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Code-Switching. Mignon Snaps Over Numbers. Foomp.
Episode 883
883. The numbers sections of style books finally pushed me over the edge, and I have some stories you won't believe! We also talk about how cool code…
3 years, 11 months ago
Surprising Words Related to 'Freedom.' Double Subjects. Foop.
Episode 882
882. For Independence Day, we look at the word "freedom" and the surprising words that came from the same roots. Plus, we look at odd sentences with …
4 years ago
'Ant' or 'Ahnt'? Capitalizing Cocktail Names. Archie Bunker.
Episode 881
881. What's up with the fancy-schmancy "ahnt" pronunciation of the word "aunt"? And why are the rules about capitalizing cocktail names so wonky? We…
4 years ago
The Many Meanings of 'Father.' How Watergate Changed English. Punim
Episode 880
880. "Father" as a word shows how we humans love to extend our metaphors. Did you know it was only relatively recently that priests were referred to…
4 years ago
Demonyms: Why People from North Carolina Are Called Tar Heels. 'Healthy' Versus 'Healthful.' Sussies 3!
Episode 879
879. Are people from Liverpool really called "Liverpudlians"? Where does the name "Tar Heel" come from? We have the answers to some of the most inter…
4 years ago
Are Wisdom Teeth Smart? Capitalizing Degree Names. Sussies 2
Episode 878
878. This week, we look at what makes wisdom teeth so smart, how to properly write the name of your degree, and what's up with the "sussies" familect…
4 years ago
Whatever Happened to "Thou"?
Episode 877
877. In an age when eels were sometimes used as currency and castles pierced the sky, “thou” was all the rage. But over time, it disappeared from use…
4 years, 1 month ago
How Spellers Tackle the 'Dreaded Schwa'
Episode 876
876. You'll never view spellers in the bee asking questions the same way again after you learn about the schwa from Brian Sietsema, an associate pron…
4 years, 1 month ago
Why "'Em" Isn't Short for "Them." The Subjunctive. Sussies.
Episode 875
875. When you say "Go get 'em!" you think that's short for "Go get them," but you're wrong! We look at the fascinating history of some English pronou…
4 years, 1 month ago
Tomi Adeyemi: The Writing Life and Her New Writing Course.
Episode 874
874. With her book "Children of Blood and Bone" spending 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, Tomi Adeyemi knows what it takes to write a…
4 years, 1 month ago