Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Skunked words. The power of pronouns. Quigleys

May 7, 2024

Retired multidisciplined language person Susan K. Herman discusses 'skunked' words and the debate between traditional vs. new usages in writing. Also, explore how using 'we' vs. 'I' affects perceptions of leadership and inclusivity.

17:35

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Episode guests

Susan K. Herman

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Quick takeaways

Skunked words experience disputed meaning changes, reflecting linguistic evolution.

Pronouns reveal power dynamics, with 'we' promoting teamwork and leadership qualities.

Deep dives

Language Evolution and Skunked Words

Language is constantly evolving, and some words go through a transition known as being skunked. Skunked words experience disputed meaning changes, with prescriptivists clinging to traditional usage while descriptivists embrace new meanings. Examples like 'hopefully', 'data', and 'enormity' showcase this linguistic evolution.

Introduction

3min

Navigating Linguistic Minefields

7min

Trends at Mrs. B's Clearance, Fidelity Active ETFs, and Rosetta Stone Language Learning

3min

The Power of Pronouns: Impact on Leadership and Communication

6min

Celebrating the 'Quigleys' in Life

3min

983. This week, we explore "skunked" words — terms going through hotly disputed meaning changes. We look at the debate between prescriptivists who stick to traditional meanings and descriptivists who accept new usages and what you should do with these words in your own writing. Plus, we learn how using "we" versus "I" alters perceptions of leadership, inclusivity, and status.

The "skunked words" segment was written by Mignon Fogarty and Susan K. Herman. Susan is a retired multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor for the federal government.

The pronoun 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." A version of the piece originally appeared on Psychology Today, and you can find her at valeriefridland.com.

| Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/skunked/transcript

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