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PODCAST

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

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.

education

All Episodes

00:18:31

Why we say 'near miss.' How dogs got their names. ...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/08/26

1111. This week, we look at the phrase "near miss" and why this seemingly illogical term actually makes sense. Then, in honor of National Dog Day, we look at how 16 different dog breeds got their names, including why a dachshund is a "badger dog," a poodle is a "puddle dog," and a mastiff is a "tame dog."The "near miss" segment was by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her

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00:18:29

How to build a successful writers’ newsletter, with...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/08/21

1110. This week, we talk with Jane Friedman, an expert on the business of being a writer. We look at how to build a strong email newsletter and why it's a critical tool for authors in today's publishing world. Jane shares her best tips for getting started, what to write about, and how to get new subscribers — offering advice that can help any writer create a platform that lasts.This episode was originally a bonus episode released in May for people who support the show, the Grammarpaloozians. If

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00:13:14

What is 'versing'? ‘Whatchamacallit' and other...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/08/19

1109. This week, we look at why kids and video gamers talk about "versing" someone. Then, we look at the linguistics of placeholder words like "whatchamacallit" and "thingamajig," including some fun international examples and the now-obsolete word "whiblin."The "thingamajig" segment was by Ursula Kania, a Senior Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Liverpool. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license.🔗 Share your

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00:19:38

AI's impact on translators, untranslatable Dutch...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/08/14

1108. This week, we talk to Heddwen Newton about some of the unique and untranslatable words she's discovered while translating. She shares her thoughts on why the translation profession is being hit hard by AI and the kind of work that is likely to be lost. We also hear her book recommendations, including a novel and a nonfiction book about the history of the Oxford English Dictionary.This episode was originally a bonus episode released in March for people who support the show, the

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00:14:53

Double possessives. Words that do double duty. The...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/08/12

1107. This week, we look at double possessives, such as "a friend of Mignon's" and whether they are grammatically correct. Then, we look at words that do double duty, from the nautical origins of "scuttlebutt" to "beetle" — which can be both an insect and a tool.The double possessives segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor for the federal government.The words doing double duty segment was written by Karen Lunde. Karen's a

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00:16:34

New words: 'beer muscles' & 'waka jumpers,' with...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/08/07

1106. We talk with Fiona McPherson, a senior editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, about the playful words that get added to the OED. We look at the dictionary's ongoing work to expand its coverage of World Englishes, and Fiona shares some of her favorite recent additions, including "waka jumper" from New Zealand politics and "Rolex," a term for a Ugandan street food.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to

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00:14:46

How pronouns reveal our psychology. How'd we get our...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/08/05

1105. This week, we look at how the pronouns you use can reveal your psychological state — for example, how using "I" versus "we" can signal how you are coping with a breakup or a tragic event. Then, we look at where our alphabet started, from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to the Phoenicians and Romans.The psychology of pronouns segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of "Like Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad

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00:32:23

‘Spark words’ and the hidden history of ‘panic’ and...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/31

1104. This week with Martha Barnette, co-host of "A Way with Words" and author of "Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland," we look at the concept of a "spark word" — the word that ignites a love of language. We also look at fascinating etymologies from ancient Greek, including the surprising connections between "Nike" and "fennel," and the origins of "panic" and "Ritalin."Martha Barnette's websiteMartha's book, “Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland”Martha's podcast, "A Way with

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00:14:15

'Heat wave' vs. 'cold snap.' Why reading stories...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/29

1103. Why do we talk about "heat waves" but "cold snaps"? This week, we look at the history behind these common weather phrases and other quirky idioms like "raining cats and dogs" and "under the weather." Then, we look at what kind of reading is best for improving your language skills, including research on the benefits of fiction versus nonfiction.The 'heat wave' versus 'cold snap' segment was written by Karen Lunde. Karen's a career writer and editor who drifted into marketing — which turned out

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00:31:57

Why plain English matters in science (and everywhere...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/24

1102. This week, Anne Greene joins us to talk about the importance of writing in plain English, especially in scientific fields. We look at why short words are easier for our eyes to read and how a well-structured story with characters and action verbs can improve understanding. We also discuss how the historical origins of English words influence our writing today.Anne's book, "Writing Science in Plain English"Free, online Teacher's Guide for "Writing Science in Plain English"🔗 Share your familect

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00:14:53

'Y' plurals. Bill Labov's linguistic legacy. Choo-choo

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/22

1101. Do you know when to change a "y" to an "ies" for a plural, and when to just add an "s"? Today, we look at the rules. Then, we look at linguist Bill Labov's famous department store study, which shows how social class relates to speech patterns. The 'y' segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com.The segment about Bill Labov was written by Valerie Friedland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the

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00:25:03

How 'algospeak' is changing language, with Adam Aleksic

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/17

1100. This week, we talk with popular online linguist Adam Aleksic, also known as Etymology Nerd. We discuss "algospeak" and how social media algorithms are changing language. We discuss euphemisms like "unalive," the spread of trending words, and how content creators adapt their speech to go viral. Adam Aleksic - The Etymology NerdAdam's book - "Algospeak"🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our

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00:15:59

Pop, soda, or coke? When Q stands alone. Pizza bones.

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/15

1099. Do you call it "pop," "soda," or "coke"? We look at the interesting history behind these regional names for carbonated beverages. Then, we look at words where you can use a Q without a U, which might help your Scrabble game.The pop, soda or coke segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of "Like Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English." It originally appeared in The Conversation and appears here through a

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00:19:20

Metaphors and your brain. How figurative language...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/10

1098. We talk with cognitive scientist Dr. Vicky Lai about how frequently we use metaphors and what happens in our brains when we hear them. We also look at her research on irony and its effect on emotion, and how people recovering from cancer use metaphors differently depending on how they're doing.Dr. Vicky Lai - https://psychology.arizona.edu/person/vicky-lai🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our

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00:17:06

Can you have a million bacons? Martha's Vineyard's...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/08

1097. Do you wonder whether "bacon" can be plural? We look at the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. Then, we look at how the Martha's Vineyard accent developed and what it tells us about language and society.The "countable" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. In the late '90s, as a young mom with two kids and a dog, she founded one of the internet's first writing workshop communities. These days, she facilitates expressive writing workshops, both online

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00:28:39

The surprising history (and politics) of emoji, with...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/03

1096. This week, we look at the world of emoji with Keith Houston, author of "Face with Tears of Joy." He discusses the long history of emoji, from ancient origins to early computer character sets, and the formal process of proposing new emoji to the Unicode Consortium. We also look at how emoji can be blends of multiple characters and tell us more about cultural, generational, and political attitudes.Keith Houston - Shadycharacters.co.ukKeith's book - "Face with Tears of Joy"🔗 Share your familect

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00:17:24

Is ‘sick’...good? What we think of posh language and...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/07/01

1095. Is “sick” really “good”? This week, we explore how words flip their meanings and why language changes over time. Then, we look at the 1950s idea of "U and Non-U English" and what it tells us about social climbing.The "sick" segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn.The "posh" segment was by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips

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00:19:40

The language of children’s storytelling, with Doug...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/06/26

1094. Have you ever wondered about the linguistic techniques behind popular children's podcasts? This week, we talk with Doug Fraser, also known as Dougie Pickles from the "Cozy Critters" podcast, who explains his strategic use of language to soothe and captivate kids. We also hear his insights on what makes successful children's content, including the importance of varied sentence length, the power of word choice and musicality in language.Doug Fraser -

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00:17:36

Why we drop sounds. ChatGPT is changing how people...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/06/24

1093. Why do we say “prob’ly” instead of “probably”? This week, we look at elision in everyday speech. Then, we look at a wild study showing that the way people talk is being influenced by AI.The elision segment was by Susan K. Herman, a retired multidisciplined language analyst, editor, and instructor for the federal government.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the

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00:31:59

What your accent says about you (and your identity),...

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing ·

2025/06/19

1092. Your accent may be saying more than your words. Sociolinguist Rob Drummond explains how accents shape our identities, how they differ across social classes, and why changing your accent can affect how you’re perceived.Rob Drummond - https://bsky.app/profile/robdrummond.bsky.socialRob's book, "You're All Talk"🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the

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