20 episodes
That's What They Say Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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- Education
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4.9 • 99 Ratings
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That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Radio that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Radio Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.
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TWTS: Hunting for grounds once haunted
The places one haunts are often not haunted, if "haunted" means there are ghosts or spirits there.
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TWTS: Search up your questions online or just ask a linguist
In the age of the internet, if you don’t know the answer to something, you can just search it up online — even if your question is about the verb “search up.”
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TWTS: "Proven" and "proved" are both approved
If you prove something to be true, then it’s proven. Or is it proved?
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TWTS: Confusing “wont” with “want” is a wont nobody wants
As language nerds are wont to do, they get curious about words like “wont” and its relationship with “want.”
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TWTS: At the epicenter of it all
Geologically speaking, epicenters are dangerous places to be. They’ve also raised some usage questions which are probably less dangerous, though it may depend on who you ask.
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TWTS: Feeling overwhelmed? "Whelmed" can totally relate
Given that we can be overwhelmed and underwhelmed, it's completely reasonable to ask what it means to just be whelmed.
Customer Reviews
“I resonate with this.”
I love this. Please do the word “resonate.” Why the surge in popularity lately and rampant misusage?
Thanks!
I absorb books about English usage, so I have looked forward to and enjoyed Sunday mornings.
However occasionally I do miss some broadcasts, so THANK YOU for the blog! We are about to fly to see our (UM Alumna) daughter, so I am saving the blog entries as a treat during our the flight. Love it!
Jim
a modest excellence
Always a worthwhile way to spend 5 minutes a week.