1062. Did you know that 21% of U.S. adults struggle with basic literacy? In this eye-opening episode, literacy specialist Kate Crist talks about the literacy crisis in America, how reading is taught incorrectly in schools, and what we can do to fix it. She has real stories of students and adults overcoming reading struggles, the science behind learning to read, and practical advice for parents, educators, and anyone who wants to help.Resource list Literacy rates:PIAAC, NAEPWhy do we have these low rates of literacy?Two great films - The Truth About Reading [OFFICIAL TRAILER] [NOW STREAMING] and Right to ReadPodcast = Sold a StoryHow can I help the readers in my life?Family Guides from Seek Common Ground (what your kids should know at grade level)FULCRUM for advocacy resourcesTo understand how we learn to read, this graphic guide cannot be beat: How We Read (written for adolescent students, it’s great for adults too)Tools to use at home: Reading Buddies, Toddlers Can Read, Learning Dynamics, How to Teach your Kid to Read in 100 easy lessons For older readers City Stories and this set of recommendations from the Literacy Architects (and if you want to get super nerdy, this article from Reading Rockets And if you have the money/are low-cost resources in your community: Get a literacy tutor.What is phonics?Really, it's part of the science of reading ( body of interdisciplinary research about reading: studies done all over the globe for the last 5 decades. There is a preponderance of evidence to inform how to read and what instruction should look like) The Reading League has this cool definition guide.Phonics is part of foundational skills, which is only part of what kids need to learn to read. Check out:   Early reading accelerator quick start guide   This graphic from FULCRUM  Or this from the AZ department of education give a visual for the full picture of what a reader needs to become a good reader.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript.🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.Audio Engineer: Dan FeierabendDirector of Podcast: Brannan GoetschiusAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly HutchingsMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Ever wondered why we say "It's raining"? Dive into the quirky logic behind the use of the word 'it' as a placeholder in English. Discover a dramatic punctuation duel from 1837 that pitted two law professors against one another, highlighting the lengths people will go for grammar. You'll be amused by a costly grammar mistake that had significant financial repercussions. Plus, enjoy a humorous musical twist with a listener's family slang – a delightful peek into how we communicate within families!

Dr. Andrew Cheng, a linguistics professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, dives into how films influence language and culture. He discusses the shift towards linguistic realism since 'Parasite' and the growing acceptance of non-English films by the Oscars. Villainous accents in cartoons are critiqued for perpetuating stereotypes, while films like 'Anora' showcase the complexities of heritage language speakers. Cheng also tackles the balance of authenticity and realism in movies like 'Emilia Perez,' highlighting AI's role in shaping vocal performances.

1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, and historical quirks explain this inconsistency. Plus, we look at the history of "fine print" — from typesetting in smoky print shops to its modern use in hiding legal loopholes. The "fine print" segment was by Glenn Fleishman, a typesetter, graphic designer, journalist, print historian, and author of the book “How Comics Were Made: A Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page,” which you can find at howcomicsweremade.ink.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript.🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.Audio Engineer: Dan FeierabendDirector of Podcast: Brannan GoetschiusAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly HutchingsMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Join award-winning author and podcaster Mary Robinette Kowal as she shares her insights on overcoming writing obstacles. Discover strategies to conquer distractions, manage research rabbit holes, and carve out time for your writing amidst life’s chaos. Mary discusses the power of establishing a writing routine, particularly for individuals with ADHD, and emphasizes the importance of self-loyalty and supportive relationships in maintaining creativity. Tune in for empowering tips that can transform your writing practice!

1057. Why do people use "literally" when they mean "figuratively"? This week, we look at how the meaning of "literally" changed over time. Plus, we look at how amateur radio operators came to be known as "hams" and why the term stuck.The "literally"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." You can find her at valeriefridland.com.The "ham radio" segment was written by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com.The "in medias res" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips editor and digital pioneer who's been spinning words into gold since before cat videos ruled the internet. She created one of the first online writing workshops, and she's published thousands of articles on the art of writing. These days, she leads personal narrative writing retreats and helps writers find their voice. Visit her at ChanterelleStoryStudio.com.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter. (Wouldn't you know it ... the week I decide to promote the newsletter, the sign-up page is broken. Ugh! If you want to sign up, send your email address to feedback@quickanddirtytips.com, and I'll sign you up once it's fixed.)🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript.🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.Audio Engineer: Dan FeierabendDirector of Podcast: Brannan GoetschiusAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly HutchingsMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

1056. Ghostwriting is more than just anonymous book writing — it’s a thriving industry. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, shares how writers can break into ghostwriting, what types of projects are available, and how much top ghostwriters earn. Plus, we explore the ethical considerations of ghostwriting and how the industry is evolving.Dan Gerstein is founder and CEO of Gotham Ghostwriters, the country’s premier ghostwriting agency. Featuring a network of more than 4,000 accomplished freelance editorial pros, Gotham specializes in sophisticated, long-form writing (such as books, speeches, and reports) for authors, speakers, and thinkers who need expert help telling and selling their stories. Gerstein, a graduate of Harvard College, has been writing and communicating professionally for more than 30 years. He started his career as a local sports and news reporter at the Hartford Courant. He then went on to spend more than a decade as a speechwriter and communications strategist on Capitol Hill and for two presidential campaigns, serving as a senior advisor to Senator Joe Lieberman from his home state of Connecticut.In 2004, Gerstein moved to New York to become a political consultant (primarily working with issue advocacy groups) and commentator. Known for his independent, thoughtful analysis, he has served as a contributing columnist for Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and Politico. He has also appeared regularly on television as a political analyst for Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, WNBC-TV, and NY1.Among other pursuits, Gerstein, 57, has served as an adjunct faculty instructor in New York University's master’s program in Public Relations and Corporate Communications; he currently serves on the board of the recently-launched 5Boro Institute in New York City. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Simona, their daughter Ella, and their dog Ugo.🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.🔗 Take our advertising survey. 🔗 Get the edited transcript.🔗 Get Grammar Girl books. 🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.Audio Engineer: Dan FeierabendDirector of Podcast: Brannan GoetschiusAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly HutchingsMarketing and Video: Nat Hoopes| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Explore the quirky world of apostrophes in holiday names like Mother's Day and Veterans Day. Uncover the historical meaning behind their usage. Delve into the unique linguistic quirks of Southern Californians, who commonly say 'the 405,' reflecting their local culture. Journey through language evolution, from medieval terms like 'turnpike' to personal regional expressions. This discussion highlights how language adapts and connects us to our traditions.

Lex Friedman, creator of Lex.games and a linguistics enthusiast, discusses his journey from a puzzle lover to a puzzle maker. He reveals the creative process behind designing daily word games, blending automation with manual efforts. Lex shares insights on player feedback, the balance of engagement versus difficulty, and the impact of audience connection on game design. The challenges of making games accessible and the joy they bring to users are also explored, making this a fascinating dive into the world of word puzzles.

Discover the intriguing origins of 'toe the line' and unravel the common spelling confusion. Dive into the world of metonymy and synecdoche, two literary devices that can elevate your writing. Exploring the power of metaphors, listeners will learn how careful language choice can resonate deeply with audiences. Personal anecdotes add a touch of warmth, urging everyone to reflect on their unique family phrases and dialects. Unveiling the art of language has never been more engaging!