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Where did our language start?
Episode 971
971. Linguists have traced modern languages like English and Sanskrit back thousands of years to a single Proto-Indo-European source. This week, we e…
2 years, 3 months ago
'Addictive' or 'addicting'? Types of nouns. Folley
Episode 970
970. We answer a listener question about the difference between "addictive" and "addicting," and then we look at how to write compound nouns: did you…
2 years, 4 months ago
Tracing the origins of Miami's new English. Why it's not a 'gumballs' machine. Embassy Sweets.
Episode 969
969. From "wolkenkratzer" in German to "flea market" in English, direct translations called calques show how languages borrow from each other. This w…
2 years, 4 months ago
Taylor Swift Doesn't Need Your Grammatical Approval. In Love. Foil Lump Surprise.
Episode 968
968. This week, I expand on my comments for the New York Times about Taylor Swift's grammatically sound but apostrophe-free new album title: "The Tor…
2 years, 4 months ago
'A' versus 'an.' 'Larruping' rides again. Euonyms. Flavoring.
Episode 967
967. Should you say "a honor" or "an honor"? It's trickier than you think! We explore why articles depend on sounds and regional variations, the diff…
2 years, 4 months ago
From 'hwhat' to 'what': Tracing a letter's disappearing act. Barkhouse.
Episode 966
966. We explore the rise and fall of the letter H: Debates over its name ("haitch" or "aitch"?) and why a once-prestigious pronunciation like "hwhat"…
2 years, 5 months ago
The listener show! (canceled, think, lettuce, funnily, episode numbers, at about, mangos, musgos)
Episode 965
965. It's a listener question extravaganza! I answer your questions about "canceled," "another think/thing coming," zero plurals such as "fish," the …
2 years, 5 months ago
Technology changes how we write. Who was the first Goody Two Shoes?
Episode 964
964. From Nietzsche's writing ball to word processors and beyond, we look at how technology can change the way people write. Plus, we unpack the orig…
2 years, 5 months ago
More than fluff: Understanding 'needless' words. Larruping. Chicken surprise.
Episode 963
963. Strunk and White said to omit needless words, but sometimes "redundant" words can serve a meaningful purpose. Plus, we have the story behind lar…
2 years, 5 months ago
The psychology (and language) of time. Commas are like people on the subway. Fox chores.
Episode 962
962. We explore why phrases like "time flies" and "fast approaching" reveal deeper perspectives on time — is it us moving or the event? Plus, you may…
2 years, 5 months ago