Podcast Episodes
Back to Search
When 'nice' was bad and 'bully' was good. Is 'preorder' redundant? High-intensity transformer.
Episode 948
948. Think you know where words like "bully," "nice," and "bimbo" come from? Think again! Join me as we explore surprising origins of common words. W…
2 years, 10 months ago
Think faster and talk smarter. Tips from Matt Abrahams that will make you a better writer and speaker
Episode 947
947. Do you wish you could think on your feet faster? Well, Stanford business professor and communication expert Matt Abrahams has insights on having…
2 years, 11 months ago
Did Disney nail the pronunciation of 'Caribbean'? How to write equations. Chuther.
Episode 946
946. It's Talk Like a Pirate Day, which brings to mind "Pirates of the Caribbean," but you can actually pronounce "Caribbean" at least two different …
2 years, 11 months ago
Asking experts about language (interview with Steve Kleinedler, former executive editor of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel)
Episode 945
945. What was the famous Usage Panel from the American Heritage Dictionary and how did the panel's opinions influence dictionary entries? Steve Klein…
2 years, 11 months ago
When you shouldn't 'write tight.' 'Behead' versus 'decapitate.' YesHony.
Episode 944
944. Today, we untangle the often confusing web of writing styles. We'll explore the benefits of loose writing in fiction, creative writing, and acad…
2 years, 11 months ago
Say hwat?! 'Anxious' versus 'eager.' Pink stein.
Episode 943
943. Join us for a fascinating romp through the evolution of phrases like "you know," "right?" and "I mean" from Beowulf's time to today. Plus, we lo…
3 years ago
The wonders of the 'a-' prefix in English. 'Personal' versus 'personnel.'
Episode 942
942. We’re diving deep into the chameleon-like nature of the "a-" prefix, tracing its journey from Latin, where it often started out as "ad-," to its…
3 years ago
Hilarious typos (and how to avoid them). Why do we 'take' a walk?
Episode 941
941. Whether you've been betrayed by autocorrect or your own fingers, almost everyone has made embarrassing typos. Even the Bible isn't immune: typos…
3 years ago
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…
3 years 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…
3 years ago