
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

Apr 16, 2020 • 29min
767 - The semicolon is so much more interesting than you imagine
From 19th century grammatical duels to modern day suicide prevention campaigns, the semicolon has a long history of inspiring strong emotions.
Read the transcript. The Semicolon
Profile of Lindley Murray
Leave a review on Grammar Girl's Podchaser profile before April 30, 2020, to benefit Meals on Wheels.
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HOST: Mignon Fogarty
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
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Apr 9, 2020 • 12min
766 - 'Flaunt' and 'Flout.' 'Band Together.'
The word "flaunt" and "flute" are strangely related (flue of shame, anyone?), but don't use either of them to mean "flout."
Read the transcripts. 'Flout' and 'Flaunt.' 'Band Together.'
Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates.
Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course.
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Grammar Pop iOS game.
Peeve Wars card game.
Grammar Girl books.
HOST: Mignon Fogarty
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Links:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe
http://twitter.com/grammargirl
http://facebook.com/grammargirl
http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl
http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl
https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl

Apr 2, 2020 • 10min
765 - Say No to Marshall Law. How 'Vaccine' Is Related to 'Cow.'
Why you could be forgiven for (briefly) getting excited about "Marshall Law." Plus, the word "vaccine" is related to cows. That's a surprise!
Read the transcripts. Martial Law. Vaccine and Vaccination.
Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates.
Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course.
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Grammar Pop iOS game.
Peeve Wars card game.
Grammar Girl books.
HOST: Mignon Fogarty
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Links:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe
http://twitter.com/grammargirl
http://facebook.com/grammargirl
http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl
http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl
https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl

Mar 26, 2020 • 11min
764 - Skeleton Crew. Hunker Down. Uncharted. Existential.
Times are terrible, but no matter what is happening, we will always have interesting words and phrases to explore.
Read the transcripts. Skeleton Crew. Hunker Down. Uncharted. Existential.
Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates.
Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing course.
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Grammar Pop iOS game.
Peeve Wars card game.
Grammar Girl books.
HOST: Mignon Fogarty
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Links:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe
http://twitter.com/grammargirl
http://facebook.com/grammargirl
http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl
http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl
https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl

Mar 19, 2020 • 14min
763 - How to Write Better Email. 'Pandemic' vs. 'Epidemic.' 'Canceled' vs. 'Cancelled.'
Are you writing more email? We have seven ways to do it better. Also, we'll help you understand the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic and when you should use "canceled" versus "cancelled."
Read the transcripts. Email. Pandemic. Canceled.
Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates.
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Grammar Pop iOS game.
Peeve Wars card game.
Grammar Girl books.
HOST: Mignon Fogarty
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Links:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe
http://twitter.com/grammargirl
http://facebook.com/grammargirl
http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl
http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl
https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl

Mar 12, 2020 • 11min
762 - How to Pronounce 'Celtic.' 'Whiskey' or 'Whisky'?
Sports fans say "Seltik." Historians say "Keltik." Here's the deal. Plus, have you ever noticed that Irish whiskey and Scottish whisky are spelled differently?
Read the transcripts. Celtic. Whiskey.
Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates.
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
Grammar Pop iOS game.
Peeve Wars card game.
Grammar Girl books.
HOST: Mignon Fogarty
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)
Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.
Links:
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe
http://twitter.com/grammargirl
http://facebook.com/grammargirl
http://pinterest.com/realgrammargirl
http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl
https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl

Mar 5, 2020 • 14min
761 - Why It's Called 'Daylight Saving Time.' The Origin of the Word 'Woman.'
We're moving our clocks forward this weekend, but do you know why we call it "daylight saving time"? Plus, I have some other time-related tips. Finally, in honor of International Women's Day, we look at the surprising origin of the words "woman" and "queen."
LINKS AND SPONSORS |
Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT |
Earnest: http://earnest.com/grammar |
GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER |
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GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME |
Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop |
For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile |
PEEVE WARS CARD GAME |
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars |
GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS |
http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks |
HOST: Mignon Fogarty |
GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK |
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)

Feb 27, 2020 • 11min
760 - What Is Genre. 'Bangs' Versus 'Fringe.'
How to figure out which genre you love or how to describe the book you're writing so the publishing industry will understand where it fits. Also, we explain how Americans came to call fringe "bangs."
LINKS AND SPONSORS |
Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT |
GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER |
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters |
GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME |
Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop |
For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile |
PEEVE WARS CARD GAME |
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars |
GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS |
http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks |
HOST: Mignon Fogarty |
GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK |
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)

Feb 20, 2020 • 9min
759 - What Does ‛Mardi Gras’ Mean? "Drive to Work" Versus "Drive Home"
It’s the end of February, which means Mardi Gras is almost here! When we think of Mardi Gras, we picture parties, parades, and beads. But did you ever wonder what “Mardi Gras” means? Also, we answer a questions about why we need the "to" in "drive to work" but not in "drive home."
LINKS AND SPONSORS |
Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT |
GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER |
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters |
GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME |
Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop |
For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile |
PEEVE WARS CARD GAME |
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars |
GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS |
http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks |
HOST: Mignon Fogarty |
GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK |
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)

Feb 13, 2020 • 6min
758 - Why 'XOXO' Means 'Hugs and Kisses'
You may write "XOXO" to means "hugs and kisses," but do you know how those symbols get their meaning?
LINKS AND SPONSORS |
Learn how you can get my LinkedIn Learning course free: https://t.co/coQuXJRtrT |
Earnest: http://earnest.com/grammar |
Modern Mentor podcast: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor |
GRAMMAR GIRL EMAIL NEWSLETTER |
https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/newsletters |
GRAMMAR POP iOS GAME |
Optimized for iPad: http://bit.ly/iPadGrammarPop |
For iPad and iPhone: http://bit.ly/GrammarPopMobile |
PEEVE WARS CARD GAME |
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/grammar-girl-s-peeve-wars |
GRAMMAR GIRL BOOKS |
http://bit.ly/GrammarPopBooks |
HOST: Mignon Fogarty |
GRAMMAR GIRL IS PART OF THE QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS PODCAST NETWORK |
VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475)