Grammar Girl

QuickAndDirtyTips.com
  • 4.5 (2.8K)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1. 1d ago

    Beowulf’s ‘you know,’ Shakespeare’s ‘prithee,’ and the myth of Valley Girl ‘like,’ with Dr. Laurel Brinton

    1231. This week, Valerie Fridland steps in for Mignon and sits down with linguist Laurel Brinton to talk about little words like “well,” “you know,” and “like.” They look at why “well” signals bad news, how “Beowulf” may open with the Old English version of “you know,” and why “prithee” disappeared. Then they look at why most uses of “like” are older than Valley Girl speech. Find Laurel Brinton at blogs.ubc.ca/laurelbrinton. Find Valerie Fridland at ValerieFridland.com. A hearty thank you to the Keepers of the Commas on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry RosenblumMahala RussellGeorge WilsonLaurel PaulLinda CoxBirna Anna BjörnsdóttirKate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Find an edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Audio Engineer: Dan FeierabendDirector of Podcast: Holly HutchingsAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah SebastianPodcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Beowulf’s ‘you know,’ Shakespeare’s ‘prithee,’ and the myth of Valley Girl ‘like,’ with Dr. Laurel Brinton

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus • Subscribers Only

    The mystery of ‘what have you,’ with Dr. Laurel Brinton

    In this week’s bonus, guest host Valerie Fridland continues her conversation with Laurel Brinton. We look at why we keep replacing “very” and how “very” once meant “true.” Then we look at the mystery of “what have you” and Canadian words like “loonie,” “toonie,” and “muddy buddy.” Find Laurel Brinton at blogs.ubc.ca/laurelbrinton. Find Valerie Fridland at ValerieFridland.com. A hearty thank-you to our Keepers of the Commas and one Immortal on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry Rosenblum Mahala Russell George Wilson Laurel Paul Linda Cox Birna Anna Björnsdóttir Kate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in SpeakPipe or at 833-214-4475. - https://www.speakpipe.com/GrammarGirl 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe 🔗 Get the edited transcript. - https://grammar-girl-grammarpaloozian-bonus-feed.simplecast.com/episodes/1231-bonus/transcript 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. - https://amzn.to/3LULzLb 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Patreon, Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/ | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings Business and Creative Partnerships: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian Podcast Associate: Maram Elnaagheeb | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. - https://catherinerannus.com/ | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@grammargirl TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl Facebook - http://facebook.com/grammargirl Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl Instagram - http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl Mastodon - https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social

  3. 3d ago

    What's a familect? The words only your family uses

    1230. This week, the whole show is about familects, the words and phrases you only use with your family. We look at where they come from and what they do, how the same thing happens among friends and fans, and why borrowing someone else's insider words can backfire. A hearty thank-you to our Keepers of the Commas on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry RosenblumMahala RussellGeorge WilsonLaurel PaulLinda CoxBirna Anna BjörnsdóttirKate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Find an edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Audio Engineer: Castria CommunicationsDirector of Podcast: Holly HutchingsAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah SebastianPodcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    What's a familect? The words only your family uses

  4. Oct 15

    Your college essay doesn't need an extraordinary story, with Ethan Sawyer

    1229. This week, we talk with Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, about AI and college admissions essays. We look at why admissions officers told him “don’t” when it comes to AI, what he calls the “disembodied voice” of AI writing, and why he rewrote the new editions of his books by hand. Then we look at two pieces of classic essay advice he says to skip, how “finish your ribs” became a standout essay, and how a 10-minute timer can get a stuck writer started. Find Ethan at CollegeEssayGuy.com. A hearty thank you to the Keepers of the Commas on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry RosenblumMahala RussellGeorge WilsonLaurel PaulLinda CoxBirna Anna BjörnsdóttirKate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Find an edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Audio Engineer: Dan FeierabendDirector of Podcast: Holly HutchingsAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah SebastianPodcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Your college essay doesn't need an extraordinary story, with Ethan Sawyer

  5. Oct 15 ·  Bonus • Subscribers Only

    Mignon plays the student in a college essay brainstorming session, with Ethan Sawyer

    In this week’s bonus, Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, walks Mignon through the Roles and Identities Exercise he uses with students, and Mignon plays the student. We look at the three roles she chose — experimenter, researcher, and writer — and why they fit her. Then we look at how a list of roles can turn into a college essay in different ways, and a role Mignon would like to lean into more. Find Ethan at CollegeEssayGuy.com. A hearty thank-you to our Keepers of the Commas and one Immortal on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry Rosenblum Mahala Russell George Wilson Laurel Paul Linda Cox Birna Anna Björnsdóttir Kate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in SpeakPipe or at 833-214-4475. - https://www.speakpipe.com/GrammarGirl 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe 🔗 Get the edited transcript. - https://grammar-girl-grammarpaloozian-bonus-feed.simplecast.com/episodes/1229-bonus/transcript 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. - https://amzn.to/3LULzLb 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Patreon, Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/ | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings Business and Creative Partnerships: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian Podcast Associate: Maram Elnaagheeb | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. - https://catherinerannus.com/ | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@grammargirl TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl Facebook - http://facebook.com/grammargirl Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl Instagram - http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl Mastodon - https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social

  6. Oct 13

    Why does 'Here comes he' sound so wrong?

    1228. This week, we look at why "Here comes the bride" sounds right but "Here comes he" sounds wrong. Then we have an update on Zipf's law: after whales and dolphins, researchers may have found it in birdsong too. The "here comes he" segment was written by Ray Belli, a longtime podcaster, musician, and language writer. You can find him at WordsforGranted.libsyn.com A hearty thank-you to our Keepers of the Commas on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry RosenblumMahala RussellGeorge WilsonLaurel PaulLinda CoxBirna Anna BjörnsdóttirKate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Find an edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Audio Engineer: Castria CommunicationsDirector of Podcast: Holly HutchingsAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah SebastianPodcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Why does 'Here comes he' sound so wrong?

  7. Oct 8

    Famous quotes we've been getting wrong, from Robert Frost to 'Don't mess with Texas,' with Eli Burnstein

    1227. This week, we talk to Eli Burnstein, author of "Phrased & Confused." We look at why Robert Frost's "road less traveled" wasn't really less traveled, and why the other half of Stewart Brand's "information wants to be free" will make you think about it differently. Then we look at why "Hell is other people" isn't about crowds and how "Don't mess with Texas" began as an anti-littering campaign. A hearty thank you to the Keepers of the Commas and one Immortal on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry RosenblumMahala RussellGeorge WilsonLaurel PaulLinda CoxBirna Anna BjörnsdóttirKate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. 🔗 Find an edited transcript. 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. Audio Engineer: Dan FeierabendDirector of Podcast: Holly HutchingsAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah SebastianPodcast Associate: Maram Elnagheeb| Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Famous quotes we've been getting wrong, from Robert Frost to 'Don't mess with Texas,' with Eli Burnstein

  8. Oct 8 ·  Bonus • Subscribers Only

    Killing the Buddha, failing better, and the art that takes forever, with Eli Burnstein

    In the bonus, we continue our discussion with Eli Burnstein, author of "Phrased & Confused." We look at why "Life is short, art is long" was originally about medicine and how "Fail again. Fail better" comes from a surprisingly bleak Samuel Beckett novella. Then we look at why a Zen master would tell his students to kill the Buddha. Find Eli at eliburnstein.com. A hearty thank-you to our Keepers of the Commas and one Immortal on Patreon. We appreciate your support! Larry Rosenblum Mahala Russell George Wilson Laurel Paul Linda Cox Birna Anna Björnsdóttir Kate Wade 🔗 Share your familect recording in SpeakPipe or at 833-214-4475. - https://www.speakpipe.com/GrammarGirl 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty 🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe 🔗 Get the edited transcript. - https://grammar-girl-grammarpaloozian-bonus-feed.simplecast.com/episodes/1227-bonus/transcript 🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. - https://amzn.to/3LULzLb 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/ | HOST: Mignon Fogarty | VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475). | Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. - https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings Business and Creative Partnerships: Morgan Christianson Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian Podcast Associate: Maram Elnaagheeb | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. - https://catherinerannus.com/ | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@grammargirl TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl Facebook - http://facebook.com/grammargirl Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl Instagram - http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl Mastodon - https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social

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Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
2,840 Ratings

About

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    QuickAndDirtyTips.com
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mignon Fogarty, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Grammar Girl
  • Provider
    Macmillan Publishing

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