Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
QuickAndDirtyTips.com
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 17, 2023 • 14min
Namesake. Commentate. Sprigly
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.
Oct 10, 2023 • 15min
How to write great topic sentences. Fanilects. Throwawayable.
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.
Oct 3, 2023 • 16min
When 'nice' was bad and 'bully' was good. Is 'preorder' redundant? High-intensity transformer.
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.
Sep 26, 2023 • 22min
Think faster and talk smarter. Tips from Matt Abrahams that will make you a better writer and speaker
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.
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.
