The dark histories behind your favorite scary words, with Jess Zafarris
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 from Hell," goes through these stories and more i...
24 Okt 202335min
Namesake. Commentate. Sprigly
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-hated verb "commentate."The "namesake" segment is wri...
17 Okt 202313min
How to write great topic sentences. Fanilects. Throwawayable.
949. Topic sentences aren't just for students! This week, we have real-life, grown-up examples — and you'll finally understand why that concept your English teacher kept talking about will help you wr...
10 Okt 202315min
When 'nice' was bad and 'bully' was good. Is 'preorder' redundant? High-intensity transformer.
948. Think you know where words like "bully," "nice," and "bimbo" come from? Think again! Join me as we explore surprising origins of common words. We'll see how terms like "bully" and "nice" changed ...
3 Okt 202316min
Think faster and talk smarter. Tips from Matt Abrahams that will make you a better writer and speaker
947. Do you wish you could think on your feet faster? Well, Stanford business professor and communication expert Matt Abrahams has insights on having great off-the-cuff conversations that are also sur...
26 Sep 202321min
Did Disney nail the pronunciation of 'Caribbean'? How to write equations. Chuther.
946. It's Talk Like a Pirate Day, which brings to mind "Pirates of the Caribbean," but you can actually pronounce "Caribbean" at least two different ways. Did Disney get it right or wrong? We turn to ...
19 Sep 202313min
Asking experts about language (interview with Steve Kleinedler, former executive editor of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel)
945. What was the famous Usage Panel from the American Heritage Dictionary and how did the panel's opinions influence dictionary entries? Steve Kleinedler, who managed the Usage Panel for many years, ...
12 Sep 202333min
When you shouldn't 'write tight.' 'Behead' versus 'decapitate.' YesHony.
944. Today, we untangle the often confusing web of writing styles. We'll explore the benefits of loose writing in fiction, creative writing, and academic writing, and how you can vary your sentence le...
5 Sep 202316min
