What's new in the Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition), with Russell Harper and Mary Laur
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 Harper and Mary Laur — about the major changes, how the ...
19 Sep 202451min
Do words like 'mandate' and 'cockamamie' come from words for men? Grammatical doppelgangers. A pair of teeth.
1014. This week, we debunk misconceptions about gendered language, tracing the etymology of words like "cockamamie" and "gynecology." We also look at the flexibility of English grammar, examining how ...
17 Sep 202416min
'Tea' or 'chai'? Why we misspeak. Fellatone.
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 you've ever mixed up words, like calling a butterfl...
10 Sep 202413min
The language of liars. 'Legendary,' 'famous,' or 'notorious'? Fish shapes.
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 use. Then we tease out the difference between bein...
3 Sep 202414min
Cat Idioms. 'Summerween' and other blends. Bankery
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, little did we know that we're already in Augtober ...
27 Aug 202416min
Apostrophes have always been confusing. 'First' or 'firstly'? Trudy!
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, should you use "first," "second," and "third" or...
20 Aug 202415min
When to use 'the' before a noun. Why rhymes help us remember. Opening a lime.
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 and how they can even influence our beliefs. The "a...
13 Aug 202418min
