
767 - The semicolon is so much more interesting than you imagine
From 19th century grammatical duels to modern day suicide prevention campaigns, the semicolon has a long history of inspiring strong emotions.Read the transcript. The SemicolonProfile of Lindley Murra...
16 Apr 202029min

766 - 'Flaunt' and 'Flout.' 'Band Together.'
The word "flaunt" and "flute" are strangely related (flue of shame, anyone?), but don't use either of them to mean "flout."Read the transcripts. 'Flout' and 'Flaunt.' 'Band Together.'Subscribe to the ...
9 Apr 202011min

765 - Say No to Marshall Law. How 'Vaccine' Is Related to 'Cow.'
Why you could be forgiven for (briefly) getting excited about "Marshall Law." Plus, the word "vaccine" is related to cows. That's a surprise!Read the transcripts. Martial Law. Vaccine and Vaccination....
2 Apr 20209min

764 - Skeleton Crew. Hunker Down. Uncharted. Existential.
Times are terrible, but no matter what is happening, we will always have interesting words and phrases to explore.Read the transcripts. Skeleton Crew. Hunker Down. Uncharted. Existential.Subscribe to ...
26 Mars 202010min

763 - How to Write Better Email. 'Pandemic' vs. 'Epidemic.' 'Canceled' vs. 'Cancelled.'
Are you writing more email? We have seven ways to do it better. Also, we'll help you understand the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic and when you should use "canceled" versus "cancelled."...
19 Mars 202013min

762 - How to Pronounce 'Celtic.' 'Whiskey' or 'Whisky'?
Sports fans say "Seltik." Historians say "Keltik." Here's the deal. Plus, have you ever noticed that Irish whiskey and Scottish whisky are spelled differently?Read the transcripts. Celtic. Whiskey.Sub...
12 Mars 202010min

761 - Why It's Called 'Daylight Saving Time.' The Origin of the Word 'Woman.'
We're moving our clocks forward this weekend, but do you know why we call it "daylight saving time"? Plus, I have some other time-related tips. Finally, in honor of International Women's Day, we look ...
5 Mars 202014min

760 - What Is Genre. 'Bangs' Versus 'Fringe.'
How to figure out which genre you love or how to describe the book you're writing so the publishing industry will understand where it fits. Also, we explain how Americans came to call fringe "bangs."L...
27 Feb 202011min





















