1029. This week, I talk with Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the bestselling "Inheritance Games" series and a former psychology... more

1028. This week, we look at the weird situation when you want to add a suffix (such as "-less") to... more

1027. This week, I talk with forensic linguist Natalie Schilling about how people's language gives them away — in manifestos,... more

1026. This week, we look at the origins of words for men, including the ancient roots of "man," the surprising... more

1025. Have you ever wondered where meeting terms like “quorum” or “proxy” come from? In this episode, Jim Slaughter looks... more

1024. It often sounds weird if you try to end a sentence with a contraction like "you're" and "I'm." We... more

1023. I felt like I could write anything after this discussion with Anne Lamott about painful first drafts, beating perfectionism,... more

1022. This week, we look at election terms like “president-elect” and “lame duck” and how they're used during a U.S.... more

1021. This week, Christopher Penn talks about the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in writing and editing. We... more

1020. This week, we shed light on quirky restaurant slang like “kill it” and “Chef Mike.” Then, we tackle the... more

1019. This week, Jonathan Small, author of "Write About Now," shares what he's learned about the common struggles writers face... more

1018. This week, we look at the meanings of the word "board," including the differences between board games, table games,... more

1017. How did British words find their way into American English? Author Ben Yagoda shares insights with us from his... more

1016. This week, we look at why some verbs are so irregular their forms don't even seem related, like "go"... more

1015. A rare chance to hear directly from the editors of the Chicago Manual of Style! The CMOS (pronounced "sea... more

1014. We debunk misconceptions about gendered language, tracing the etymology of words like "cockamamie" and "gynecology." We also look at... more

1013. How can fiction writers create diverse, authentic characters without relying on stereotypes? Alex Temblador, author of "Writing An Identity... more

1012. Most words are different in different languages, but water from steeped leaves has only two main names: tea and... more

1011. This week, we look at language patterns that may indicate someone is lying, such as how often they say... more

1010. We'd never be accused of belling the cat, but we did let our curiosity get the best of us... more

1009. If you think apostrophes are confusing today, wait until you hear how people used them 100s of years ago!... more

1008. We look at why you have to use "the" before some nouns and not others, and then we dive... more

1007. Why do Adele and Susan Boyle sound American when they sing? We have answers. Plus, with all the talk... more

1006. We look at why the pronoun "I" seems to take plural verbs, and then we talk about a grammar... more

1005. You asked, so I have a brief history of English from invading Germanic tribes to the Modern English era.... more

1004. This week, Karen Yin, author of "The Conscious Style Guide," discusses the concept of conscious language and its importance... more

1003. This week, we look at zero — what a weird number! It has two plurals, sometimes you use the... more

1002. This week, Mignon talks with author Martha Brockenbrough about the good and bad sides of using artificial intelligence for... more

1001. This week, we explore the often-overlooked rules for ordering adjectives in English and when to use commas between them.... more

1000. In this special 1000th episode, I take the hot seat to answer your questions. Hear what made the first... more

999. This week, we look at what shaped early American English, from Native American words to Noah Webster's spelling reforms.... more

998. This week, I talked with Samantha and Greg Enslen, who recently purchased their hometown newspaper, the "Tippecanoe Gazette" in... more

997. This week, I help you learn (and remember!) the difference between "which" and "that" with practical tips and examples... more

994. This week, you'll learn about the rich linguistic history of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, an advisor... more

995. This week, we look at when to use parentheses, dashes, and commas and how the choice can change the... more

994. This week, I sat down with the prolific "Dune" author Kevin J. Anderson and the famed "Dune" narrator Scott... more

993. This week, we cover the strategic use of sign language by the Bene Gesserit in the 'Dune' movies, including... more

992. It's been 100 years since the crossword puzzle took America by storm in 1924. This week, Ben Zimmer tells... more

991. This week, we trace the origin and meaning of the word "dog," from its mysterious beginning to its current... more

990. Have you ever wondered why English doesn't have gender like Spanish and French? Which languages are the hardest to... more

989. What is a word? Does "that's" count as one word or two? In this excerpt from Paul Anthony Jones'... more

988. Peter Sokolowski, an editor at Merriam-Webster, goes through the fascinating history of the Armed Services Editions, a series of... more

987. This week, we look at why people sometimes double their subjects, writing sentences such as "John, he bought a... more

986. Erin Brenner, author of "The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors," shares time-saving tips including the best practices for using... more

985. This week, we look at the world of whimsical words, including the origins and meanings of terms like "dinkus,"... more

984. This week, we talk about the subtle differences between words such as "stock" and "broth," "street" and "boulevard," "maze"... more

983. This week, we explore "skunked" words — terms going through hotly disputed meaning changes. We look at the debate... more

982. Delve into the fascinating world of Old English with medievalist Hana Videen, author of "The Deorhord." We'll uncover... more

981. Major style guides now have advice on when and how you should cite AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude,... more

980. This week, I talk with with Anne Curzan about the fascinating world of language evolution, her new book, "Says... more

979. Explore the fascinating origins of punctuation and how it evolved to shape written language. Plus, learn techniques to untangle... more

978. Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author, Charles Duhigg, as we talk about mastering the art of communication and... more

977. This week, we cover the latest AP Stylebook updates that were just revealed at the ACES conference. From the... more

976. This week, we dive into the "cativerse" and explore the vocabulary, grammar, and spelling habits of our furry friends.... more

975. This week, I learned all about audiobook narration from David H. Lawrence XVII, who is launching a new program... more

974. How does aging affect our ability to understand language? From the challenges of processing complex sentences to the resilience... more

973. "Oppenheimer" leads us to wonder about the "nucular" pronunciation of "nuclear." And why do people have that second capital... more

972. How did humans evolve from grunting ancestors to masters of language and poetry? This week, we explore fascinating theories... more

971. Linguists have traced modern languages like English and Sanskrit back thousands of years to a single Proto-Indo-European source. This... more

970. We answer a listener question about the difference between "addictive" and "addicting," and then we look at how to... more

969. From "wolkenkratzer" in German to "flea market" in English, direct translations called calques show how languages borrow from each... more

968. We explain why Taylor Swift's album title doesn't need an apostrophe and how the preposition "in" signals passion.

967. Should you say "a honor" or "an honor"? It's trickier than you think! We explore why articles depend on... more

966. We explore the rise and fall of the letter H: Debates over its name ("haitch" or "aitch"?) and why... more

965. It's a listener question extravaganza! I answer your questions about "canceled," "another think/thing coming," zero plurals such as "fish,"... more

964. From Nietzsche's writing ball to word processors and beyond, we look at how technology can change the way people... more

963. Strunk and White said to omit needless words, but sometimes "redundant" words can serve a meaningful purpose. Plus, we... more

962. We explore why phrases like "time flies" and "fast approaching" reveal deeper perspectives on time — is it us... more

960. Some English letters are seen but not heard. In fact, more than half the letters in our alphabet are... more

961. Prompting, hallucinating, and more! Jess Zafarris, author of "Words from Hell," joins me for a word-of-the-year chat. Hang out... more

959. Learn why human language goes beyond basic communication to allow spontaneous creativity, expression of identity, and leadership in linguistic... more

958. We trace the history, usage, and meaning behind identifiers such as "Hispanic," "Chicano," "Latino," "Latina," "Latinx," and "Latine." Plus,... more

957. We trace the linguistic history behind "house" and "mansion" to uncover how these two humble words for dwellings grew... more

956. How did terms like "stereotype," "boilerplate," and "typecast" make the leap from specialist printing vocabulary to widespread figurative language?... more

955. This week, we're looking at the history behind "Black Friday" and other black idioms, plus what happens when the... more

954. "Irregardless" isn’t going away anytime soon. Take a deep breath while we dig into this hated word’s history. And... more

953. In honor of Veterans Day, Ben Yagoda tells us tales of military words that marched from the British lexicon... more

952. What is the boundary between idioms, slang, and clichés—and should we give "adulting" a break? We also trace the... more

951. What's the difference between terror and horror? Why was the word for "bear" so scary that it is lost... more

950. Nowthen, a town with an odd little name, helps us understand the word "namesake," and then I have some... more

949. Topic sentences aren't just for students! We have real-life, grown-up examples to help you write better business proposals, blog... more

948. Would you believe "bully" once meant "lover" and "nice" meant "ignorant"? Join me as we explore the surprising twists... more

947. Do you wish you could think on your feet faster? Well, Stanford business professor and communication expert Matt Abrahams... more

946. It's Talk Like a Pirate Day, which brings to mind "Pirates of the Caribbean," but you can actually pronounce... more

945. What was the famous Usage Panel from the American Heritage Dictionary and how did the panel's opinions influence dictionary... more

944. Today, we untangle the often confusing web of writing styles. We'll explore the benefits of loose writing in fiction,... more

943. Join us for a fascinating romp through the evolution of phrases like "you know," "right?" and "I mean" from... more

942. We’re diving deep into the chameleon-like nature of the "a-" prefix, tracing its journey from Latin, where it often... more

941. Whether you've been betrayed by autocorrect or your own fingers, we've all made typos. But we have tricks you... more

940. Pork bacon, manual transmissions, and acoustic guitars: retronyms help us describe the original form of something that has now... more

939. When I say the word "tattoo," you probably think of body art, but "tattoo" has another meaning that's related... more

938. Love it or hate it, the exclamation point has been on the red carpet lately because we're using it... more

In this special bonus episode, I sat down with Laura Adams and Monica Reinagel, who host Money Girl and Nutrition... more

937. Never be confused about when to use "less" and "fewer" again. Plus, have you ever wondered why our thumb... more

936. Have you ever wondered about the nuanced differences between "aspirational" and "inspirational"? Today, we look at a newer, more... more

935. Ever been puzzled by the difference between "slow down" and "slow up"? Curious about how they can possibly mean... more

934. Ever wondered why "whyever" isn't as popular as "wherever," "however," or "whenever"? Join me as we delve into the... more

933. Have you ever looked at a word, and it didn't seem like a real word anymore? It's a specific... more

932. Have you ever thought it would be fun to be a fiction editor? "The Chicago Guide to Copyediting Fiction"... more

931. Darth Vader wasn't the best father (understatement!), but his name is a wonderful jumping off point to discuss the... more

930. How YOU doin? Today we’re going to MacGyver up some fun memories and tips. And then we'll look at... more

929. While we were looking into why we use the word "score" to mean "twenty," our minds were blown by... more

928. Listen to the interview that got me playing Wordle again. Lynne Murphy shared all sorts of things you probably... more

927. Whether you're a bird brain or a wise old owl, you'll love this week's episode as we fight an... more

926. You may remember being told not to start sentences with "there are," but do you know why? We have... more

925. The existence of the manchineel tree does NOT beg the question of how many different ways a tree can... more

924. What if I told you that you actually should use "uh" and "um" when you're giving a talk? And... more

923. America's writing coach, Roy Peter Clark, shares his wisdom about the five things every writer he's ever taught wants... more

922. "A dozen of eggs" sounds weird, but why? Rabbits performing violent acts are a common scene in medieval marginalia.... more

921. Taxes, and the words for them, go back all the way to ancient Egypt. Plus, I have much more... more

920. Once you start thinking about it, it's weird that we have both "a" and "an." It gets even weirder... more

919. Rebracketing is a fascinating process that gives us more words than you might imagine, even words from French and... more

918. Since "drop" can mean both "to release" and "to cancel," it can get confusing. We look at how... more

917. For National Grammar Day, we answer one of the most common questions I get: How can I improve my... more

916. Grant Faulkner, author of "The Art of Brevity" and executive director of NaNoWriMo talks with us about how writing... more

915. Love is much more than romance, and different languages reveal universal truths about the different kinds of love. Plus,... more

914. To mark the 50th anniversary of "Schoolhouse Rock," the Saturday morning cartoon that taught millions of children about grammar,... more

913. This week brought us a silly kerfuffle in which the AP may have insulted France. Plus, we investigate the... more

912. We look at who the Teddy is in "teddy bears" and reveal why the Brothers Grimm, from fairytales, were... more

911. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we cover a bunch of interesting things about labels such as... more