
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Five-time winner of Best Education Podcast in the Podcast Awards. Grammar Girl provides short, friendly tips to improve your writing and feed your love of the English language. Whether English is your first language or your second language, these grammar, punctuation, style, and business tips will make you a better and more successful writer. Grammar Girl is a Quick and Dirty Tips podcast.
Latest episodes

Sep 19, 2023 • 13min
Did Disney nail the pronunciation of 'Caribbean'? How to write equations. Chuther.
Explore the pronunciation of 'Caribbean' in Pirates of the Caribbean and its different forms. Learn about the linguistic and historical aspects of the term and its origin. Discover the unique linguistic difference between the Carib and Arawak tribes. Get insights on organizing long equations and using the equal symbol in mathematical writing.

Sep 12, 2023 • 33min
Asking experts about language (interview with Steve Kleinedler, former executive editor of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel)
Steve Kleinedler, former executive editor of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel, shares fascinating stories about the panel's influence on dictionary entries. Topics covered include the panel's composition, the importance of the dictionary's front matter, prescriptivism vs descriptivism, and changing language usage. Find out more about the guest and access show notes.

Sep 5, 2023 • 17min
When you shouldn't 'write tight.' 'Behead' versus 'decapitate.' YesHony.
Susan Herman, a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, talks about the benefits of loose writing and varying sentence length for rhythm and clarity. The podcast also explores the meanings and differences between 'behead' and 'decapitate' and shares funny stories about misreading vanity license plates.

Aug 29, 2023 • 14min
Say hwat?! 'Anxious' versus 'eager.' Pink stein.
Join linguistics professor and author Valerie Fridland as she discusses the evolution of discourse markers in English from Beowulf's time to today. Discover how people's perceptions of using 'anxious' to mean 'eager' are changing and how this impacts your writing.

Aug 22, 2023 • 19min
The wonders of the 'a-' prefix in English. 'Personal' versus 'personnel.'
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.

Aug 15, 2023 • 17min
Hilarious typos (and how to avoid them). Why do we 'take' a walk?
Learn about hilarious typos and tips to avoid them, including examples from the Bible. Discover the world of 'light verbs' and why we use 'take' and 'give' in certain phrases. Also, a heartwarming dog rescue story.

Aug 8, 2023 • 18min
Have you ridden an acoustic bike lately? Write it tight.
This podcast explores the concept of retronyms, focusing on the surprising ways 'acoustic' is used. It also provides tips for writing tight and concise, eliminating unnecessary words and phrases. A heartwarming family act story is shared and listener appreciation is shown.

4 snips
Aug 1, 2023 • 13min
Did you know that on US Army bases, soldiers get a tattoo every day? Keep writing.
939. When I say the word "tattoo," you probably think of body art, but "tattoo" has another meaning that's related to a famous Edinburgh festival that is happening this month. Plus, we look at why you should never stop writing (and reading).ding).The "tattoo" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com.The "aging and writing" segment was written by Roger J. Kreuz, associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Memphis. Richard M. Roberts, a foreign service officer, also contributed. It originally appeared in The Conversation, and appears here through a Creative Commons license.| Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/tattoo/transcript| For more on writing your novel later in life: An Interview with Bourne Morris.Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/753-take-heart-heres-why-you-still-have-time-to-write/id173429229?i=1000462060258Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SXdTOhW9WSI22Ensfyq1I?si=SBf23qt3Rce67Vpyox1qPQYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LFGT1sWmU0| 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 Podcasts: Adam CecilAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing Associate: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.| Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon.

Jul 25, 2023 • 34min
People have ~feelings~ about the exclamation point (Florence Hazrat interview)
938. Love it or hate it, the exclamation point has been on the red carpet lately because we're using it more. But it also has a fascinating history: the man who invented it was trying to fix a problem that annoyed him. This interview with Florence Hazrat is bursting with fascinating tidbits.| Transcript: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/exclamation-point/transcript| Get Florence Hazrat's book "An Admirable Point" and visit her website.| 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 Podcasts: Adam CecilAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing Associate: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly Hutchings| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.| Grammar Girl Social Media Links: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon.

Jul 21, 2023 • 34min
15 years of podcasting with Money Girl and Nutrition Diva
In this special bonus episode, I sat down with Laura Adams and Monica Reinagel, who host Money Girl and Nutrition Diva here on the Quick and Dirty Tips network, to celebrate their 15th anniversaries and discuss how much podcasting has changed in this decade and a half. Thanks to Laura and Monica for joining me — and if you're new to Quick and Dirty Tips, make sure you check out Money Girl and Nutrition Diva for the best financial and nutrition advice in audio!Transcript NewsletterLinkedIn Learning writing coursesPeeve Wars card gameBooksVOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) or https://sayhi.chat/grammargirlHost & Creator: Mignon FogartyAudio Engineer: Nathan SemesDirector of Podcasts: Adam CecilAdvertising Operations Specialist: Morgan ChristiansonMarketing Associate: Davina TomlinDigital Operations Specialist: Holly HutchingsTheme music by Catherine Rannus.Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.