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Have you ridden an acoustic bike lately? Write it tight.
Episode 940
940. Pork bacon, manual transmissions, and acoustic guitars: retronyms help us describe the original form of something that has now become a class. B…
2 years, 7 months ago
Did you know that on US Army bases, soldiers get a tattoo every day? Keep writing.
Episode 939
939. When I say the word "tattoo," you probably think of body art, but "tattoo" has another meaning that's related to a famous Edinburgh festival tha…
2 years, 7 months ago
People have ~feelings~ about the exclamation point (Florence Hazrat interview)
Episode 938
938. Love it or hate it, the exclamation point has been on the red carpet lately because we're using it more. But it also has a fascinating history: …
2 years, 7 months ago
15 years of podcasting with Money Girl and Nutrition Diva
In this special bonus episode, I sat down with Laura Adams and Monica Reinagel, who host Money Girl and Nutrition Diva here on the Quick and Dirty Ti…
2 years, 7 months ago
'Less' versus 'fewer.' Fun names for fingers. Scunscreen.
Episode 937
937. Today, we explore the traditional advice of using "fewer" for things you can count and "less" for things you can't, but you'll also learn about …
2 years, 8 months ago
'Inspirational' or 'aspirational'? The surprising dangers of ChatGPT. Spaghetto.
Episode 936
936. Have you ever wondered about the nuanced differences between "aspirational" and "inspirational"? Today, we look at a newer, more cynical meaning…
2 years, 8 months ago
Phrasal verb mysteries and minced oath origins. Night water.
Episode 935
935. Ever been puzzled by the difference between "slow down" and "slow up"? Curious about how they can possibly mean the same thing (or do they)? We…
2 years, 8 months ago
Unlocking the mystery of 'ever words' and Latin abbreviations. Juna.
Episode 934
934. Ever wondered why "whyever" isn't as popular as "wherever," "however," or "whenever"? Join me as we delve into the world of "-ever" words and th…
2 years, 8 months ago
Why words can suddenly look unrecognizable. Learn to love the full stop. Marley.
Episode 933
933. Have you ever looked at a word and it didn't seem like a real word anymore? It's a specific thing that happens in your brain called semantic sat…
2 years, 9 months ago
Imagine life as a fiction editor (interview with Amy Schneider, author of the Chicago Guide to Copy Editing Fiction)
Episode 932
932. When I saw Amy Schneider's new book, The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction, I realized that I have never seen a book that specializes in edit…
2 years, 9 months ago