Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Explore the influence of printing terms on everyday language, including typecast, stereotype, cliche, and boilerplate. Learn about the evolution of printing methods and the origin of 'out of sorts.' Discover the origins of 'boilerplate' and the use of negative polarity items in language. Dive into the positive usage of 'anymore' in English grammar and the introduction of the term 'Giggle-mer'.

Explore the origins of idiomatic expressions like 'black sheep' and 'black market'. Discover the evolution of 'black market', 'blacksmiths', and 'pitch black'. Uncover the usefulness of the NATO phonetic alphabet and learn about bizarre alphabetical associations. Share listener stories and shout-outs.

954.  Uh-oh, "irregardless" isn’t going away anytime soon. Take a deep breath while we dig into this hated word’s history, from its first appearance in 1795 to today. And then, do you love a good plot twist? In honor of National Novel Writing Month, we look at the psychology of surprises in fiction.The "irregardless" segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor.The "plot twist" segment was written by Vera Tobin, an associate professor of Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University. It originally appeared on The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license.| Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/irregardless/transcript| Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates.| Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.| Peeve Wars card game. | Grammar Girl books. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirl| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.Audio Engineer: Nathan SemesDirector of Podcast: Brannan GoetschiusAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing and Publicity Assistant: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.| Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon.

Ben Yagoda, author and linguist, discusses the influence of British English on American English through military slang. From 'omnishambles' to 'gadget', he reveals the fascinating stories behind these words. The chapter also explores the origins and meanings of 'shambolic', 'dicey', and 'dodgy', tracing their roots back to World War II Air Force slang.

Linguistics and American Studies professors discuss cliches, idioms, slang, and the annoying nature of overused phrases. They delve into the 700-year history of the word 'organic' and its different meanings, from bodily organs to natural growth. Additionally, a personal story is shared about a made-up word and its impact.

Author Jess Zafarris explores the dark histories and origins of scary words. She discusses the difference between terror and horror, the evolution of the word 'terrific,' the manipulation of scary words like Satan and bear euphemisms, and the origins and meanings of words related to the Arctic, banshees, Irish words, chimeras, chupacabras, dragons, and werewolves.

Brenda Thomas, a freelance writer, discusses the concept of being a namesake and explores how a post office got its unique name. The podcast also delves into the controversy surrounding the word 'commentate' and shares a listener's personal story about a unique family word.

Learn the importance of topic sentences in writing, including tips on writing effective ones. Explore the concept of fan elects and unique phrasal verbs turned adjectives like 'unputdownable'. Discover the winners of a writing competition and farewell the departing director of podcasts.

Explore the surprising origins and changes in meaning of words like 'bully' and 'nice'. Learn about the illogical but helpful practice of preordering books. Discover the current usage of words like 'berserker' and 'amok'. Find out how preorders impact bookstores and bestseller lists. Hear a familect story about adopting a phrase from a live news control room.

Communication expert Matt Abrahams shares tips on chunking when writing, tailoring messages for different audiences, and using structures to guide thinking. He also provides insights on getting the first draft down on the page. The podcast covers the importance of endings and transitions, knowing the audience, and reducing anxiety in public speaking.