Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for English

The special sauce of human language. Gotten. NATO alphabet. A1 sauce.

959. Learn why human language goes beyond basic communication to allow spontaneous creativity,...

• 0
• 0
• 4 meses

What's the difference between Hispanic, Chicano, Latino, Latinx, and Latine? Can something 'grow' smaller? Musko.

958. We trace the history, usage, and meaning behind identifiers such as "Hispanic," "Chicano,"...

• 0
• 0
• 4 meses

When does a house become a mansion? Giving someone house.

957. We trace the linguistic history behind "house" and "mansion" to uncover how these two humble...

• 0
• 0
• 5 meses

From Metal Type to Metaphor: Printing Terms that Extended Their Reach. The Positive 'Anymore.' Gigglemare.

956. How did terms like "stereotype," "boilerplate," and "typecast" make the leap from specialist...

• 0
• 0
• 5 meses

Why is Black Friday black? The NATO alphabet. Byeloveyou.

955.  This week, we're looking at the curious origins and histories behind common idioms and...

• 0
• 0
• 5 meses

The Science of the Plot Twist. Irregardless. Spug.

954.  Uh-oh, "irregardless" isn’t going away anytime soon. Take a deep breath while we dig into...

• 0
• 0
• 5 meses

Omnishambles! Military Slang Across the Pond (Interview with Ben Yagoda)

953. In honor of Veterans Day, Ben Yagoda tells us tales of military words that marched from the...

• 1
• 0
• 5 meses

Cliches. Organic. Bully Pulpit. Fimfy.

951.  In honor of National Cliché day, we uncover why some overused phrases rub us the wrong way....

• 0
• 0
• 6 meses

The Dark Histories Behind Your Favorite Scary Words, with Jess Zafarris

951. What's the difference between terror and horror? Why was the word for "bear" so scary that...

• 0
• 0
• 6 meses

Namesake. Commentate. Sprigly

950. Nowthen, a town with an odd little name, helps us understand the word "namesake," and then I...

• 0
• 0
• 6 meses

How to write great topic sentences. Fanilects. Throwawayable.

949. Topic sentences aren't just for students! This week, we have real-life, grown-up examples —...

• 0
• 0
• 6 meses

When 'nice' was bad and 'bully' was good. Is 'preorder' redundant? High-intensity transformer.

948. Think you know where words like "bully," "nice," and "bimbo" come from? Think again! Join me...

• 0
• 0
• 7 meses

Think faster and talk smarter. Tips from Matt Abrahams that will make you a better writer and speaker

947. Do you wish you could think on your feet faster? Well, Stanford business professor and...

• 1
• 0
• 7 meses

Did Disney nail the pronunciation of 'Caribbean'? How to write equations. Chuther.

946. It's Talk Like a Pirate Day, which brings to mind "Pirates of the Caribbean," but you can...

• 0
• 0
• 7 meses

Asking experts about language (interview with Steve Kleinedler, former of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel)

945. What was the famous Usage Panel from the American Heritage Dictionary and how did the...

• 0
• 0
• 7 meses

When you shouldn't 'write tight.' 'Behead' versus 'decapitate.' YesHony.

944. Today, we untangle the often confusing web of writing styles. We'll explore the benefits of...

• 0
• 0
• 8 meses

Say hwat?! 'Anxious' versus 'eager.' Pink stein.

943. Join us for a fascinating romp through the evolution of phrases like "you know," "right?"...

• 0
• 0
• 8 meses

The wonders of the 'a-' prefix in English. 'Personal' versus 'personnel.'

942. We’re diving deep into the chameleon-like nature of the "a-" prefix, tracing its journey...

• 1
• 0
• 8 meses

Hilarious typos (and how to avoid them). Why do we 'take' a walk?

941. Whether you've been betrayed by autocorrect or your own fingers, almost everyone has made...

• 0
• 0
• 8 meses

Have you ridden an acoustic bike lately? Write it tight.

940. Pork bacon, manual transmissions, and acoustic guitars: retronyms help us describe the...

• 0
• 0
• 8 meses