Vonnegut’s semicolon rule. What age has to do with language. Chocolate donut.
1112. This week, we look at why you can safely ignore Kurt Vonnegut’s famous advice about ignoring semicolons. We also look at why taking punctuation advice from fiction writers may not be a good idea...
2 Sep 202515min
Why we say 'near miss.' How dogs got their names. Stupid dog Jackie.
1111. This week, we look at the phrase "near miss" and why this seemingly illogical term actually makes sense. Then, in honor of National Dog Day, we look at how 16 different dog breeds got their name...
26 Aug 202518min
How to build a successful writers’ newsletter, with Jane Friedman
1110. This week, we talk with Jane Friedman, an expert on the business of being a writer. We look at how to build a strong email newsletter and why it's a critical tool for authors in today's publishi...
21 Aug 202518min
What is 'versing'? ‘Whatchamacallit' and other placeholder words. Chicken.
1109. This week, we look at why kids and video gamers talk about "versing" someone. Then, we look at the linguistics of placeholder words like "whatchamacallit" and "thingamajig," including some fun i...
19 Aug 202513min
AI's impact on translators, untranslatable Dutch words, and more, with Heddwen Newton
1108. This week, we talk to Heddwen Newton about some of the unique and untranslatable words she's discovered while translating. She shares her thoughts on why the translation profession is being hit ...
14 Aug 202519min
Double possessives. Words that do double duty. The monkeys aren't working.
1107. This week, we look at double possessives, such as "a friend of Mignon's" and whether they are grammatically correct. Then, we look at words that do double duty, from the nautical origins of "scu...
12 Aug 202514min
New words: 'beer muscles' & 'waka jumpers,' with Fiona McPherson.
1106. We talk with Fiona McPherson, a senior editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, about the playful words that get added to the OED. We look at the dictionary's ongoing work to expand its coverage...
7 Aug 202516min
How pronouns reveal our psychology. How'd we get our alphabet? Tabagogox.
1105. This week, we look at how the pronouns you use can reveal your psychological state — for example, how using "I" versus "we" can signal how you are coping with a breakup or a tragic event. Then, ...
5 Aug 202514min
