Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

The wonders of the 'a-' prefix in English. 'Personal' versus 'personnel.'

Aug 22, 2023

Explore the fascinating origins and meanings of the 'a-' prefix in English words. Learn how this prefix evolved from Latin and French and its role in creating new words like 'atypical'. Discover the difference between 'personal' and 'personnel' and get tips on spelling them correctly.

18:50

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Quick takeaways

The A prefix in English has multiple origins, including Latin and Greek, and its meaning can be difficult to pin down in certain cases, showcasing the complexity of language evolution.

The distinction between 'personal' and 'personnel' lies in their spellings and meanings, with 'personal' referring to an individual's body and 'personnel' indicating a group of people, often employees, with more 'n's to distinguish.

Deep dives

The Origins and Variations of the A Prefix

The podcast episode explores the origins and variations of the A prefix and its usage in words like a sleep and a wake. The A prefix has multiple sources, including Old English, Latin, and Greek. Over time, language erosion and the acceptance of homophones led to different forms of the A prefix coming together with similar spellings but sometimes differing pronunciations and meanings. One version of the A prefix came directly from Latin, carrying meanings like change, respond with, and motion towards. Another version came from the Greek language, meaning not and flipping the word's meaning on its head. The A prefix also has roots in Old English prepositions like on and of, which have eroded into the modern A prefix seen in words like a wake and a fresh. This diverse background makes the A prefix's meaning difficult to pin down in certain cases, showcasing the complexity of language evolution.

Introduction

2min

The Wonders of the 'A-' Prefix in English

11min

Online learning program for kids with interactive practice problems and personalized recommendations

2min

Learning programs for students and language learners

2min

The Difference Between 'Personal' and 'Personnel'

7min

942. We’re diving deep into the chameleon-like nature of the "a-" prefix, tracing its journey from Latin, where it often started out as "ad-," to its function as a preposition in French, and its transformative role in Greek that gifts English words like "atypical" and "asymmetrical." You'll be wowed by the versatility of the seemingly humble "a-" prefix as we unveil its covert presence in words like "atom" and its power in creating modern English words like "asexual."

Then, we explore the difference between the words "personal" and "personnel" and give you a tip for getting the spelling right every time.

The "a-" prefix segment was by Kirk Hazen, a data scientist at CVS Health and a linguist at West Virginia University. He is the author of Introduction to Language (Wiley) and can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-hazen-phd/

| Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/personnel/transcript

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