntlet. Ha...

20 Aug 202012min

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