What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO.
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing6 Mai

What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO.

1079. Ever wonder what labels like "informal," "archaic," or "offensive" mean in a dictionary entry? We explain how different dictionaries use labels to describe when, where, and how to use words. Then, we explore why so many babies say "dada" first and why babies say "mama" almost everywhere.

The "dictionary labels" segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor.

The "mama" 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.

NEW: Sign up for my AP Style webinar on June 12: bit.ly/4k1XmpI
Use the code MACMIL for $50 off.

🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.

🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.

🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.

🔗 Take our advertising survey.

🔗 Get the edited transcript.

🔗 Get Grammar Girl books.

🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference.

| HOST: Mignon Fogarty

| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).

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

  • Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend
  • Director of Podcast: Brannan Goetschius
  • Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson
  • Digital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings
  • Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes

| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.

| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episoder(963)

087 Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions

087 Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions

Used to Versus Use to, and Other Listener Questions Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7 Des 20074min

084 People Versus Entities

084 People Versus Entities

People Versus Entities Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

16 Nov 20075min

083 Interviewing Tips

083 Interviewing Tips

Interviewing Tips Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

9 Nov 20075min

082 Daylight-Saving Time

082 Daylight-Saving Time

Daylight-Saving Time Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

9 Nov 20074min

078 Formatting Hyperlinks

078 Formatting Hyperlinks

Formatting Hyperlinks Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Okt 20074min

077 Verbification of a Noun

077 Verbification of a Noun

Verbification of a Noun Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

28 Sep 20076min

076 Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully"

076 Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully"

Starting a Sentence With "Hopefully" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 Sep 20075min

073 Simplify Your Writing

073 Simplify Your Writing

Simplify Your Writing Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

30 Aug 20076min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
hanna-de-heldige
fryktlos
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
treningspodden
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
foreldreradet
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-sunn-okonomi
dypdykk
rss-mann-i-krise-med-sagen
sinnsyn
rss-kunsten-a-leve
hverdagspsyken
takk-og-lov-med-anine-kierulf
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
anlegg-og-sjau-med-lothepus-og-pilgaard
rss-impressions-2
doktor-fives-podcast