Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

From "august" to "August." Why the union is always "strong." Nee nee

Jan 14, 2025

Discover the fascinating world of capitonyms—words that change meaning when capitalized, enriching our understanding of language. Dive into the history behind the iconic phrase 'the State of the Union is strong' and uncover its evolution over time. Hear a delightful listener story about the family term 'Nee Nee', celebrating creativity during the holidays. This episode blends linguistics with personal anecdotes, making language both fun and relatable.

15:50

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Quick takeaways

Capitonyms like 'august' illustrate how capitalization can radically alter meanings and highlight the intricacies of language and context.

The tradition of declaring 'The state of the union is STRONG' reflects historical evolution in political speech and cultural significance.

Deep dives

Understanding Capitonyms

Capitonyms are words that change meaning and sometimes pronunciation when capitalized. Examples include 'august' which can refer to the month or mean inspiring, and 'lima' which denotes a type of bean versus the capital of Peru. This phenomenon highlights the complexity of language, as words can serve different roles based on context. Many capitonyms fall into categories like homonyms and eponyms, illustrating the intricate relationships between spelling, meaning, and pronunciation.

Intro

2min

Exploring the Complexities of Capitonyms

3min

Exploring the Intricacies of Capitonyms

5min

Understanding the State of the Union Address

5min

The Evolution of the State of the Union Address

3min

The Meaning Behind 'Nee Nee': A Family's Creative Tradition

4min

1047. This week, we look at word pairs like "august/August" that change their meaning when capitalized and how you can make your meaning clear. Then, we look at how we got to the point where U.S. presidents always seem to say, "The state of the union is STRONG," in their State of the Union addresses.

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