Shows / Grammar Girl
Grammar Girl
Five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards. Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing and feed your love of the English language. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer. Grammar Girl is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast.
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Episodes
Grammar GirlWhy some holidays have apostrophes. Why Californians say ‘the 405.’ MIGD
1055. Ever wonder why some holidays have apostrophes while others don’t? We look at Mother’s Day, Veterans Day, and Presidents’ Day. Then, we look at why…
Grammar GirlWord games and the joy of playing every day, with Lex Friedman
1054. Ever wonder what goes into designing daily word games? Lex Friedman, creator of Lex.games, shares his journey from puzzle lover to puzzle maker, how he…
Grammar Girl'Toeing' the line. Metonymy versus synecdoche. Ghost town mad
1053. If you’ve ever hesitated between ‘toe the line’ and ‘tow the line,’ this episode is for you. We look at the phrase's history to clear up the confusion…
Grammar GirlWordplay and cartoons: Inside the making of 'AB@C,' with Rob Meyerson and Dan Misdea
1052. What do “CDB” and “U11 2” have in common? They’re both examples of gramograms! This week, I chat with writer Rob Meyerson and New Yorker cartoonist Dan…
Grammar GirlDoes 'book-book' make sense? Fun words for jigsaw lovers. Chilly chickens.
1051. This week, we look at doubled words, like "salad-salad" or "job-job," and what the repetition is actually telling us. Then, in honor of National Puzzle…
Grammar GirlThe secret to writing a good memoir, with Wendy Dale
1050. This week, I talk with Wendy Dale, author of "The Memoir Engineering System," about how to write a compelling memoir. We look at the differences between…
Grammar GirlQuotation marks in 1906. Starting stories in the middle. Road trip words.
1049. I came across a hilarious entry about quotation marks in an old usage guide and had to share it. Then, we look at a technique that can work for both…
Grammar Girl'Rebel with a Clause,' the movie, with Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson
1048. Ellen Jovin set up a folding table on the street in all 50 U.S. states to talk with people about grammar, which led to the book "Rebel with a Clause."…
Grammar GirlFrom "august" to "August." Why the union is always "strong." Nee nee
1047. This week, we look at word pairs like "august/August" that change their meaning when capitalized and how you can make your meaning clear. Then, we look…
Grammar GirlThe psychology of fandom, with Jennifer Lynn Barnes
1046. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the "Inheritance Games" books, discusses how writing from different points of view can help readers connect with…
Grammar GirlDoes 'Wicked' have a grammar error? What is the 'neck of the woods'? To be Frances
1045. A listener asked if the song "The Wizard and I" should actually be "The Wizard and Me," so we look at how you can tell. And then we look at interesting…
Grammar GirlThe case of the mystery dialect, with Natalie Schilling
1044. Today, I'm talking about a strange disappearance that forensic linguist Natalie Schilling worked on that she calls "the case of the mystery dialect."…
Grammar Girl2024 words of the year, with John Kelly
1043. "Skibidi," "polarization," "brat," "demure," "enshittification," and more. You might get whiplash from the vacillating vibes of all the words the…
Grammar GirlTwee pop, bumbershoot, amongst, and more, with Ben Yagoda
1042. Today, I have the bonus segment from my interview with Ben Yagoda back in September. Ben is the author of the book "Gobsmacked: The British Invasion of…
Grammar Girl'Home' for the holidays. False friends. Hello, Dentist.
1041. Today, we talk about the word "home" and its meaning beyond just a structure, and then we talk about false friends — words in different languages that…
Grammar GirlStruggling with AI: Job loss, energy use, and more, with Christopher Penn
1040. The downsides of AI bother me a lot — job loss, energy use, and the content tsunami. But I also think it's critically important to understand what this…
Grammar GirlWhy people say 'I mean ...' Missing pronouns. Cat-tracted.
1039. People are saying "I mean" more lately, and we explain what it ... means! Plus, we look at why people leave out pronouns at the beginning of sentences…
Grammar GirlWhy the new CMOS is yellow. Pandemic collectors editions. And more
1038. Chicago Manual of Style editors Mary Laur and Russell Harper dish on the changes they wanted in CMOS that didn't make it in, why the stylebook is bright…
- Grammar Girl
Positive 'anymore.' 'Wreaked' or 'wrought'? Seat of your pants. Pecan pie.
1037. This week, we answer a few questions that have popped up from previous episodes: What's up with the "positive anymore"? What is havoc? Is it wreaked or…
Grammar GirlMaking your own dictionary, with Erin McKean
1036. Erin McKean runs an entire online dictionary with the goal of having ALL the English words. But Wordnik is not only huge, it's also filled with…
Grammar GirlGood first sentences. The language of 'Gladiator II.' Bear barber.
1035. This week, we look at famous and amazing first sentences in novels to understand what makes them so compelling, and then we look at the interesting…
Grammar GirlHow to write about trademarks. Why we say 'thank you.'
1034. First, we look at how writers should use trademarked terms like "Kleenex" and "Google," including when to capitalize them and how to avoid legal…
Grammar GirlWhy one creative agency changed its stance on AI
1033. Last year, Dragonfly Editorial had a "no AI" policy, but since then, they've been experimenting with the technology, and the policy has become more…
Grammar GirlWhy children learn languages faster than adults. Are band names singular or plural?
1032. First, we explore why children pick up languages faster than adults. You’ll learn about the critical period when young brains are best at learning, why…
Grammar Girl'Beer' words in the OED, with Fiona McPherson
1031. This week, Fiona McPherson from the Oxford English Dictionary talks about the latest “beer” words added to the OED, from “boozeroo” to “beerage.” We…
Grammar Girl'Hanged' versus 'Hung.' Is 'pair' singular or plural? Fossilized phrases.
1030. This week, we look at why "hang" has two past-tense forms: "hanged" and "hung." (And why I keep messing them up!) Then we expand on why "pair" can be…
Grammar GirlThe psychology of writing bestsellers, with Jennifer Lynn Barnes
1029. This week, I talk with Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the bestselling "Inheritance Games" series and a former psychology professor, about the psychology…
Grammar GirlAre you "pantless" or "pantsless"? Who (or what) is Beetlejuice?
1028. This week, we look at the weird situation when you want to add a suffix (such as "-less") to a plural-only noun such as "pants" or "scissors" — with a…
Grammar GirlHow linguists solve crimes, with Natalie Schilling
1027. This week, I talk with forensic linguist Natalie Schilling about how people's language gives them away — in manifestos, ransom notes, text messages, and…
Grammar GirlFrom Guy Fawkes to Guido Fawkes. Tales from the crypt (and catacombs, mausoleums, and ossuaries). Taquitos
1026. This week, we look at the origins of words for men, including the ancient roots of "man," the surprising evolution of the word "guy" from being an insult…
Grammar GirlThe language of meetings, with Jim Slaughter
1025. Have you ever wondered where meeting terms like “quorum” or “proxy” come from? In this episode, Jim Slaughter looks at the linguistic origins and…
Grammar GirlWhy don't we say 'I'm smarter than YOU'RE'? The language of fear. Catherineisms.
1024. It often sounds weird if you try to end a sentence with a contraction like "you're" and "I'm." We look at why! Then, get ready for Halloween with the…
Grammar GirlFeeling stuck? Anne Lamott's here to kickstart your writing!
1023. I felt like I could write anything after this discussion with Anne Lamott about painful first drafts, beating perfectionism, and the one thing she'd…
Grammar GirlQuack! What's a lame duck? A German punctuation kerfuffle.
1022. This week, we look at election terms like “president-elect” and “lame duck” and how they're used during a U.S. presidential transition. Then, I dig into…
Grammar GirlCan AI really write? A no-nonsense discussion, with Christopher Penn
1021. This week, Christopher Penn talks about the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in writing and editing. We look at common misconceptions about how AI works and…
Grammar GirlHow to talk like a chef. The Michigander controversy. Jakey.
1020. This week, we shed light on quirky restaurant slang like “kill it” and “Chef Mike.” Then, we tackle the long-standing debate over what to call residents…
Grammar GirlHow writers navigate failure and find success, with Jonathan Small
1019. This week, Jonathan Small, author of "Write About Now," shares what he's learned about the common struggles writers face throughout their careers. His…
Grammar GirlFrom game boards to boardrooms. Commas with participial phrases. Gritties.
1018. This week, we look at the meanings of the word "board," including the differences between board games, table games, and table-top games. We also look at…
Grammar GirlFrom 'gobsmacked' to 'ginger': The British invasion of American English, with Ben Yagoda
1017. How did British words find their way into American English? Author Ben Yagoda shares insights with us from his new book "Gobsmacked!" We learn about…
Grammar GirlWhy some verb sets are so odd (like 'go/went'). Corporate euphemisms. Goggy.
1016. This week, we look at why some verbs are so irregular that their forms don't even seem related, like "go" and "went." Then, we look at the surprising…
Grammar GirlWhat's new in the Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition), with Russell Harper and Mary Laur
1015. The Chicago Manual of Style is updated every seven years, and this year's update is a big one! I talked with two of the editors — Russell Harper and Mary…
Grammar GirlDo words like 'mandate' and 'cockamamie' come from words for men? Grammatical doppelgangers. A pair of teeth.
1014. This week, we debunk misconceptions about gendered language, tracing the etymology of words like "cockamamie" and "gynecology." We also look at the…
Grammar GirlWhat fiction writers know about avoiding stereotypes, with Alex Temblador
1013. How can fiction writers create diverse, authentic characters without relying on stereotypes? Alex Temblador, author of "Writing An Identity Not Your…
Grammar Girl'Tea' or 'chai'? Why we misspeak. Fellatone.
1012. Most words are different in different languages, but water from steeped leaves has only two main names: tea and chai. We look at why! Also, if you've…
Grammar GirlThe language of liars. 'Legendary,' 'famous,' or 'notorious'? Fish shapes.
1011. This week, we look at language patterns that may indicate someone is lying, such as how often they say "um" and the diversity of the words they use. Then…
Grammar GirlCat Idioms. 'Summerween' and other blends. Bankery
1010. We'd never be accused of belling the cat, but we did let our curiosity get the best of us when sniffing around common cat-related idioms. Plus, little…
Grammar GirlApostrophes have always been confusing. 'First' or 'firstly'? Trudy!
1009. If you think apostrophes are confusing today, wait until you hear how people used them 100s of years ago! Ammon Shea has some wild stories. Plus, should…
Grammar GirlWhen to use 'the' before a noun. Why rhymes help us remember. Opening a lime.
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 and how…
Grammar GirlWhy singers lose their accents. Why the 'I before E' rule is weird.
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 to examine…
Grammar GirlWhy 'I' takes plural verbs. Making names that end in S, like Harris and Biles, possessive. Marinate.
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 end in S…
Grammar GirlA brief history of English (aka when they spoke French in England). Killer death meat.
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 Conquest, the…
Grammar GirlThe power of words: Conscious language, with Karen Yin
1004. This week, Karen Yin, author of "The Conscious Style Guide," discusses the concept of conscious language and its importance in promoting equity and…
Grammar GirlHow to write about zero. Are your emails accidentally rude? PAPST.
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 rise to a…
Grammar GirlAI: Friend or foe? A conversation with Martha Brockenbrough
1002. This week, Mignon talks with author Martha Brockenbrough about the good and bad sides of using artificial intelligence for writing and education…
Grammar GirlThe unspoken rules of adjectives. The rise of 'yeah-nah.' Sundies
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 recent…
Grammar GirlGrammar Girl at 1000: Words, wisdom, and a dash of whimsy
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 I had…
Grammar GirlThe birth of American English. How to recognize a phrasal verb. Cucka-nucka.
999. This week, we look at what shaped early American English, from Native American words to Noah Webster's spelling reforms. Then, we explore phrasal verbs…
Grammar GirlBuying your hometown newspaper, with Samantha & Greg Enslen
998. This week, I talked with Samantha and Greg Enslen, who recently purchased their hometown newspaper, the "Tippecanoe Gazette" in Tipp City, Ohio. Sam and…
Grammar Girl'Which' versus 'that.' Words for walking. Bottleadammit.
997. This week, I help you learn (and remember!) the difference between "which" and "that" with practical tips and examples about cupcakes. Then, we take a…
Grammar GirlThe Hidden Stories of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart
996. This week, you'll learn about the rich linguistic history of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, an advisor to the Oxford Dictionary of…