804 - Another Think/Thing Coming. 'Sanction,' 'Cleave,' 'Dust,' and More
Are Americans ruining the put-down "You've got another think coming," or was it the British band Judas Priest? Also, everyone loves Janus words like "sanction," "cleave," and "dust." We talk about wha...
31 Dec 202014min
803 - Pandemic, COVID, anderhalvemetersamenleving: 2020 Words of the Year
It's the Oscars of the language world: word-of-the-year data analysis and voting! A spirited conversation with Merriam-Webster's Emily Brewster about the 2020 words of the year.Subscribe to the newsle...
24 Dec 202022min
802 - Brandon Sanderson on Writing, Character and Place Names, and the Future
Brandon shares funny stories about character and place names gone wrong, his writing struggles, and what the future holds for his work.Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Watch my LinkedI...
17 Dec 202034min
801 - How to Get Your 'Just Deserts.' Comma After 'But'? Why?
More people get the phrase "just deserts" wrong than get it right, but we're here to help! Also, why do some people put a comma after "but"? They shouldn't, but we have some theories about why they do...
10 Dec 202011min
800 - What Did You Step On? And Is That a Desert or a Dessert?
Here's why you can ignore zombie rules and why it's actually better to write "What did you step on?" than "On what did you step?" (But also when you can't ignore those rules!) Then, I have two great m...
3 Dec 20209min
799 - What 'Whence' Has to Do with 'Where Are You At?' 'Regime' or 'Regimen'?
Why the decline of 'whence' and 'whither' led to 'Where are you at?' And weird memory tricks to help you remember the difference between 'regime,' 'regimen,' and 'regiment.' (Don't say you weren't war...
26 Nov 202011min
798 - Why 'Hilarious' Is Funnier than 'Hysterical.' How to Start a Novel.
The root of "hysterical" may surprise you (and make you want to use "hilarious" instead). Also, things to remember when starting a novel.Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to show me where you l...
19 Nov 202015min
797 - Why Dickens' Character Names Are So Revealing. 'Continual' or 'Continuous'?
What Dickens can teach you about choosing your characters' names. Plus, how to remember the frustratingly different meanings of "continuous" and "continual."Use the hashtag #WhereIListen and tag me to...
12 Nov 202014min
