That's What They Say

By Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth

That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with... more

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FAQs about That's What They Say:

How many episodes does That's What They Say have?

The podcast currently has 361 episodes available.

That's What They Say episodes:

November 11, 2024 TWTS: "These ones" made the lightning round
Of all the topics we could cover this week on That's What They Say, we chose these ones over those ones.
...more
6min
November 04, 2024 TWTS: We've seen a change with "sea change"
A sea change can now be caused by many things other than the sea, and some of its dramatic effects have been lost in the process.
...more
6min
October 28, 2024 TWTS: The touchy third rail
We're going to try not to touch the third rail, but we are going to talk about it.
...more
6min
October 14, 2024 TWTS: In America, it's always hot dog season
Major League Baseball playoffs and football tailgate season both mean the smell of hot dogs is in the air.
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6min
October 04, 2024 TWTS: Petards are for hoisting, not stabbing
We don't encounter petards very often anymore. That’s unless we’re being, metaphorically speaking, “hoisted with our own petard.”
...more
6min
September 23, 2024 TWTS: Should we stop utilizing "utilize" and just use "use"?
There are plenty of people out there who see "utilize" as a pretentious substitute for "use." However, some people are completely comfortable utilizing the verb "utilize."
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5min
September 16, 2024 TWTS: Yeah, we need to talk about "yay"
There’s the “yea” in voting “yea” or “nay," and then there’s the celebratory “Yay!" Oh yeah, there's also "yeah."
...more
5min
September 09, 2024 TWTS: Whoa, is that how you spell "whoa"?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. There are a lot of ways to spell "whoa."
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6min
September 01, 2024 TWTS: Your caring about gerunds is noble, but you caring is nice too
You could say, "I don't like him singing," or you could say, "I don't like his singing." Believe it or not, some folks have very strong feelings about which of those is correct.
...more
5min
August 25, 2024 TWTS: The case of "pleaded" v. "pled"
It's all so grammatically straight forward in the present tense if you plead innocent. Later on though, should you tell people you "pleaded" innocent or "pled" innocent?
...more
5min

FAQs about That's What They Say:

How many episodes does That's What They Say have?

The podcast currently has 361 episodes available.

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