708 - Why Alcohol Is 'Hard.' 'Phenomena' or 'Phenomenon'?
A listener asked why we call some kinds of alcohol hard drinks and spirits, so we found the answer! Also, I'll help you remember the difference between "phenomenon" and "phenomena."LINKS AND SPONSORS ...
25 Jul 201911min
707 - How and Why the Internet Is Changing Language
Gretchen McCulloch studies how people use language on the internet, and today we talked about her new book, "Because Internet." I bet you'll recognize yourself or your friends in her insights. I did!L...
22 Jul 201929min
706 - Sometimes It's Not a Bad Idea to Dumb Down Your Language.
Why sometimes it's not a bad idea to dumb down your language.LINKS AND SPONSORS |True & Co: http://trueandco.com/grammar code:GRAMMAR |Grammar Girl Email Newsletter | https://www.quickanddirtytips.com...
18 Jul 201910min
705 - 'Blue Collar,' 'Bluestocking,' and 'the Blue Hair Brigade.' 'Oral' Versus 'Verbal.'
We talk about the origins of the phrases "blue collar," "bluestocking," and "blue hair," and discuss whether you should follow a rule you may not have even heard before: Don't use "verbal" to mean "sp...
16 Jul 201912min
704 - Present Tense When Writing About Fiction. The Poop Emoji and Eggcorns.
If you're writing about fiction, especially time-shifting fiction, it can be tricky figuring out whether to use present tense or past tense. We have help! Also, I answer a listener question about a fu...
11 Jul 20199min
703 - Why There Are 9 Different Ways to Pronounce the Letter T
We count nine different allophones of the letter T. Odds are good you'll recognize them all (and some of them may annoy you).LINKS AND SPONSORS |Babbel: http://babbel.com/grammar |True & Co: http://tr...
8 Jul 201922min
702 - ‘All of a Sudden’ or ‘All of the Sudden’? ‘Baited’ or ‘Bated’ Breath?
I had a listener insist the wrong way of saying "suddenly" was right, so I had to look into it. Also, I'll help you spell "bated breath" properly (and explain why it looks so weird).LINKS AND SPONSORS...
4 Jul 20199min
701 - ‘Biweekly’ or ‘Semiweekly’? ‘Foward' and ‘Forward.’
Today I have a Quick and Dirty Tip about the difference between “biweekly” and “semiweekly,” and I respond to a listener question about why I pronounce “forward” without the R.LINKS AND SPONSORS |Babb...
1 Jul 20199min
