Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing-logo

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Quick and Dirty Tips

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.

Location:

New York, NY

Description:

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.

Twitter:

@GrammarGirl

Language:

English

Contact:

Quick And Dirty Tips c/o Macmillan Publishers, LLC 18 West 18th St., 7th Floor New York, NY 10011


Episodes
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What AI means for writers and editors, with Daniel Heuman

6/5/2025
1088. He says he hates AI writing, but he's also the CEO of the company behind Draftsmith, an AI editing tool. Today, I talk with Daniel Heuman about editing, AI, energy use, and how tools like DraftSmith try to help without replacing human editors. Draftsmith β†’ draftsmith.ai πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:28:36

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'The' rules you never learned. Why did Latin die?

6/3/2025
1087. You use the word "the" hundreds of times a day, but are you pronouncing it wrong? Today I have the rules I never learned about whether to say β€œthuh” or β€œthee.” Then, we look at why Latin died (and why "died" isn't quite the right way to describe it). The "Latin" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. In the late '90s, as a young mom with two kids and a dog, she founded one of the internet's first writing workshop communities. These days, she facilitates expressive writing workshops, both online and off. Find her at chanterellestorystudio.com πŸ”— AP style webinar. Code MACMIL for $50 off πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:17:07

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​​The publishing world is changing. Jane Friedman tells us how.

5/29/2025
1086. What does it really take to earn a living as a writer? Jane Friedman explains the multiple paths writers take β€” from speaking and consulting to newsletters and hybrid publishingβ€”and offers grounded, practical advice for navigating the business of writing in 2025 and beyond. Jane Friedman is the author of "The Business of Being a Writer." πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:26:45

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Why 'plz' might be pushing people away. How to write better thank-you notes. Studaloo

5/27/2025
1085. Do abbreviations like β€œplz” and β€œty” actually make your texts feel less sincere? New research suggests they might. We explore how shortened words affect how your messages are received β€” even in romantic conversations. Then, we offer practical tips for writing thoughtful, specific thank-you notes that reflect real gratitude. The texting segment was written by David Fang, a PhD student in marketing at Stanford University. Sam Maglio, an Associate Professor of Marketing and Psychology at the University of Toronto, also contributed to the writing. It originally ran on The Conversation, and appears here through a Creative Commons license. The "thank-you" segment originally ran on the OUP Blog and appears here with permission. Edwin Battistella taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he served as a dean and as interim provost. He is the author of "Do You Make These Mistakes in English?" (OUP, 2009), "Bad Language" (OUP, 2005), and "The Logic of Markedness" (OUP, 1996). πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:18:43

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Why simplified spelling nearly took over America (and why it didn't), with Gabe Henry

5/22/2025
1084. This week, Gabe Henry talks about his new book, "Enough Is Enuf," and the long, strange quest to simplify English spelling. Learn why the "Chicago Tribune" made simplified spelling its house style for decades and why Roosevelt's attempt to make it law backfired. Find Gabe Henry at http://GabeHenry.com. πŸ”— Use the code MACMIL for $50 off my Ragan AP style webinar. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:31:06

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Why 'wake' is so confusing. The playful language of vacations.

5/20/2025
1083. Is it "woke," "woken," or "waked"? We break down why the verb "wake" is one of the trickiest in English, with four competing forms and centuries of change. Then, we lighten things up with a look at vacation vocabularyβ€”from "staycation" to "glamping." The "wake" segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn. The "vacation" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at dragonflyeditorial.com. πŸ”— Grammar Girl AP style webinar (use the code MACMIL for $50 off). πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:18:20

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Ambrose Bierce, from β€˜The Devil’s Dictionary’ to disappearing in Mexico, with Jim Norrena

5/15/2025
1082. Copy editor Jim Norrena joins us this week for a conversation about Ambrose Bierce, his famous "Devil's Dictionary," and his darkly funny take on the world. We look at Bierce’s fascinating (and tragic) life, his legendary wordplay, and his mysterious disappearance in Mexico. Plus, we share our favorite biting definitions and quirky facts about his life. We'd love to have coffee with him, but we'd never forget that he was also a feared literary critic! Jim Norrena, MFA, has been writing and editing for more than thirty-five years. He’s the founder and principal editor at TypoSuction.com, an independent editing/writing service. He taught grammar and copyediting intensives and professional proofreading workshops at Media Alliance and served as events coordinator for Bay Area Editors’ Forum (BAEF). You can find him on LinkedIn. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:30:01

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Why 'epitome' is confusing. Quirky stories behind baby animal names. Alice doors

5/13/2025
1081. Is an epitome a summary or a shining example? We look at why this word trips people up and how its meaning has changed over time. Then, we take a linguistic safari through the world of baby animal namesβ€”and what they tell us about language, culture, and human history. The "baby animal names" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. In the late '90s, as a young mom with two kids and a dog, she founded one of the internet's first writing workshop communities. These days, she facilitates expressive writing workshops, both online and off. Find her at chanterellestorystudio.com πŸ”— Grammar Girl AP style webinar (use the code MACMIL for $50 off). πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:18:43

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How YouTubers' voices evolve, with Andrew Cheng

5/8/2025
1080. Linguist Andrew Cheng explains why people’s accents shift over time, especially when they moveβ€”and how YouTubers make perfect data subjects. If you've ever cringed at your old voice recordings, this one’s for you. Andrew Cheng is a professor of linguistics at the University of Hawaii. You can find him on Bluesky at LinguistAndrew. NEW: Sign up for my AP Style webinar on June 12: bit.ly/4k1XmpI Use the code MACMIL for $50 off. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:21:40

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What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO.

5/6/2025
1079. Ever wonder what labels like "informal," "archaic," or "offensive" mean in a dictionary entry? We explain how different dictionaries use labels to describe when, where, and how to use words. Then, we explore why so many babies say "dada" first and why babies say "mama" almost everywhere. The "dictionary labels" segment was written by Susan Herman, a retired U.S. government multidisciplined language analyst, analytic editor, and instructor. The "mama" 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. NEW: Sign up for my AP Style webinar on June 12: bit.ly/4k1XmpI Use the code MACMIL for $50 off. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:17:00

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The secret to writing β€˜the same but different,’ with Mary Robinette Kowal

5/1/2025
1078. Mary Robinette Kowal talks about going from writing magic-filled Regency romances to Hugo-nominated science fiction, what it's like to work with an agent, and how she keeps her career moving forward. Plus, she gave us three great book recommendations (and I've already read and loved one of them!). Find Mary at maryrobinettekowal.com. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:20:26

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'Lit' vs. 'lighted.' The mysteries of the dollar sign. Redd up.

4/29/2025
1077. Is it β€œlit” or β€œlighted”? Both are correct, but we look at how their popularity has switched over time. Then we investigate four of the competing theories about the origin of the dollar sign and end with tips about how to use it. The "dollar sign" segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing for more than thirty-five years. He’s the founder and principal editor at TypoSuction.com, an independent editing/writing service. He taught grammar and copyediting intensives and professional proofreading workshops at Media Alliance and served as events coordinator for Bay Area Editors’ Forum (BAEF). You can find him on LinkedIn. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:19:04

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Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t know about publishing, with Dan Gerstein

4/24/2025
1076. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, looks at how ghostwriting fiction really works, who’s hiring ghostwriters, and why AI can’t replace human storytelling. We also talked about how ghostwriters negotiate royalties, film rights, and what makes a great collaboration work. Find Dan at GothamGhostwriters.com. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:22:44

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'I.e' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels.

4/22/2025
1075. People often confuse "i.e." and "e.g." We'll help you get them right β€” no Latin required. Then, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, we look at five common myths about his contributions to the English language, including whether he coined thousands of words and how much Latin he actually knew. The "Shakespeare" segment was by Jonathan Culpeper, a chair professor in English Language and Linguistics at Lancaster University, and Mathew Gillings, an assistant professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. It originally appeared in The Conversation and appears here through a Creative Commons license. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:18:01

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AI and the future of dictionaries, with Erin McKean

4/17/2025
1074. Is AI good enough to replace lexicographers? Wordnik founder Erin McKean shares what works, what doesn’t, and why the future of dictionaries is far from settled. Find Erin McKean at wordnik.com, dressaday.com, and wordnik@worknik.com. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:26:02

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Better paragraph breaks. The story behind 'mad money' and 'pin money.' Bruce bad.

4/15/2025
1073. Today, we have practical tips for writing better paragraphs (and it's not the formulaic topic-sentence structure). Then, we look at the surprising history of phrases like β€œmad money” and β€œpin money” and what they show about women’s roles and financial independence through time. The "paragraph" segment originally appeared on the OUP Blog, and was written by Edwin Battistella, who taught linguistics and writing at Southern Oregon University. He is the author of Sorry About That: The Language of Public Apology, Do You Make These Mistakes in English?, Bad Language, and The Logic of Markedness. The "mad money" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and editor. In the late '90s, as a young mom with two kids and a dog, she founded one of the internet's first writing workshop communities. These days, she facilitates expressive writing workshops, both online and off. Find her at chanterellestorystudio.com πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:15:52

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The future of editing jobs in the age of AI, with Samantha Enslen

4/10/2025
1072. Is AI coming for our jobsβ€”or just the boring parts? This week, Samantha Enslen of Dragonfly Editorial talks about how she sees AI changing the work of writers and editors. We talked about real clients, real fears, and hope for the future. Plus, Samantha shares her favorite old-school fiction (spoiler: Agatha Christie strikes again!). Find Samantha Enslen at DragonflyEditorial.com. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:17:01

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How to write photo captions. The real difference between β€˜immigrate’ and β€˜emigrate.’ Ko Pha-ngan'd

4/8/2025
1071. Is it "Taylor and I" or "Taylor and me"? We explain why photo captions follow their own grammar rules. Then, we explore the subtle difference between "immigrate" and "emigrate," how the terms are used historically, and why their meanings often depend on perspective. The "photo captions" 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. The "immigration" segment was by Brenda Thomas, a freelance writer who enjoys writing about a variety of topics in the humanities and education. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:16:57

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The hidden techniques behind well-paced fiction, with Joshua Essoe

4/3/2025
1070. Fiction editor Joshua Essoe explains the hidden techniques behind pacing in storytelling. Learn how good pacing shapes reader engagement, why well-placed story beats and emotional shifts matter, and how popular films like Memento and Fight Club use pacing to captivate audiences. Joshua also looks at managing flashbacks, using white space strategically, and avoiding common pacing pitfalls in fiction writing. Joshua's "Pacing and Cutting" Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/joshuaessoe/guides-to-writing-pacing-and-cutting πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:25:35

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Why don't we say the L in 'walk'? Never use 'always.' PABST

4/1/2025
1069. Have you ever wondered why we have silent L's in words like "walk" and "half"? Those questions lead us to L-vocalization, spelling pronunciation, and why American and British speakers differ. Plus, we look at some of the most dangerous words in the English language: "always" and "never." The "L vocalization" 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. πŸ”— Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. πŸ”— Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. πŸ”— Subscribe to the newsletter. πŸ”— Take our advertising survey. πŸ”— Get the edited transcript. πŸ”— Get Grammar Girl books. πŸ”— 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. | Theme music by Catherine Rannus. | Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.

Duration:00:15:17