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When to use 'the' before a noun. Why rhymes help us remember. Opening a lime.
Episode 1008
1008. We look at why you have to use "the" before some nouns and not others, and then we dive into the science behind why rhymes stick in our memory …
2 years ago
Why singers lose their accents. Why the 'I before E' rule is weird.
Episode 1007
1007. Why do Adele and Susan Boyle sound American when they sing? We have answers. Plus, with all the talk about "weird" lately, we think it's time …
2 years ago
Why 'I' takes plural verbs. Making names that end in S, like Harris and Biles, possessive. Marinate.
Episode 1006
1006. We look at why the pronoun "I" seems to take plural verbs, and then we talk about a grammar topic that's in the news: how to make names that en…
2 years ago
A brief history of English (aka when they spoke French in England). Killer death meat.
Episode 1005
1005. You asked, so I have a brief history of English from invading Germanic tribes to the Modern English era. We talk about Vikings, the Norman Conq…
2 years, 1 month ago
The power of words: Conscious language, with Karen Yin
Episode 1004
1004. This week, Karen Yin, author of "The Conscious Style Guide," discusses the concept of conscious language and its importance in promoting equity…
2 years, 1 month ago
How to write about zero. Are your emails accidentally rude? PAPST.
Episode 1003
1003. This week, we look at zero — what a weird number! It has two plurals, sometimes you use the word and sometimes you use the numeral, and it gave…
2 years, 1 month ago
AI: Friend or foe? A conversation with Martha Brockenbrough
Episode 1002
1002. This week, Mignon talks with author Martha Brockenbrough about the good and bad sides of using artificial intelligence for writing and educatio…
2 years, 1 month ago
The unspoken rules of adjectives. The rise of 'yeah-nah.' Sundies
Episode 1001
1001. This week, we explore the often-overlooked rules for ordering adjectives in English and when to use commas between them. Then, spurred by a rec…
2 years, 1 month ago
Grammar Girl at 1000: Words, wisdom, and a dash of whimsy
Episode 1000
1000. In this special 1000th episode, I take the hot seat to answer your questions. Hear what made the first year of the podcast so wild, what I wish…
2 years, 1 month ago
The birth of American English. How to recognize a phrasal verb. Cucka-nucka.
Episode 999
999. This week, we look at what shaped early American English, from Native American words to Noah Webster's spelling reforms. Then, we explore phrasa…
2 years, 1 month ago