785 - 'Gantlet' or 'Gauntlet'? Do You Want to Say 'Had Went'?
Have you been told to write "run the GANTLET"? Here's why you shouldn't. Also, editor Ben Yagoda explains why he's so tempted to use "had went" instead of "had gone."Read the transcripts: Gauntlet. Ha...
20 Aug 202012min
784 - A Historical Tip for Remembering When to Use 'Historical.' Put More Thought into Your Punctuation.
Kamala Harris's selection as Joe Biden's running mate is important, significant, and a number of firsts, but should we call it "historic" or "historical"? (Also, learn about the time a woman shook her...
13 Aug 202014min
783 - How Hurricanes Get Their Names. When You Should Avoid Using Contractions.
Isaias. Mitch. Andrew. Jimena. How hurricanes get their names, and why you'll see some names twice and others never again. Also, have you ever heard that you shouldn't use contractions in your writing...
6 Aug 202018min
782 - What are those dots over letters? Why does 'money' have a plural, and how do you spell it?
What are those double dots over letters in English? Why does "money" have a plural, and how do you spell it?Read the transcripts: Diaeresis. 'Monies' or 'Moneys'?Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show ...
30 Juli 202010min
781 - Blursday or Whensday? Middle Grade Versus Young Adult Fiction
Blursday is a popular word to use when you don't know what day of the week it is. It captures that disoriented feeling when everything is a blur. And our wonderful fiction editor Diana Pho is back wit...
23 Juli 202016min
780 - Which Comes First? Who or Where?
We started to wonder about the question words in the phrase "Who does what and goes where when."Read the transcript.Use the hashtag #WhereIListen to show me where you listen to the Grammar Girl podcas...
16 Juli 202014min
779 - How You Can Help the OED. Capitalizing 'Black.' How Playwriting Techniques Can Improve Your Writing.
Imagine the bragging rights: The OED needs your help antedating words. Why you should capitalize "Black." How playwriting techniques can improve your writing.Read the transcripts: OED. Black. Playwrit...
9 Juli 202014min
778 - Do We Say 'Red Skies at Night, Sailor's Delight' Because of the Saharan Dust Plumes? Also, 'Yoiks!'
The Saharan dust plumes can make the sky red, but they aren't the source of the old saying "Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies in the morning, sailor take warning." That comes from clouds...
2 Juli 202014min
