The sinful fork (and other dinner-table surprises)
1136. This week, we go full Thanksgiving, talking about the origin of butter knives, forks, and more. You'll love all the tidbits you can share with your family or friends during dinner.🔗 Share your ...
25 Nov 202514min
Why print dictionaries still matter, with Peter Sokolowski
1135. This week, we talk with Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, about the new print 12th Collegiate Dictionary. We look at why print still matters, how the dictionary used lookup d...
20 Nov 202535min
Personification in language and AI. Dictums, maxims, and proverbs. Expensitive.
1134. This week, we look at the poetic power of personification (the language quirk that gives human traits to nonhuman things) and why style guides advise against using it for AI. Then, we look at th...
18 Nov 202517min
The secret rules of crossword puzzles, with Natan Last
1133. This week, crossword pro Natan Last talks about his book "Across the Universe." We look at the technical and cultural differences between American and British puzzle styles and the secrets that ...
13 Nov 202529min
How '23 skidoo' & 'at sixes and sevens' are related to '6-7.'
1132. This week, in honor of Dictionary.com choosing "6-7" as its Word of the Year, we look at the origin of other number phrases: "23 skidoo" and "at sixes and sevens."🔗 Share your familect recordin...
11 Nov 202518min
What a ‘Science' magazine experiment says about the future of AI in journalism, with Abigail Eisenstadt
1131. This week, we talk with ‘Science' magazine senior writer Abigail Eisenstadt about her team's year-long experiment testing ChatGPT's ability to summarize research papers. We look at their methodo...
6 Nov 202523min
What Roman togas have to do with today's elections. 'Home in' versus 'hone in.'
1130. This week, we look at words related to elections, and then I help you remember the difference between "home in" and "hone in" with a tip that includes a shocking historical tidbit about spiders....
4 Nov 202516min
Finding the true history of words, with Ben Zimmer
1129. This week, we talk with Ben Zimmer about the linguistic detective work of antedating words — finding earlier usages than those published in dictionaries. We look at the surprising origins of "Ms...
30 Okt 202526min
